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186 Visa

The Subclass 186 ENS visa (Employer Nomination Scheme visa) is a permanent residency visa that requires the sponsorship of a nominating employer. In summary:

  • The 186 visa has a Transition stream,  Direct Entry Stream and 186 Agreement stream.
  • You must have an occupation on the 186 Visa Occupations List 
  • English language requirements are IELTS (or equivalent test) score of 6 in each component.
  • A maximum age requirement of 45 at the time of application will apply to Direct and Transition Entry stream applicants.
  • A range of amendments have been introduced to enhance the integrity of the 186 visa, including through requiring the nominated position to be genuine, and removal of the English language and skills exemption for applicants whose nominated earnings would be over $180,000.
Am I eligible for a 186 visa?

The purpose of the subclass 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) is to allow Australian employers to fill highly skilled positions with suitably qualified migrants. The scheme is designed to assist employers who are unable to meet their skilled Australian workforce needs from the local labour market.

Employer

The business seeking to employ you must:

  • be actively and lawfully operating in Australia
  • genuinely need you to work in the nominated position under its direct control, and have the capacity to employ you in this position for at least two years

Related: 

Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186)

What is a Subclass 186 Visa?

  • It is a permanent residence visa for skilled workers who have a nominating employer.
  • The Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) allows Australian employers to nominate skilled foreign employees to work in Australia on a subclass 186 permanent residence visa.
  • This visa involves a two-step process; a nomination by an approved Australian employer and a visa application by the skilled overseas worker.
  • Applicants can be in or outside Australia when they apply for this visa. Applicants must have a valid visa or a bridging visa A, B, or C to apply for this visa in Australia.
Is my business eligible to sponsor under the 186 ENS visa scheme?

Position

The position to be filled must be:

  • be full-time and available for at least 2 years from the time your visa is granted
  • be an occupation included on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) (Direct Entry stream)

NOTE: Certain occupations on this list will be subject to additional requirements (e.g. salary, type of business operated by employer, nature of position). Please contact us for further details based on your particular circumstances.

  • have a salary that is:
    • at least $79,423 per year (excluding any non-monetary benefits) AND
    • at least the annual market salary rate (AMSR) for your nominated occupation

NOTES: the AMSR for your nominated occupation (excluding non-monetary benefits) must also be no less than $79,423 per year.

The AMSR is the salary that an Australian earns (or would earn) for performing equivalent work on a full-time basis for a year in the same workplace at the same location.

You will be exempt from the AMSR requirement if your salary is more than $250,000 per year.

  • be subject to conditions of employment (other than earnings) that are no worse than those that apply (or would apply) to Australians performing equivalent work in the same location

Visa Applicant

As the visa applicant, you must (unless a specific exemption applies in any case):

  • have competent English:
    • hold a valid passport issued by the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland (and you are a citizen of that country) OR
    • an IELTS (Academic or General Training) score of at least 6 in EACH test component OR
    • a PTE Academic score of at least 47 for listening, 48 for reading, 51 for writing and 54 for speaking OR
    • a TOEFL iBT score of at least 16 for listening, 16 for reading, 19 for writing and 19 for speaking OR
    • an OET score of at least 290 for listening, 310 for reading, 290 for writing and 330 for speaking OR
    • a Cambridge C1 Advanced score of at least 163 for listening, 163 for reading, 170 for writing and 179 for speaking OR
    • a CELPIP General score of at least 7, a MET score of at least 56/55/57/48 or a LANGUAGECERT Academic score of at least 57/60/64/70 (listening/reading/writing/speaking)

NOTES: These are the scores for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, and the test must have been taken within the 3 years before you apply. Different scores apply to tests taken on or before 6 August 2025. See our English requirements for 186 visa page for full details.

