What is the Australia Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186)?
The Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa is Australia's main employer-sponsored pathway to permanent residence. Unlike the Subclass 482, which grants temporary stay, the 186 grants permanent residence from the moment it is granted — no provisional period, no regional requirement, no further visa needed.
It operates through three streams: Direct Entry (for skilled workers with a skills assessment, under 45), Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) (for 482 holders who have worked 2 years with the same sponsor, no age limit), and Labour Agreement (for industry-specific arrangements). No labour market testing is required for any stream.
Australian citizenship is possible after 4 years of residence, including at least 1 year as a permanent resident.
Note: This information is for guidance only and does not constitute immigration advice. Requirements change — verify current figures at the official government source before applying.
Do you qualify?
The 186 has two main streams. Both lead to the same outcome — permanent residence from the day of grant. Pick the one that fits your situation; the differences are covered in the FAQs.
An approved Standard Business Sponsor must nominate you for a genuine, ongoing position on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). The salary must meet at least the Core Skills Income Threshold (AUD $79,423 from 1 July 2026) and the Annual Market Salary Rate — whichever is higher. The employer pays the nomination costs.
If you do not have 2 years of 482/457 service with the same employer, you apply through Direct Entry. You must be under 45 at lodgement (exemptions exist for academics, researchers and certain others) and hold a current positive skills assessment for your occupation.
If you have worked full-time for the nominating employer for at least 2 years on a Subclass 482 or 457 visa, you can apply through TRT — with no skills assessment and no age limit. The 2 years of employment is the qualifying evidence.
IELTS 6.0 in each band, or equivalent, less than 3 years old. Citizens of the UK, US, Canada, New Zealand and Ireland are exempt.
The 2026 salary requirements
The same Core Skills Income Threshold applies to both streams. The salary must meet both the threshold and the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) — whichever is higher. Figures effective from 1 July 2026.
What counts: base salary and guaranteed bonuses. Superannuation, discretionary bonuses, overtime and non-cash benefits do not. AMSR: the salary must equal what an equivalent Australian worker would earn in the same role and location — if that is higher than the threshold, it applies. The threshold is indexed each 1 July against AWOTE.
What you need to apply
The employer handles the nomination. You lodge the visa application through ImmiAccount. The documents below cover the visa-application stage.
If you do not have any of the documents below, read the FAQs section for further guidance.
This information is for guidance only and does not constitute immigration advice. Requirements change — verify current figures at the official government source before applying.
Application timeline
Processing is long — median 9–12 months, with 90% of applications decided within 18–19 months. The key variable is application completeness. If you are on a 482, you can keep working while the 186 is processed. The steps below apply to both the Direct Entry and TRT streams.
Most common delay: insufficient AMSR evidence in the nomination, and incomplete employment records for TRT. The Department requires robust payroll evidence for the full 2-year qualifying period.
The employer lodges the nomination through ImmiAccount, with the job description, salary and AMSR evidence, training-benchmark compliance and the SAF levy. For TRT, this follows 2 years of your employment with them.
Handled by: your employer
You lodge through ImmiAccount. Direct Entry needs a skills assessment; TRT does not — the 2 years of employment replaces it. Upload English results, work-experience evidence, qualifications, health examination and police clearances. The visa application charge is about AUD $6,140 for the primary applicant.
Handled by: you
The Department reviews both the nomination and the visa application — 9–12 months for most, 90% within 18–19. It may request more information. If you are in Australia on a valid visa, you can keep working while you wait.
Handled by: the Department of Home Affairs
You become a permanent resident from the date the visa is decided (if onshore) or from first entry (if offshore). Your partner and children included in the application become permanent residents on the same day.
Handled by: you
Frequently asked questions
Direct Entry is for applicants without 2 years of 482/457 service with the same employer — it requires a skills assessment and you must be under 45. TRT is for 482/457 holders who have completed 2 years with the same sponsor — no skills assessment and no age limit.
Both grant the same permanent residence. TRT is usually simpler, but it requires 2 years of commitment to the same employer first.
Yes. Your partner (spouse or de facto) and dependent children can be included, and become permanent residents on the same day as you. Your partner receives full, unrestricted work rights and children can study in Australian schools. De facto partners must show 12 months of cohabitation or a registered relationship.
Yes. After 4 years of residence (including at least 1 year as a permanent resident), you can apply for citizenship by conferral. You must pass a citizenship test and meet character and residence requirements. Dual citizenship is permitted — Australia does not require you to renounce your current one.
Budget AUD $8,000–$15,000 for the candidate, including family. The visa application charge is about AUD $6,140 for the primary applicant, with more for a partner and children (check the Department's Visa Pricing Estimator).
Add skills-assessment fees (AUD $500–$1,500 for Direct Entry), English test fees (~AUD $400), the health examination (~AUD $300–$500) and police clearances. The employer pays the SAF levy (AUD $3,000/$5,000) and nomination charge and cannot pass them to you.
Yes. Once the 186 is granted you are a permanent resident with full, unrestricted work rights — you can change jobs, be self-employed or start a business. There is no tie to the nominating employer after grant.
If you have been with the same sponsor for 2 years, TRT is usually better — no skills assessment, no age limit, and the employment evidence is straightforward. If you have not yet reached 2 years or have changed employers, Direct Entry is the path (skills assessment, under 45).
If you are approaching 45, Direct Entry may be urgent — TRT has no age limit, but you may not reach the 2-year mark before turning 45 if you switch employers.
No. The 186 does not require labour market testing for any stream — a key difference from the Subclass 482, where employers must in some circumstances show they could not find a suitable Australian worker.
You cannot apply for the Employer Nomination Scheme without an employer nomination.
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Every job listed on Workbeyond is from employers who sponsor international talent to work in Australia. Use the filters to narrow by profession, city and seniority level to find roles that match your criteria.
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