Chinese applicants · Commonwealth of Australia
Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) for Chinese citizens
Employer-nominated permanent residence for workers sponsored through Direct Entry, TRT, or Labour Agreement streams.
This page covers the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) specifically for Chinese applicants — including document requirements, consular procedures, and common issues specific to China. The general eligibility criteria apply to everyone.
- Processing time
- 6 months – 14 months
- Government fees
- A$6,140
- Typical duration
- Permanent residence.
- Sponsorship required
- Yes
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
Bilateral context
No nationality-specific treaty frameworks apply to this combination.
Consular processing: Beijing / Shanghai / Guangzhou
Tourist entry vs. this route
Chinese nationals require a visa for any entry into Commonwealth of Australia. The Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) is one of the routes available; tourist entry is a separate application.
Key figures for Chinese applicants
Computed from our continuously re-verified, primary-sourced data. Indicative, not legal advice.
Salary you must earn
A$79,423/yr
Employer Nomination Scheme (186) - CSIT and AMSR
Verified 1 July 2026 · Home Affairs - salary requirements
Government cost
A$6,140
Single applicant, competent English, applicant visa charge only
Add AUD 3,070 per adult additional applicant and AUD 1,535 per child. A second instalment of AUD 9,800 for the main applicant or AUD 4,890 per adult dependant can apply where functional English is not met.
Verified 1 July 2026 · Home Affairs - current visa pricing table
How long it takes
6 months – 14 months
Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) permanent-residence applications are typically decided in about 6–14 months. Where you land in that range depends mostly on the stream you use: the Temporary Residence Transition stream – for people already working for their sponsor on a 482/TSS visa – tends to be quicker than Direct Entry, which carries a fuller skills assessment and document check.
Verified 1 June 2026 · Home Affairs — Global visa processing times
Time to permanent residence
Arrival on 482 → 186 ENS after 2 years (Specialist Skills Pathway) or 3-4 years (Core Skills) → PR → citizenship after 4 years from arrival (minimum 12 months as PR).
Leads to Permanent Resident, then Australian citizenship.
Visa overview
Subclass 186 is the employer-sponsored permanent residence pathway. The three current streams are Direct Entry, Temporary Residence Transition, and Labour Agreement. Direct Entry uses the Core Skills Occupation List, generally requires 3 years relevant experience and a positive skills assessment, and ENS nominations must satisfy AMSR plus the current CSIT unless an agreement or exemption changes the rule. TRT is for current 457/482 workers with 2 years eligible sponsored employment in the previous 3 years.
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓Nomination by an actively and lawfully operating Australian employer for a genuine skilled position.Australian Government — Federal Register of Legislation / Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs ↗
- ✓Stream fit: Direct Entry, Temporary Residence Transition, or Labour Agreement.Australian Government — Federal Register of Legislation / Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs ↗
- ✓Salary that meets the Annual Market Salary Rate and the Core Skills Income Threshold unless a specific agreement or exemption applies.
- ✓Direct Entry: CSOL occupation, generally 3 years relevant work experience and a positive skills assessment unless exempt.
- ✓TRT: generally 2 years eligible sponsored employment in the 3 years before application and current 457/482 or eligible bridging-visa status.Australian Government — Federal Register of Legislation / Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs ↗
- ✓Competent English and age under 45 unless an exemption or labour agreement setting applies.Australian Government — Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs ↗
Common blockers
- !Occupation or stream evidence not matching Home Affairs requirements.
- !Age over 45 without exemption.Australian Government — Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs ↗
- !Salary below AMSR or CSIT.
Typical evidence
- ·Employer nomination approval.Australian Government — Federal Register of Legislation / Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs ↗
- ·Skills assessment.Australian Government — Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs ↗
- ·AMSR and salary-threshold evidence.
- ·TRT sponsored-employment evidence where using the TRT stream.Australian Government — Federal Register of Legislation / Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs ↗
Application pathway
Employer nominates
Employer lodges the ENS nomination, pays the AUD 540 nomination fee and applicable one-off SAF levy, and documents AMSR plus CSIT.
Applicant lodges visa
Applicant lodges the permanent visa application with skills, English, health, character and stream-specific evidence.
Grant as permanent resident
Subject to health and character checks.
Recent policy changes affecting this route
What changed most recently on this route — each linked to its primary government source.