186 ENS VISA APPLICATION PROCESS

Stage 1: Nomination Application

This application is lodged with the Department of Home Affairs (the DOHA) on behalf of your employer, and relates to the skilled position that you have been offered, which must meet the requirements referred to above. Your employer is required to supply documents to the DOHA in support of this application, the nature and extent of which will vary depending upon the particular circumstances of the business. Employers must pay a one-off Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy for EACH subclass 186 nomination lodged with the DOHA. The amount payable varies based on the employer’s annual turnover.

Note: if the nomination has already been approved by the time the visa application is made, the visa application must be made within 6 months of the nomination being approved.

Stage 2: Visa Application

Your visa application is lodged with the DOHA either at the same time as the nomination application, or within six months of the DOHA’s approval of the nomination. The main criterion is that you fulfil the above requirements, including the standard health and character checks. Once the DOHA has approved both applications, you will be granted a permanent subclass 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme visa. You may be in Australia or outside Australia when your visa is granted.

Skills Assessment Application

BEFORE lodging your visa application, you must apply to have your skills (qualifications and/or work experience) formally assessed, to show that they are to the level required to undertake the nominated skilled occupation.

For each occupation on the relevant occupation list, the DOHA has specified an assessing authority that may carry out skills assessments for that occupation. Only a skills assessment conducted by the relevant assessing authority will be accepted by the DOHA in support of a visa application.

If you have not already obtained an acceptable skills assessment for your occupation, we can apply for this assessment on your behalf. This involves determining the correct authority to carry out your assessment; providing you with a full list of the information and documents required to support your application; preparing the application; and lodging it with the relevant authority for assessment. Please note that we charge a separate professional fee for this service. An assessment fee is also payable to the skills assessing authority.

Please contact our office for further information regarding skills assessment applications.

3 StreamsTransition StreamEnglish for 186 TransitionDirect StreamEnglish for 186 direct streamEmployer requirementsOther Requirements Age exemptionsEnglish exemptions
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Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS186 Visa)

This visa has 3 main streams

1.     The Temporary Residence Transition stream is for 482 visa holders (Skills in Demand or TSS) and 457 visa holders who have worked in their occupation for at least 2 years in the 3 years before nomination (time with any approved sponsor can count), and whose employer wants to offer them a permanent position in that occupation.

2.     The Direct Entry stream is for applicants who do not meet the 2 year work requirement but who are formally qualified in their occupation and have worked for at least three years at a skilled level in their occupation and their occupation is on the  186 Visa occupations list (Direct Entry).

3.     The Agreement stream is for applicants sponsored by an employer through a labour agreement

457 to PR transition stream

TEMPORARY RESIDENT TRANSITION STREAM REQUIREMENTS

To qualify for an employer nomination scheme (ENS) visa through the temporary residence transition stream you must:

  • Hold a subclass 482 visa (Skills in Demand or TSS) or a subclass 457 visa.
  • Have worked in the occupation your employer is nominating you for, for at least 2 years in the 3 years before nomination while holding that visa. Since December 2024 this time can be with any approved sponsor, not only your nominating employer, and it applies to all 482 holders whatever their stream or occupation list.
  • Have been successfully nominated by your employer for a permanent position in your nominated occupation under this stream within the 6 months prior to applying for the visa.
  • Demonstrate that you have at least competent English (IELTS 6 or equivalent). You must have at least Competent English. From 16 November 2019, there is no exemption to the English language requirement for this stream of the visa.
  • Be under 45 years of age unless you are exempt from the age requirement or fall under the grandfathering provisions.
  • At the time of applying, hold any mandatory registration, licence or professional membership required for your occupation in the state where your nominated position is located.
  • Meet health and character requirements
Including Family Members
Am I eligible for a 186 visa?

