Subclass 186 Visa Requirements
Complete guide to Subclass 186 visa requirements for 2026 — streams, eligibility, salary threshold, cost, and processing times.
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If you're already working in Australia on a skilled visa — or have an employer willing to back you — the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa is one of the most direct routes to permanent residency available. No points test, no state nomination race, no regional living conditions. Just a genuine employer, a genuine role, and a pathway straight to PR.
But "employer-sponsored" doesn't mean "simple." The 186 has three distinct streams, each with its own eligibility rules, salary thresholds, and evidence requirements. Here's exactly what the Subclass 186 visa requirements look like in 2026, based on current Department of Home Affairs guidance.
What Is the Subclass 186 Visa?
The Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) is a permanent, employer-sponsored visa that lets Australian businesses fill genuinely skilled positions with qualified migrants when they can't source suitable talent locally. Unlike the 189, 190, or 491, there's no points test involved — your employer's nomination and your own eligibility are what carry the application.
It's commonly used by workers transitioning off a Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) visa into permanent residence, though it's also open to skilled workers overseas or onshore who haven't held a 482 at all.
The Three Subclass 186 Streams
Your requirements depend entirely on which stream you apply through:
- Temporary Residence Transition (TRT): For 482/457 visa holders who have worked for their nominating employer, in the nominated occupation, for the required qualifying period
- Direct Entry (DE): For skilled workers — in Australia or overseas — with an employer willing to sponsor them for PR, where the occupation sits on the Core Skills Occupation List
- Labour Agreement: For workers sponsored under an employer's formal labour agreement with the Australian Government, used where standard streams don't fit the occupation or industry
Each stream leads to the same outcome — permanent residency — but the evidence, work history, and skills assessment requirements differ significantly.
Core Eligibility Requirements
Across all three streams, applicants generally need to meet the following:
- Be under 45 years old, unless you qualify for a specific exemption
- Meet Competent English requirements (exempt if you hold a passport from New Zealand, the USA, Canada, the UK, or Ireland)
- Have a valid employer nomination for an eligible occupation
- Pass health and character requirements
- Meet the relevant work experience requirement for your stream (commonly at least 3 years in the nominated occupation, though TRT applicants transitioning from a 482 may qualify with a shorter qualifying period with the same employer)
- Have your salary meet or exceed the applicable income threshold
Part-time work may count toward experience requirements in some circumstances, but casual work generally does not.
Salary and Income Threshold Requirements
This is one of the most scrutinised parts of any 186 nomination. Home Affairs applies the Core Skills Income Threshold to ENS nominations, set at AUD $79,423 for nomination applications lodged between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027. Your nominated salary must meet or exceed this threshold, and Home Affairs now cross-checks Tax File Number data against ATO records to confirm visa holders aren't being paid below their nominated salary after grant.
Employers should also budget for the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy, which generally applies to subclass 186 nominations and varies by business size and visa stream.
Free 186 Stream Assessment
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Visa Cost and Processing Times
As of mid-2026, the subclass 186 visa is listed from AUD 6,140 for the main applicant, with limited concessions available in specific circumstances (including for eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste passport holders). An adult secondary applicant without demonstrated Functional English may attract an additional second instalment charge.
Processing times vary by stream, based on figures for the period ending 30 June 2026:
- Temporary Residence Transition: roughly 11 months (50%) / 15 months (90%)
- Direct Entry: roughly 10 months (50%) / 14 months (90%)
- Labour Agreement: roughly 8 months (50%) / 10 months (90%)
From 25 July 2026, subclass 186 nomination and visa applications are processed under Ministerial Direction 119, which can affect how applications are prioritised relative to other skilled visa categories.
How the Application Process Works
The 186 pathway generally follows these stages:
- Confirm eligibility against both the general ENS requirements and your specific stream's criteria
- Your employer lodges a nomination application with Home Affairs for the position
- You lodge your visa application either alongside the nomination or within 6 months of its approval
- Supporting documents are submitted — English test results, skills evidence, employment records, and health/character checks
- Home Affairs assesses both the nomination and the visa application before a decision is issued
Because the nomination and visa stages are separate but linked, gaps or inconsistencies between the employer's evidence and the applicant's documents are one of the most common causes of delay or refusal.
Why the 186 Visa Is a Strong PR Option
- No points test — eligibility is based on nomination, experience, and salary, not a competitive score
- Immediate permanent residency on grant, with no regional or transition conditions
- Family inclusion — eligible family members can be included in the same application
- Clear route for 482 visa holders already established with an Australian employer to convert to PR
How Australian Immigration Consultants Can Help
The 186 visa looks straightforward on paper — employer sponsors you, you get PR — but in practice, the nomination stage is where most applications succeed or fail. Employers need to prove the position is genuine and needed, salary thresholds must be met precisely, and work experience evidence has to line up exactly with what's claimed.
At Australian Immigration Consultants, we work with both employers and employees to build a compliant, evidence-backed 186 nomination — confirming the right stream, checking your occupation against the current Core Skills Occupation List, structuring salary and SAF levy obligations correctly, and managing the nomination and visa lodgement so nothing falls through the gap between the two applications.
Book a free consultation with Australian Immigration Consultants today →
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a skills assessment for the 186 visa? It depends on your stream and occupation — some TRT applicants on the MLTSSL with sufficient 482 work history may not require one, while Direct Entry applicants generally do.
Can I apply for the 186 visa without a 482 visa first? Yes — the Direct Entry and Labour Agreement streams don't require a prior 482, provided you meet the occupation, experience, and nomination requirements.
What is the minimum salary for a 186 visa nomination? Your nominated salary must meet or exceed the Core Skills Income Threshold, currently AUD $79,423 for nominations lodged between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027.
How long does the 186 visa take to process? It varies by stream — Labour Agreement applications tend to process fastest, while Temporary Residence Transition applications typically take the longest.
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