Employer-Sponsored Permanent Residency
Subclass 186 Visa – Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Australia
Permanent Residency Through Employer Sponsorship — One of Australia's Most Reliable Pathways to PR
The Subclass 186 Visa, formally known as the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS), is a permanent residency visa. Granted by an Australian employer who has recognised the value of a skilled worker and committed to sponsoring them for permanent residency, the Subclass 186 removes the uncertainty of temporary status and replaces it with the right to live and work in Australia indefinitely.
This is not a points-tested skilled migration visa. It depends on one core thing — an Australian employer who needs your skills, is willing to nominate you, and can demonstrate that the position is genuine and appropriately paid.
At Migration Republic, our MARA-registered migration agents work with both employers and applicants to navigate the Subclass 186 process — from employer sponsorship and nomination through to visa lodgement and grant.
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Visa Overview
What Is the Subclass 186 Visa?
The Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme Visa is a permanent employer-sponsored visa. Unlike temporary skilled visas such as the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand Visa, the Subclass 186 grants full permanent residency from the date it is granted. The holder can live and work in Australia indefinitely, access Medicare, include family members, and apply for Australian citizenship after meeting the standard residency requirements.
The Subclass 186 is a two-step process. First, the employer lodges and has a nomination approved by the Department of Home Affairs. Second, the skilled worker lodges their own visa application. There are three streams within the Subclass 186 — all leading to the same outcome: permanent residency in Australia.
Temporary Residence Transition (TRT)
For Subclass 482 or 457 holders who have worked with their sponsoring employer for at least two years. No skills assessment required. Since November 2023, all 482 stream holders are eligible after two years.
Direct Entry (DE) Stream
For skilled workers not transitioning from an Australian temporary work visa — including overseas applicants. Requires a skills assessment, occupation on the CSOL, and at least three years of skilled work experience.
Labour Agreement Stream
For skilled workers sponsored by an employer holding an approved Labour Agreement — including DAMAs. Can offer concessions on age, English, salary, and skills assessment not available through standard streams.
Key Features of the Subclass 186 Visa
- Permanent visa — live, work, and study in Australia indefinitely
- Three streams — TRT, Direct Entry, and Labour Agreement
- No points test — employer-driven pathway
- Visa application fee of AUD $4,910 for the primary applicant (from 1 July 2025)
- SAF levy paid by employer — AUD $3,000 (small business) or AUD $5,000 (large business)
- Two-year work commitment with the nominating employer after grant
- Full access to Medicare from date of grant
- Five-year travel facility
- Family members can be included in the application
- Pathway to Australian citizenship
- Annual program cap — 44,000 ENS places allocated for 2025–26
Salary Requirements — From 1 July 2025
The CSIT and SSIT — Salary Thresholds That Apply to All Nominations
All new Subclass 186 nominations submitted on or after 1 July 2025 must meet the updated salary thresholds. If the offered salary is below the CSIT, the nomination will be refused. The CSIT is indexed annually and is expected to increase again in July 2026.
Eligibility Criteria
Who Can Apply for the Subclass 186 Visa?
Eligibility for the Subclass 186 depends on which stream you are applying under. All streams share common requirements, with stream-specific additional criteria.
General Requirements — All Streams
- Be nominated by an approved Australian employer for a genuine, full-time position — nomination must be approved within six months before the visa application is lodged
- Be under 45 years of age (exemptions apply for certain academics, scientists, researchers, and Subclass 444/461 holders with two years of work for the nominating employer)
- Demonstrate competent English — generally IELTS 6.0 in each component (exemptions for nationals of UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, and Ireland)
- Satisfy Australia's health and character requirements
- Meet any mandatory licensing, registration, or professional membership requirements for the nominated occupation
- Salary must meet or exceed the CSIT of AUD $76,515 per year (from 1 July 2025)
TRT Stream — Additional Requirements
- Hold, or recently held, a Subclass 482 Skills in Demand Visa, a legacy Subclass 457, or an eligible Bridging Visa
- Worked full-time for the nominating employer in a substantially similar occupation for at least two years within the three years before nomination lodgement
- From 29 November 2025: work experience must be with an approved sponsor — only compliant sponsored employment counts toward the two-year threshold
- No fresh skills assessment required
Direct Entry Stream — Additional Requirements
- Nominated occupation must be on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)
- Positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority — dated within three years of application
- At least three years of skilled work experience in the nominated occupation at the required skill level
- Labour Market Testing — advertising the position for at least four weeks across at least two platforms before the overseas appointment
Visa Advantages
Key Benefits of the Subclass 186 Visa
Permanent Residency From Day One
The Subclass 186 grants full, unconditional permanent residency from the date it is granted. There is no temporary phase, no points threshold to clear later, and no further visa to apply for. From day one, the holder is a permanent resident of Australia.