ADVANTAGES OF 186 TRANSITION STREAM

COMPETENT ENGLISH FOR TRANSITION STREAM

You can demonstrate you have Competent English by:

  • Having a score of at least 6 in each of the four components of an IELTS test (speaking, reading, listening and writing) in a test that has been conducted within the three years immediately prior to the date of lodgement of your visa application OR or an equivalent score in one of the other accepted English tests
  • Holding a valid passport issued by the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF APPLYING FOR AN ENS VISA THROUGH THE TEMPORARY RESIDENCE TRANSITION STREAM?

  • You can achieve Australian permanent residence through the Temporary Residence Transition stream without being formally qualified in your occupation.
  • You do not need a skills assessment in your occupation for the Temporary Resident Transition stream.
186 and 187 processing times
  • Apart from holding one of the passports listed above, there are no English language exemptions for ENS applicants in the Transition or Direct Entry streams.

DIRECT ENTRY STREAM REQUIREMENTS

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To qualify for an employer nomination scheme (ENS) visa through the direct entry stream you must:

  • Have an occupation on the 186 visa occupations list (Direct Entry)
  • Have been successfully nominated by your employer for a permanent position in your nominated occupation under this stream in the 6 months prior to applying for the visa.
  • Have at least three years of relevant work experience at a skilled level (i.e. post qualifying) in your nominated occupation.
  • Have a positive skills assessment in your nominated occupation, which is not more than three years old (unless you are exempt from this requirement).
  • Demonstrate you have at least competent English unless you’re exempt from the English requirement
  • Be under 45 years of age unless you’re exempt from the age requirement or fall under the grandfathering provisions.
  • At the time of applying, hold any mandatory registration, licence or professional membership required for your occupation in the state where the nominated position is located.
  • Meet health and character requirements.

ADVANTAGES OF 186 DIRECT ENTRY STREAM

  • You can demonstrate you have competent English by:
    • Having a score of at least 6 for each of the four components of an IELTS test (speaking, reading, listening and writing) in a test that has been conducted within the three years immediately prior to the date of lodgement of the applicant’s application, OR an equivalent score in another accepted English Test OR
    • Holding a valid passport issued by the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland

    WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF APPLYING FOR AN ENS VISA THROUGH THE DIRECT ENTRY STREAM?

    • You don’t have to work for your employer on a 482 visa for 2 years first to qualify for an Employer Nominated (ENS) subclass 186 visa through the Direct Entry Stream.
    • Provided you can obtain a positive skills assessment and you have three years post qualification experience, you can apply for the subclass 186 ENS Direct Entry visa immediately.
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SPONSOR/EMPLOYER REQUIREMENTS

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ANY BUSINESS CAN NOMINATE A SKILLED WORKER FOR A SUBCLASS 186 PERMANENT RESIDENCE VISA, PROVIDED:

  • The business is actively and lawfully operating in Australia
  • The business has a genuine need for a paid employee to fill a skilled position
  • The visa applicant is offered a skilled position in the applicant’s occupation that is full time and ongoing for at least two years
  • The visa applicant will be paid a market salary rate
  • The nominating business complies with Australian immigration and workplace relations laws
  • There is no adverse information known about the business or anyone associated with the business.

The business must nominate the applicant in one of the three streams and meet the requirements of that stream.

Other requirements

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EMPLOYER REQUIREMENTS FOR BOTH STREAMS

Employers must pay a one-off Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy for each 186 nomination lodged. The amount depends on the business’s annual turnover:

  • Turnover of less than $10 million: $3,000 per nomination
  • Turnover of $10 million or more: $5,000 per nomination

The SAF levy replaced the old training benchmark requirements, so employers no longer need to show they met training spend targets in earlier years. The levy must be paid by the employer and cannot be passed on to the visa applicant.