- 1 July 2025In force 1 July 2025
Australia: Skills in Demand thresholds indexed (1 Jul 2025, again 1 Jul 2026) and the MATES scheme for India
The subclass 482 income thresholds are indexed annually. For nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, Home Affairs lists CSIT at A$79,423 and SSIT at A$146,576; the MATES early-professionals scheme for India is running its annual ballots.
Australian Department of Home Affairs - 7 December 2024In force 7 December 2024
Australia replaces 482 TSS with the Skills in Demand visa
Australia launched the Skills in Demand (SID) visa, replacing the Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) framework with Specialist Skills, Core Skills, and Labour Agreement streams.
Australian Department of Home Affairs
Other Commonwealth of Australia routes covered for Chinese applicants
Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)
Employer-sponsored temporary work visa for skilled roles an Australian employer cannot fill locally.
Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
Points-based permanent residence visa for skilled workers without employer or state sponsorship.
Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
State-nominated permanent residence visa providing a 5-point SkillSelect boost.
Partner visa (subclass 820/801, 309/100)
Residence visa for spouses and de facto partners of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens.
Not sure Commonwealth of Australia is right for you? Compare similar routes
Other countries offer work sponsored routes that Chinese nationals also apply to. See how they compare.
Frequently asked questions
Are Chinese citizens eligible for the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)?+
Eligibility for the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) is set by Department of Home Affairs and is not nationality-restricted. See the criteria below for the published requirements.
Where do Chinese applicants typically file the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)?+
Beijing / Shanghai / Guangzhou. Specific intake (online portal, biometrics centre, or in-country lodgement) is determined by Department of Home Affairs — confirm the current intake channel on the primary source linked above before filing.
Do Chinese applicants need a tourist visa for Commonwealth of Australia as well?+
Chinese nationals require a visa for any entry into Commonwealth of Australia. The Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) is one of the routes available; tourist entry is a separate application.
How much does the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) cost for a Chinese applicant?+
Government fees for the worked example (Single applicant, competent English, applicant visa charge only) total about A$6,140. Add AUD 3,070 per adult additional applicant and AUD 1,535 per child. A second instalment of AUD 9,800 for the main applicant or AUD 4,890 per adult dependant can apply where functional English is not met. Figures from Home Affairs - current visa pricing table, verified 1 July 2026. Treat these as indicative — confirm the current schedule on the official source before budgeting.
What salary do Chinese applicants need for the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)?+
The Employer Nomination Scheme (186) - CSIT and AMSR floor is A$79,423/yr, effective 1 July 2026 (Home Affairs - salary requirements). Your occupation's published going rate may bind higher — whichever is greater applies.
How long does the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) take to process from China?+
The typical published decision window is 6 months – 14 months. Chinese applicants usually file via Beijing / Shanghai / Guangzhou, and consular-post backlogs can add to the wait. Source: Home Affairs — Global visa processing times, verified 1 June 2026.
How long until permanent residence in Commonwealth of Australia?+
Arrival on 482 → 186 ENS after 2 years (Specialist Skills Pathway) or 3-4 years (Core Skills) → PR → citizenship after 4 years from arrival (minimum 12 months as PR). The route leads to Permanent Resident, then Australian citizenship. See Home Affairs — Australian citizenship for the qualifying-residence rules.
How long on a 482 before qualifying for the 186 TRT stream?+
Home Affairs lists the TRT requirement as 2 years of eligible sponsored employment in the 3 years before you apply. The work must generally have been full-time, in Australia, while holding a subclass 457, subclass 482, or eligible bridging visa.
How much does the subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa cost?+
Home Affairs lists the subclass 186 main applicant visa application charge at AUD 6,140 from 1 July 2026, with AUD 3,070 per adult dependant and AUD 1,535 per child. Employer-side costs include the AUD 540 ENS nomination fee and the one-off SAF levy: AUD 3,000 for small businesses or AUD 5,000 for other businesses. Home Affairs says nomination and SAF costs cannot be transferred to the worker or family.
What salary is needed for subclass 186 ENS?+
For ENS nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, the Core Skills Income Threshold is AUD 79,423. The salary must also meet the Annual Market Salary Rate; clearing CSIT alone is not enough if the market salary for the occupation is higher.
What is the difference between 186 Direct Entry and TRT?+
Direct Entry is for workers nominated directly into permanent residence and generally requires a CSOL occupation, at least 3 years relevant work experience and a positive skills assessment unless exempt. Temporary Residence Transition is for current 457/482 workers nominated by their current sponsor after eligible sponsored employment.