By Peter Toms, Principal Lawyer · Updated 12 November 2026
The Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa is a permanent visa for skilled workers nominated by an Australian employer. It is one of the most common routes to permanent residence for people already working in Australia.
It has three streams. Which one applies depends on the role and on your background:
- Direct Entry, if you already meet the skills and experience requirements;
- Temporary Residence Transition, if you have been working on a 482 (or older 457) visa; and
- Labour Agreement, where your employer has an approved labour agreement with the Government.
The short answer: if you already have a skills assessment and three years’ experience, Direct Entry may get you there now. If not, the usual route is a 482 first, then the Temporary Residence Transition stream after two years.
Direct Entry
Direct Entry suits people who already qualify on their skills and experience. Generally:
- the occupation must be on the relevant list;
- you need a positive skills assessment for the occupation;
- you need at least three years of relevant full-time experience;
- you must be under 45 when you apply, unless an exemption applies; and
- you need Competent English.
When it makes sense: you already have the skills assessment, experience, age and English, and your employer can show the role is genuine and meets the salary requirements now.
Temporary Residence Transition
This stream is for people who hold a 482 (or older 457) visa. Generally, you must have worked full time in your nominated occupation for at least two years while holding that visa. Since December 2024, that time does not have to be with one employer, but the employer nominating you for the 186 must be your current sponsor.
A skills assessment is generally not required, but the usual age and English requirements apply, unless an exemption fits.
When it makes sense: you do not yet meet the Direct Entry requirements (for example, you have no skills assessment or not enough experience), but you hold or can get a 482, and you use that time to qualify.
Labour Agreement
This stream is only available where your employer has an approved labour agreement with the Government. The agreement sets out the occupations, and can vary the usual requirements for age, English, salary and experience.
When it makes sense: the role and the worker fit an existing labour agreement, and the employer can meet the extra obligations that come with it.
What the employer must show
The employer lodges the nomination. It must show:
- the position is genuine, full time and available for at least two years;
- the duties match an eligible occupation;
- the salary meets the income threshold and the market salary rate (for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026, the Core Skills Income Threshold is $79,423); and
- the Skilling Australians Fund levy has been paid.
What the worker must show
The worker lodges the visa application, and must show they meet the requirements of the stream, along with health and character requirements. Partners and dependent children can generally be included.
Processing priorities
Since 19 September 2026, 186 applications are processed in a set order: priority sectors first, then onshore applicants, then offshore applicants. If you are in a priority sector or onshore, expect faster processing.
After the visa is granted
The 186 is a permanent visa, but the commitments you and your employer made still apply. The visa was granted on the basis that there was a genuine position, available for at least two years, that you intended to take up. If you never start, or leave very soon after the grant, the Department may consider whether the information given was correct, and in some cases cancel the visa. See our guide: Do I have to work for my employer after my 186 is granted?
Common mistakes
- Choosing the wrong stream (for example, applying under Direct Entry without a required skills assessment).
- Duties that do not match the nominated occupation.
- Salary evidence that does not meet the threshold and market rate, or that is inconsistent between the contract and the nomination.
- English below the required level, or relying on an exemption that does not apply.
- Gaps in 482 employment that leave you short of the two-year requirement.
- Turning 45 before lodging, without an exemption.
Related guides
How we can help
We help both employers and workers with 186 nominations and visas. Contact us to discuss your eligibility.
Book a consultation, email us at info@leytonstonelaw.com, or call +61 (02) 8114 4577.
Disclaimer: This article is general information only and is not legal advice. Immigration law and policy change often, and every case depends on its own facts. Please seek advice about your individual circumstances before making any decision.