Age exemptions

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186 ENS visa fees
AGE EXEMPTION

You are exempt from the Age Requirements if:

  • You are nominated as a senior academic by an Australian university
  • You are nominated as a scientist, researcher or technical specialist at a skill level 1 or 2 by an Australian government scientific agency
  • You are a medical practitioner who has been working for your nominating employer on either a subclass 457 visa or a subclass 482 visa for at least four years immediately before applying for your ENS visa and your nominated position is located in regional Australia.
  • You are a medical practitioner who has worked for your nominating employer on a subclass 422 visa followed by a subclass 457 visa for two years in the four years immediately before applying for your 186 visa and your nominated position is in regional Australia.
  • You hold a subclass 444 New Zealand Citizen or a subclass 461 New Zealand citizen’s family member visa and you have been working for your nominating employer for at least two of the three years immediately before applying for your 186 visa.
  • You are applying through the Temporary Residence Transition Stream and have been working for your nominating employer as the holder of a subclass 457 visa for at least four years, immediately before applying for the 186 visa and has been paid as much as the Fair Work High Income Threshold  in each of the four years.
  • You are applying through the Agreement stream and the relevant labour agreement allows for a person who has turned 50 to be employed.

English exemptions

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You won’t need to show formal English language skills if you: 

  • If you hold an ‘exempt passports” from the English Speaking countries of New Zealand, USA, Canada, United Kingdom and Ireland you are exempt from the English language requirements of the subclass 186 visa.
  • No longer available: the exemption for applicants whose nominated earnings were at least the top individual income tax threshold was removed in March 2018. Applicants who cannot show competent English now do not meet the requirement, regardless of salary.
  • No longer available: the exemption for Transition stream applicants who completed at least five years of full-time study in English was removed on 16 November 2019. Transition stream applicants now need competent English unless they hold one of the passports above.
Detailed 186 visa fees

The Department of Home Affairs has commenced the collection of Tax File Numbers for these visa holders, and data will be matched with the Australian Tax Office’s records to ensure that visa holders are not paid less than their nominated salary.

Recent changes

186 changes at a glance

  • November 2025: for TRT applications lodged from 29 November 2025, the work must be with an approved work sponsor. This affects some exempt occupations, such as medical practitioners. Read more
  • December 2024: the Direct Entry stream now uses the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). For the Temporary Residence Transition stream, time worked for any approved sponsor while on a 482 visa can count, not only time with the nominating employer.
  • November 2023: the TRT work requirement dropped to 2 years in the last 3 years, and all 482 visa holders became eligible, whatever their stream or occupation list.
  • Salary: employers must pay at least the annual market salary rate and the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT), currently $79,423.
  • Unchanged: Direct Entry still needs a positive skills assessment and 3 years of experience, and most applicants must be under 45 unless an exemption applies.

FAQ:

  • Can I apply for a 186 visa if my previous substantive visa is or was a Subclass 491 or 494 visa?if at the time of application, the applicant is the holder of either a Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)) visa or a Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional)) visa, or the last substantive visa held by the applicant was one of these visas, they must have held that visa for at least three years at the time of application unless circumstances specified in an instrument exist.
  • What is the age limit for the 186 visa? at time of application, the applicant must have been under 45 or be a person in any of the following six categories of applicants that are specified, namely:
  • The March 2018 changes to the 186 visa can be seen here
  • ENS 186 visa immigration news

Subclass 186 visa Employer Nomination Scheme – Summary

Temporary Residence Transition Direct Entry
Any occupation in which applicant has held 457/TSS/SID visa Any CSOL occupation
Two years full-time work in the nominated occupation in Australia in the last three years while on a 457/TSS/SID visa

Not required to have only worked for nominating employer for that period and greater flexibility to cater for change of position such as promotion

 Favourable skills assessment and three years’ experience in the nominated occupation – no change
AUD79,423 – CSIT
Pay at least annual market salary rate – no change
Under 45 unless exempt – no change
SAF levy: $3,000 (turnover under $10 million) or $5,000 (turnover $10 million or more)
No change

#Labour Agreement stream carries over existing settings while further development takes place
*Annual earnings excluding non-monetary benefits. Salary thresholds to be indexed annually

Related:

186 visa FAQs

Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visas, or subclass 186 visas, are permanent residency visas for skilled workers. They are available both to applicants who are already living and working in Australia as temporary residents, and to those living outside Australia.

