186 Visa Australia (Employer Nomination Scheme): Complete 2026 Guide

What Is the 186 Visa and Who Is It For?

The 186 ENS visa grants permanent residence to skilled workers nominated by an approved Australian employer. It replaced the earlier Subclass 856/857 visas and is designed for workers already in Australia on a 482 employer-sponsored visa who want to convert to permanent residence, as well as skilled workers offshore who have a job offer in hand. What you get: permanent residence from the day the visa is granted; permission to live and work in Australia indefinitely; ability to include your partner and dependent children; access to Medicare; and a pathway to Australian citizenship after meeting the residence requirements. The 186 is different from points-tested skilled visas — you do not compete against other applicants via a points score. Instead, eligibility turns on your relationship with a sponsoring employer and your occupation meeting Australian standards.

The Three Streams Explained

The Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream is the most commonly used pathway. If you are already working for a sponsoring employer on a Subclass 482 or former 457 visa, this is likely your route. You need 2 years of eligible sponsored employment — full-time, in Australia, on a subclass 457, 482 or eligible bridging visa, in the occupation you were sponsored for — within the 3 years before you apply. Time with an earlier approved sponsor still counts and changing employer does not reset the clock, as long as your current employer is the one nominating you. A skills assessment is not automatically required for TRT applicants, though the Department can still ask for one. The Direct Entry (DE) stream is for skilled workers who do not hold a 482 visa or have not accumulated the required sponsored employment. Your occupation must be on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), which held 458 occupations as at 12 August 2026 (Home Affairs skilled occupation list). You need at least three years of relevant work experience and a positive skills assessment, unless you're exempt. The Labour Agreement stream is available when an employer has negotiated a formal Labour Agreement with the Department — typically for specific industries or remote regions.

Eligibility Requirements in Detail

Age: usually, applicants must be under 45 years of age when they apply, unless exempt — and the exemptions differ by stream. Direct Entry exemptions include being nominated as a university academic (lecturer or faculty head, Academic Level B to E) or as a scientist, researcher or technical specialist at ANZSCO skill level 1 or 2 for a government science agency or an Australian university. TRT exemptions cover the same academic and scientist categories, plus a nominated medical practitioner who has worked in a designated regional area for at least 2 years in the 3 years before applying, and a 457/482 holder whose earnings met the Fair Work High Income Threshold in each of 2 years of eligible sponsored employment in the last 3. English language: Competent English is required — for tests taken from 7 August 2025, that means at least 6 in each of the four components of IELTS Academic or General Training, or the equivalent score in another approved test. For the Direct Entry stream, citizens of the UK, the US, Canada, New Zealand or Ireland are exempt from providing a test result. The Department removed that exemption from the TRT stream on 16 November 2019 — TRT applicants must meet the English requirement regardless of nationality. Occupation and skills assessment: for Direct Entry applicants, your occupation must be on the CSOL, and most need a positive skills assessment — carried out by Engineers Australia (engineering), ACS (ICT), VETASSESS (many professions), TRA (trades), or the relevant health profession council. For TRT applicants, a skills assessment is not automatically required. Employer requirements: your employer must be an approved standard business sponsor, offer a genuine position that is full-time and ongoing for at least 2 years, and — if the role pays under $250,000 a year — pay at least the Annual Market Salary Rate.

Costs and Fees Breakdown

The government application fee for the primary applicant is AUD $6,140, current as at 1 July 2026. Secondary applicants: partner/spouse AUD $3,070, dependent child AUD $1,535 (Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 1). Separately, the nominating employer pays a nomination fee and the Skilling Australians Fund levy — not included in the figures above. Skills assessment fees for Direct Entry applicants depend on the assessing authority: as published in September 2026, Engineers Australia charges $1,034, ACS $1,498, and VETASSESS $1,146 offshore or $1,260.60 onshore. English test fees vary by provider — IELTS Australia charges $490 per attempt (September 2026). Health examination and police clearance costs vary by clinic and country. There is no official fee schedule for migration agents. Under the Code of Conduct for migration agents, a fee must be fair and reasonable and set out in a written service agreement before any payment is taken, other than a reasonable fee for an initial consultation. Migratio's own data — 686 quotes across 57 agents, September 2026 — shows a median initial consultation fee of $220, with the middle half between $150 and $275.

Processing Times for Each Stream

For the period ending 30 June 2026 (Home Affairs global visa processing times, published 4 August 2026): the Direct Entry stream took about 10 months for 50% of applications and 14 months for 90%; the TRT stream took about 11 months for 50% and 15 months for 90%; the Labour Agreement stream took about 8 months for 50% and 10 months for 90%. Home Affairs updates these figures roughly monthly and describes them as a guide only, not an estimate for any specific application. From 19 September 2026, Ministerial Direction 122 sets the order 186 applications are processed in: first, applications relating to the Construction, Healthcare, Teaching, Agriculture, Aquaculture, Fishing or Resources sectors, or to law enforcement and defence interests; then applications where the applicant was in Australia when they applied; then offshore applications not combined with another person's application; then all other applications. Once you have lodged your 186 application, if you are in Australia on a bridging visa you are lawfully able to remain and work. Your Bridging Visa A (BVA) activates automatically if your underlying visa expires during processing.

How a Migration Agent Can Help

The 186 application involves three distinct stages — employer sponsorship, nomination, and your visa application — each with its own forms, evidence requirements, and Department processing. A single error at any stage can lead to refusal or significant delays. An experienced migration agent can assess which stream you qualify for, advise on skills assessment preparation for Direct Entry, prepare the nomination documents to demonstrate the role is genuine, compile your personal application evidence, and manage correspondence with the Department. At Migratio, you describe your situation once. We send your case to matched, MARA-registered agents who specialise in employer-sponsored visas — and you compare their consultation fees and book one. Comparing is free; consults are typically $150–$300 and you pay only if you book. Start your case brief at migratio.com.au.

Can I include my family in a 186 application?

Yes. Your partner and dependent children can be included as secondary applicants. They receive the same permanent residence as the primary applicant and can live, work, and study in Australia freely.

Do I need a skills assessment for the TRT stream?

Not automatically. If you have 2 years of eligible sponsored employment in the 3 years before you apply — time with an earlier approved sponsor counts too — a skills assessment isn't a standard requirement for TRT, though the Department can still ask for one. Your migration agent can confirm your situation.

What happens if my employer goes out of business while my application is being processed?

If your employer ceases to exist or your employment is terminated during processing, your nomination may be withdrawn. Contact a migration agent immediately if your employment situation changes after lodging a 186 application.

Can I apply for the 186 visa from overseas?

Yes. The Direct Entry stream can be lodged onshore or offshore. Many offshore applicants lodge the application and continue working in their home country while the application is processed, then travel to Australia once the visa is granted.

What is the difference between the 186 and the 482 visa?

The 482 Skills in Demand visa is a temporary visa (up to four years) that is employer-sponsored. The 186 ENS visa is a permanent residence visa. Many applicants start on a 482 and transition to the 186 via the TRT stream after two years.

How do I check if my occupation is on the CSOL?

The Core Skills Occupation List is maintained by the Department of Home Affairs at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. Search for your ANZSCO occupation code to confirm eligibility. A migration agent can help map your actual job duties to the closest eligible occupation.