Employer nominates a permanent role
The role must be genuine, expected to remain available for at least two years, and meet salary, occupation and business compliance rules.
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SUBCLASS 186 · EMPLOYER NOMINATION SCHEME
Permanent residence through employer nomination
Subclass 186 is a permanent employer-nominated visa. It is not points-tested: the correct stream, employer, position and applicant must all satisfy permanent sponsorship criteria.
WHAT THIS VISA OFFERS
Permanent residence from the date of grant
After grant you can live, work and study indefinitely, sponsor eligible family and later apply for citizenship if eligible. Home Affairs expects the nominated employment to continue for at least two years.
Permanent visaPR from grant
Usually under 45Unless an exemption applies
Three streamsDE · TRT · Labour Agreement
01
How the application works
Nomination and permanent visa criteria are both decisive.
Applicant qualifies under one stream
Direct Entry, TRT and Labour Agreement apply different assessment, experience and sponsored-work criteria.
Nomination and visa are separately assessed
An approved nomination does not guarantee the visa; age, English, skills, health and character are assessed separately.
02
Choose the correct pathway
Which 186 stream fits your circumstances?
Direct Entry
The occupation must be on the current CSOL. A valid skills assessment before lodgement, at least three years’ relevant experience, age under 45 and Competent English usually apply, subject to exemptions.
Temporary Residence Transition
For eligible primary 457/482 holders. The key checks are generally two years of qualifying sponsored work in the previous three years, the nominating employer relationship, occupation and visa history.
Labour Agreement
The employer needs an active agreement that permits a 186 pathway. Age, English, experience, occupation and concessions follow the exact agreement.
03
Detailed eligibility checks
What must the employer and permanent position meet?
Lawful ongoing business
The business needs genuine operations, acceptable compliance history and capacity to sustain the employment.
Genuine full-time role
The position should sit within the business, meet a genuine need and remain available for at least two years from grant.
Correct occupation match
Direct Entry uses the current CSOL and ANZSCO 2022; TRT and agreement cases apply different occupation settings.
Market salary and threshold
For 2026–27, market salary and the AUD79,423 CSIT generally apply; an agreement concession needs express authority.
Nomination evidence
The nomination needs organisational, position, contract, salary, financial and workforce-need evidence.
Prohibited cost recovery
The SAF levy and other prohibited nomination costs must not be recovered from the applicant.
04
Detailed eligibility checks
What must the applicant meet?
Age
Usually under 45 at lodgement; specified high-income, academic, medical, legacy visa or agreement exemptions may apply.
English
Competent English generally applies, with stream, agreement, passport and other exemptions checked under current rules.
Assessment and experience
Direct Entry usually requires a valid assessment and three years’ experience; TRT focuses on qualifying sponsored work; agreement terms control that stream.
Registration or licensing
Regulated occupations require the registration, membership or licence needed in the intended state or territory.
Health and character
The primary applicant and relevant family members must satisfy health and character criteria.
Genuine employment intention
The applicant and employer must genuinely intend to commence and maintain the nominated employment after grant.
Evidence checklist
Prepare one evidence chain across the business, role and applicant.
The exact list depends on the stream and facts. These are planning categories, not a guarantee that the application is complete.
Employer evidence
- Business registration, operations and financial capacity
- Sponsor status, compliance history and organisation chart
- Capacity to sustain the market salary
Position and nomination
- Position description, contract, reporting line and business need
- Occupation, work location and market salary evidence
- Applicable labour market testing, RCB or agreement evidence
Applicant evidence
- CV, qualifications, employment references and pay records
- English, skills assessment, registration or licensing
- Identity, visa history, health and character evidence
TRT cases should also retain 482/457 grants, nomination records, payslips, PAYG/income summaries and employment-period evidence.
05
Current government charges
Know which costs belong to the sponsor and which belong to the applicant.
GOVERNMENT CHARGES
Employer / sponsor
- 186 nomination fee
- AUD 540
- SAF levy · turnover under AUD10m
- AUD 3,000
- SAF levy · turnover AUD10m+
- AUD 5,000
GOVERNMENT CHARGES
Visa applicant
- Main applicant
- AUD 6,140
- Each dependant aged 18+
- AUD 3,070
- Each dependant under 18
- AUD 1,535
- Second instalment for an adult dependant without Functional English
- AUD 4,890
The employer generally pays the SAF levy. Regional or agreement settings can affect the nomination fee. Skills assessment, English, health, police and professional costs are additional. Amounts checked 29 August 2026; charges at lodgement prevail.
06
How the case moves forward
Resolve eligibility and evidence before major costs are committed.
01Choose Direct Entry, TRT or agreement stream
02Review employer, role, occupation and salary
03Complete assessment, English and eligibility evidence
04Prepare and lodge the employer nomination
05Lodge the subclass 186 visa application
06Complete health, character, requests and decision
OCCUPATION AND NEXT STEP
Check standard 186 occupationsOccupation listing is only one Direct Entry check
TRT and Labour Agreement cannot be decided by occupation search alone; visa history, employer relationship and agreement terms matter.
Frequently asked questions
186 answers before you plan the application
Does two years on a 482 automatically lead to a 186 visa?
No. Two years of qualifying sponsored work is only one TRT check. An eligible employer nomination plus age, English, visa history, position and other subclass 186 criteria still apply.
Does subclass 186 Direct Entry require a skills assessment?
A suitable skills assessment before visa lodgement and at least three years of relevant experience usually apply, unless a specific legislative exemption is available.
Must a subclass 186 holder work for the nominating employer for two years?
Subclass 186 grants permanent residence, but at application the employer and applicant must genuinely intend the nominated employment to continue for at least two years after grant. Later changes depend on the facts and the genuine intention at application.
What is the subclass 186 government visa charge for the main applicant?
Checked on 29 August 2026, the main applicant charge is AUD6,140. Family, second-instalment and other costs are additional; the official amount at lodgement prevails.
Employer sponsorship Q&A
Answers to the questions that shape a workable pathway.
Each answer has its own reference page so it can be found, shared and kept current. General information only—not an individual eligibility conclusion.
PERMANENT PATHWAY
Plan the overall 482-to-186 pathway
Understand the TRT two-year work period, nomination timing and the checks that still apply.
Read the answer →PATHWAY COMPARISON482, 186 or 494: which route fits the case?
Compare temporary work, permanent nomination and regional sponsorship before choosing a route.
Read the answer →EMPLOYMENT EVIDENCEHow should I document my TRT work history?
Reconcile visa and nomination dates with payroll, tax, leave and interruption records.
Read the answer →PATHWAY COMPARISON482, 186 or 494: which visa fits?
Start with the employer, position, location and intended outcome—not the visa number.
Read the answer →OCCUPATION & ASSESSMENTWhich occupation list and skills assessment apply?
Check ANZSCO versions, occupation lists, caveats and assessment settings for 482, 186 and 494.
Read the answer →FOR EMPLOYERSWhat must a sponsoring employer budget and prove?
Review business eligibility, genuine position, salary, SAF levy and ongoing obligations.
Read the answer →186 CASE REVIEW
Discuss my 186 caseConfirm every 186 stage before committing the application.
XIVisa can review the sponsor, position, pathway and applicant evidence as one complete case.