Full Work Rights, Anywhere in Australia
Subclass 186 holders can work in any occupation in Australia without restriction. While there is a two-year work commitment with the nominating employer after grant, the visa itself carries no permanent occupational or geographic condition.
Pathway to Australian Citizenship
Since the Subclass 186 is a permanent visa, holders can apply for Australian citizenship after four years of lawful residence in Australia, with at least one year as a permanent resident. Time spent on a Subclass 482 or 457 visa before the Subclass 186 grant counts toward the four-year residence requirement.
Medicare Access From Date of Grant
Subclass 186 holders are entitled to Medicare — Australia's public healthcare system — from the date the visa is granted. For sponsored workers who have been on temporary visas without full Medicare access, this represents a significant improvement in quality of life and financial security.
Family Members Can Be Included
A partner and dependent children can be included in the same Subclass 186 application. They receive the same permanent residency status and access to Medicare, education, and other government services — particularly important for families managing multiple visa applications on different timelines.
Five-Year Travel Facility and Long-Term Planning
The Subclass 186 includes a five-year travel facility from the date of grant. After five years, a Resident Return Visa is required. Beyond the immigration benefits, the Subclass 186 enables the ability to buy a house, take out a loan, plan a career transition, or start a business — with the certainty that the right to remain in Australia is not contingent on a single employer relationship.
Stream Details
Understanding the Three Subclass 186 Streams in Detail
TRT Stream — Key Points
- Two years of full-time sponsored employment with the nominating employer in a substantially similar occupation within the three years before nomination
- Since November 2025 — only employment with an approved sponsor counts toward the two-year threshold
- No skills assessment required — sponsored work history is the primary evidence of skills
- Nominated occupation must be in the ANZSCO dictionary but is no longer restricted to the CSOL — broadening the range of eligible occupations
- Applicants can combine work experience from multiple approved sponsors to meet the duration requirement
Direct Entry Stream — Key Points
- Nominated occupation must be on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)
- Positive skills assessment required — assessments older than three years not accepted
- At least three years of skilled work experience in the nominated occupation at the required skill level
- Labour Market Testing required — advertising for at least four weeks across at least two platforms
- Suitable for overseas applicants, those in Australia on non-sponsored visas, or those who have not yet completed two years of sponsored employment
Labour Agreement Stream — Key Points
Labour Agreements are negotiated directly between employers and the Australian Government — typically for industries or occupations facing genuine, ongoing skills shortages that cannot be addressed through standard visa pathways. DAMAs (Designated Area Migration Agreements) operate under this framework for specific regional areas.
- Can offer concessions on age, English proficiency, salary, and skills assessment requirements
- Requirements and concessions vary substantially between individual agreements
- Processes significantly faster than TRT or Direct Entry — approximately 4 months for 50% of cases
- Professional advice is essential for navigating this stream correctly
Government Fees and Timeframes
Subclass 186 Cost and Processing Times
| Cost Item | Who Pays | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Nomination Fee | Employer | AUD $540 * |
| SAF Levy — Small Business (<$10M turnover) | Employer | AUD $3,000 * |
| SAF Levy — Large Business ($10M+ turnover) | Employer | AUD $5,000 * |
| Visa Application Fee — Main Applicant | Applicant | AUD $4,910 * |
| Additional Applicant 18+ | Applicant | AUD $2,455 * |
| Additional Applicant Under 18 | Applicant | AUD $1,230 * |
| Second Instalment (adult without Functional English) | Applicant | AUD $9,800 * |
| Health Examinations (per adult) | Applicant | AUD $350–$500 |
| English Language Test (IELTS/PTE/OET) | Applicant | AUD $400–$600 |
| Police Clearances (per country) | Applicant | AUD $50–$100 |
| Migration Republic Professional Fee | Applicant | Contact Us |
Processing Times (2025): TRT stream — approximately 14 months for 50% of cases, up to 19 months for 90%. Direct Entry stream — approximately 13 months for 50%, up to 18 months for 90%. Labour Agreement stream — approximately 4 months for 50% of cases. For 2025–26, 44,000 ENS places have been allocated — once this quota is reached, no further applications can be processed until 1 July 2026. Confirm current fees at ImmiAccount before lodging.
