Subclass 186 Visa Australia | Employer-Sponsored PR Guide

The Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa is a permanent employer-sponsored visa. It can allow eligible skilled workers to live and work in Australia permanently when an Australian employer is willing and able to nominate them.

There are three streams under the subclass 186 visa: Direct Entry, Temporary Residence Transition and Labour Agreement. The correct stream depends on your visa history, work experience, occupation, employer and the terms of any applicable labour agreement.

The subclass 186 is a permanent visa. Once granted, you can live, work and study in Australia indefinitely, access Medicare where eligible, include eligible family members and later apply for Australian citizenship if you meet the citizenship requirements.

AIVS’s Employer Visa hub explains the main employer-sponsored pathways if you are considering permanent sponsorship.

Direct Entry stream

The Direct Entry stream may suit applicants who can meet the permanent visa requirements without first completing the Temporary Residence Transition pathway.
Home Affairs currently states that applicants generally need to:
• be under 45 when they apply, unless an exemption applies
• be nominated for an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)
• have at least three years of relevant work experience, unless exempt
• have a positive skills assessment before applying, unless exempt
• meet the relevant English, health and character requirements.
The nominated occupation must meet the current program settings, and registration or licensing requirements can also apply.

Temporary Residence Transition stream

The Temporary Residence Transition, or TRT, stream is a common pathway for eligible workers who have already been working in Australia on a subclass 457 or 482 visa.
The current Home Affairs settings generally require a person to have completed at least two years of eligible sponsored employment in Australia in the three years immediately before an application. They must also have an eligible visa or associated bridging visa, and be nominated by the relevant employer.
The TRT stream can provide a pathway from the Skills in Demand subclass 482 visa to permanent residency, but it is not automatic. The applicant and employer still need to meet the subclass 186 requirements at the time of application.

Labour Agreement stream

The Labour Agreement stream applies where the employer has an appropriate labour agreement with the Australian Government. The available occupations, concessions and other requirements depend on the terms of the agreement.
Because labour agreements can differ significantly, the specific agreement should be reviewed before deciding whether this stream is available.

A subclass 186 application generally involves two connected parts.

1. Employer nomination. The employer nominates the worker for a position and must meet the relevant nomination requirements.
2. Visa application. The worker lodges the subclass 186 application and provides evidence that they satisfy the requirements for the relevant stream.

The nomination and visa application need to align. The occupation, position, employment arrangements, skills, visa history and timing should be reviewed together before lodgement.

Usually, the applicant must be under 45 when they apply. However, specific age exemptions exist for some applicants and occupations.

This is an area where personalised advice can be important. Being 45 or older does not automatically mean there is no pathway, but an exemption must actually apply.

Yes, eligible subclass 482 visa holders may be able to move to permanent residency through the subclass 186 TRT stream.

Home Affairs currently requires two years of eligible sponsored employment in Australia within the three years before the 186 application for the standard TRT pathway. Changes in employer, occupation, employment history or visa status can affect how that period is assessed, so planning the transition early is important.

You can review AIVS’s broader employer-sponsored visa options if you are still working out which pathway may fit your situation.

The subclass 186 can be a strong permanent residency pathway, but the right stream and timing depend on the facts of the case. I recommend assessing the employer nomination and the applicant’s eligibility together rather than treating them as separate steps.

If your employer is willing to sponsor you for permanent residency, or you are currently on a 482 visa and want to understand your pathway to the 186, book a free 15-minute consultation with AIVS.