The main recent changes are:

  • Since November 2023, the Temporary Residence Transition stream needs 2 years of work on a 482 visa in the last 3 years (it used to be 3), and all 482 holders can apply whatever their stream or occupation list.
  • Since December 2024, the Direct Entry stream uses the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), and TRT work time with any approved sponsor can count.
  • Nominated salaries must meet the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT), currently $79,423, and the annual market salary rate.

It depends on the stream. For the Temporary Residence Transition stream you need at least 2 years of work in your occupation on a 482 (or 457) visa in the last 3 years. For the Direct Entry stream you need at least 3 years of skilled work experience in your nominated occupation and a positive skills assessment. Part-time work may be considered, but casual work generally will not. The age limit is 45, unless you are exempt.

Depending on the 186 visa stream the processing times can differ. On average it takes 4 to 12 months for a 186 visa to be processed.

The 186 visa will allow you to live, work and study in Australia indefinitely,  sponsor eligible family members to come to Australia and apply for Australian citizenship, when eligible

One of the most common reasons for 186 Nomination refusal is the employer has not demonstrated that it has the financial capacity to be able to pay the full-time salary for the nominated position for at least the next 2 years. The employer must have a satisfactory record of compliance with workplace relations law, must not have any adverse information known to the Department of Immigration, the terms and conditions offered to the nominee must not be less favourable than those offered to the applicant.

For the Transition and Direct Entry streams, the nominated salary must be at least the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT), $79,423 from 1 July 2026, and at least the annual market salary rate for the occupation. Non-monetary benefits do not count. In the Agreement stream the salary is set by the labour agreement.

There is no condition on a 186 visa that says you must remain with your employer for 2 years. Similarly, there’s no condition that your employer must keep you for 2 years either. Please see more info here.

The visa application charge depends on who is included in your application, and the employer also pays a nomination fee and the SAF levy. See our employer sponsored visa application costs page for the current fees.
From 1 July 2026 the 186 visa application charge is $6,140 for the main applicant, $3,070 for each additional adult and $1,535 for each child. The employer pays a $540 nomination fee and a one-off SAF levy of $3,000 or $5,000, depending on turnover.

You can enrol into Medicare, If you’ve applied for permanent residency Visas. You can enrol in Medicare if you live in Australia and have applied for either: a permanent residency visa, except for some parent visas.

Once granted, this visa allows you to travel to and from Australia for up to five years. Please note, if you wish to travel after the five years, a Resident Return Visa will need to be applied to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident if you are not already an Australian citizen.

One of the requirements for this visa is that the applicant must be under the age of 45 at the time of application. However, there are some exemptions to this rule that make it possible for older skilled workers to still be eligible for the visa.

The Migration Amendment (Skilled Visa Reform Technical Measures) Instrument 2025 (LIN 25/110) introduces a series of technical and clarifying changes to LIN 24/089, LIN 24/093 and LIN 19/260.

  • Sc 482 occupations list LIN 24/089: The correct six‑digit ANZSCO code has been inserted for the occupation of Management Consultant.
  • Sc 186 occupations list LIN 24/093: Caveats 11 and 13 now apply to Management Consultant, meaning the position cannot be in a business with an annual turnover of less than AUD 1,000,000 or with fewer than five employees.
  • Sc 186 occupations list LIN 24/093 and Sc 494 assessing authorities LIN 19/260: References have been updated to reflect that the Australian Community Workers Association is now known as Community Work Australia. Other amendments are made to LIN 19/260 that do not affect the existing arrangements and are solely for clarification.

The instrument commences on 7 November 2025.

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Book a meeting today for a commitment free briefing with our Registered Migration Agents in Melbourne to find more about your visa options.

Employer sponsored visa guides