Document Checklist
Documents Required for the Subclass 186 Visa
For the Employer — Nomination
- Evidence of lawful business operation — ABN registration, business activity statements
- Description of the nominated position — duty statements, organisational charts, evidence the role is genuine and full-time
- Market salary rate evidence — payslips, employment contracts, or salary benchmarking at or above CSIT of $76,515
- Labour Market Testing evidence — for DE stream, evidence of advertising for at least four weeks across at least two platforms
- Nomination fee ($540) and SAF levy ($3,000 or $5,000) — paid by employer
For the Applicant — Visa
- Valid passport — at least 12 months validity recommended
- Skills assessment — from the relevant assessing authority, within three years (DE stream; not required for TRT)
- English language test results — IELTS 6.0 in each band or equivalent (unless exempt)
- Employment evidence — letters, payslips, tax records, position descriptions, references
- For TRT stream — payslips, contracts, tax returns, and sponsor approval records confirming the two-year employment history
- Health examination results from an approved panel physician
- Police clearances from every relevant country (AFP + all countries lived in for 12+ months in the last 10 years since age 16)
- Identity documents for all included family members
How We Help
Our Visa Process
Employer Sponsorship and Eligibility Assessment
The Subclass 186 process begins with the employer. We assess whether the business is eligible to nominate — including Standard Business Sponsorship status, the genuineness of the position, salary compliance with the CSIT, and whether Labour Market Testing is required. At the same time, we assess the applicant's stream eligibility and identify any issues such as sponsorship history complexity, age proximity to 45, or skills assessment requirements that need addressing early.
Stream Selection and Strategic Planning
Choosing the right stream is not always straightforward — particularly for applicants with complex work histories, approaching the age threshold, or navigating the post-November 2025 TRT clarification. We map out the strongest available pathway and identify what needs to be in place before lodgement so there are no surprises during processing.
Nomination Preparation and Lodgement
We prepare the complete employer nomination — position description, salary evidence, Labour Market Testing documentation, and all supporting business evidence — and manage the nomination lodgement through ImmiAccount. The nomination fee and SAF levy are paid at this stage by the employer.
Visa Application Preparation and Lodgement
Once the nomination is lodged, we prepare the applicant's visa application — collecting all required documents, arranging health examinations and police clearances, managing skills assessment timelines for DE stream applicants, and compiling the complete application for lodgement via ImmiAccount. We build the application to be decision-ready from the moment it is submitted.
Post-Lodgement Monitoring and Grant Support
After lodgement, we actively monitor the application, respond to any requests for further information from the Department, and advise on health and character certificate validity if processing extends beyond 12 months. We keep both the employer and applicant informed throughout and provide guidance on post-grant obligations including the two-year work commitment and five-year travel facility.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Migration Republic
Why Choose Migration Republic?
The Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa involves two parties — an employer and an applicant — and the outcome depends on both doing their parts correctly. A nomination that fails on genuine position or salary grounds affects the visa application. A visa application with an incorrect stream, missing skills assessment, or expired health certificates can delay or prevent grant.
Our MARA-registered migration agents work with the full Subclass 186 process — not just the applicant side. We prepare and manage employer nominations, advise on CSIT compliance, salary evidence, and Labour Market Testing, and ensure the nomination is built to withstand departmental scrutiny before the visa application is ever lodged.
The November 2025 TRT clarification, the July 2025 CSIT increase to AUD $76,515, and the ongoing processing timelines for non-priority cases are all real factors affecting Subclass 186 applications being lodged right now in 2026. We stay current with every change so our clients do not face surprises during processing.
Transparent Process
Regular updates at every stage for both employer and applicant so everyone always knows where the application stands.
End-to-End Management
We handle both the employer nomination and the applicant's visa application — built decision-ready from the moment of lodgement.
Current Regulatory Knowledge
We stay current with every regulatory change — CSIT updates, TRT clarifications, program caps — so our clients face no surprises.
Ready to Apply for the Subclass 186 ENS Visa?
The Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme Visa is one of Australia's most direct and reliable pathways to permanent residency for skilled workers. Whether you are currently working in Australia on a Subclass 482 and ready to transition through the TRT stream, applying directly from overseas through the Direct Entry stream, or working within a Labour Agreement — the Subclass 186 converts employer confidence in your skills into a permanent Australian future. Our MARA-registered agents at Migration Republic bring the expertise and current knowledge of regulatory changes that the Subclass 186 demands — for both employers and applicants.
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