Subclass 186 · Australia PR
Subclass 186 — Employer Nomination Scheme (Direct PR)
The Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) is a permanent residency visa for skilled workers sponsored and nominated by an approved Australian employer. It offers direct Permanent Residency from grant without requiring points-test ranking in SkillSelect.
Visa type
Permanent Residency
Sponsorship
Approved Employer Nomination
Points test
Not points tested
Work experience
Minimum 3 years full-time
Who this pathway suits
A realistic fit matters more than enthusiasm.
Skilled professionals with a genuine job offer from an Australian employer willing to sponsor
Applicants with at least 3 years of post-qualification full-time relevant work experience
Professionals whose occupation is on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)
Temporary 482/457 visa holders transitioning to permanent residency through the TRT stream
What subclass 186 gives you
Subclass 186 grants unconditional Australian Permanent Residency from day one. You are not provisional and you can live and work anywhere in Australia (subject to the two-year commitment to your nominating employer).
- Direct Australian permanent residency for you and your family
- Immediate enrollment in Medicare, Australia's national healthcare system
- Unrestricted permanent work rights across Australia
- Direct pathway to Australian citizenship after satisfying general residence rules
- Opportunity to sponsor eligible relatives for Australian permanent residence
Key streams: Direct Entry vs. Temporary Residence Transition (TRT)
The subclass 186 visa operates two primary pathways depending on whether you are applying from overseas or transitioning from an Australian employer-sponsored work visa.
- Direct Entry (DE) Stream: For applicants outside Australia or onshore who have not worked for their sponsor for 2 years on a 482 visa. Requires a positive skills assessment, minimum 3 years full-time experience, and an MLTSSL occupation.
- Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) Stream: For Subclass 482 visa holders who have worked full-time for their nominating employer in Australia for at least 2 years. Does not require a fresh skills assessment for most occupations.
Employer sponsorship obligations & market salary rate
Your sponsoring employer must be an active, lawfully operating business in Australia. The employer must demonstrate that the position is genuine, full-time for at least 2 years, pays at or above the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR), and exceeds the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT - $73,150 AUD). Employers also pay the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy.
The process
Five stages, each one decision-ready.
Employer nomination and Labour Market Testing
The Australian employer conducts required recruitment advertising and lodges the official nomination with Home Affairs, paying the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy.
Skills assessment and English test
The applicant secures a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority (for Direct Entry) and sits IELTS or PTE Academic.
Visa application lodgement
Submit the Subclass 186 visa application online via ImmiAccount linked to the employer nomination TRN.
Permanent residence grant
Upon approval by Home Affairs, the applicant and family receive direct Permanent Residency.
Costs & government fees
- Base Visa Application Charge of AUD 4,770 for the primary applicant.
- Additional applicant charge of AUD 2,385 for each family member aged 18 and over.
- Additional applicant charge of AUD 1,195 for each child under 18.
- Second installment English charge of AUD 4,885 for secondary adults without functional English.
- Employer costs (paid by employer, never employee): Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy ($3,000 for turnover under $10M, $5,000 for turnover $10M+) plus nomination fee ($540 AUD).
Timelines
- Nomination and visa applications can be lodged concurrently or consecutively.
- Published Department of Home Affairs processing times vary from 6 to 12 months for decision-ready applications.
- Priority processing applies to accredited sponsors and healthcare or regional employers.
Fees, processing times and occupation lists change. Always confirm the current position with the authority that makes the decision.
Department of Home Affairs — Subclass 186 →Common questions
Answered without hype.
No. Subclass 186 is an employer-sponsored permanent visa and does not use the GSM points test. You do not compete in SkillSelect invitation rounds.
Home Affairs requires at least 3 years of relevant, full-time (or equivalent part-time) work experience completed post-qualification in the nominated occupation.
Subclass 186 is granted as an unconditional permanent residency visa. However, you make a commitment to your sponsoring employer to remain in the position for at least 2 years. Departing prematurely without reasonable justification can prompt review by Home Affairs.
Related pathways
Explore your other options.
Talk this pathway through with a specialist.
Book a free assessment and a named consultant will review your occupation, qualifications and experience against current criteria.
MovesEdu is a private migration advisory firm. We are not a government body; all final decisions rest with Australian and Canadian immigration authorities.
Department of Home Affairs — Subclass 186 is the authoritative source for current fees, processing times and eligibility. Requirements change; always verify before making decisions.