Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) for Chinese citizens

Eligibility for the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) is set by Department of Home Affairs. Chinese applicants must meet the general route criteria plus any nationality- or location-specific intake requirements described in the current corridor guidance above.

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.

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.

The stored worked example (Single applicant, competent English, applicant visa charge only) totals 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. It may combine government charges with other stated route costs. Source: Home Affairs - current visa pricing table, verified 1 July 2026. Treat it as indicative and confirm the current official schedule before budgeting.

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.

Home Affairs publishes separate subclass 186 processing percentiles for Direct Entry, Agreement and Transition. These are recent-decision indications, not a personal deadline or blended range. Select the stream that matches your application; eligibility and preparation requirements differ. Chinese applicants usually file via Beijing / Shanghai / Guangzhou, and appointment or post-specific backlogs can add to the wait. Source: Home Affairs — Global visa processing times, subclass 186 stream snapshot, verified 11 September 2026.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 covers eligible 457/482 or bridging-visa holders. The two-year employment requirement looks back over the preceding three years and can include qualifying work across multiple sponsored visas or employers; the nominating employer must be the last 457/482 sponsor.