Commonwealth of Australia · work sponsored · Leads to settlement
Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Source check: all 8 official citations reconfirmed 11 July 2026
Employer-nominated permanent residence for workers sponsored through Direct Entry, TRT, or Labour Agreement streams.
- Processing time
- Variable; use the Home Affairs processing-time guide for recently decided applications.
- Government fees
- AUD 6,140 main applicant VAC from 1 July 2026, plus employer-side AUD 540 nomination fee and SAF levy.
- Typical duration
- Permanent residence.
- Sponsorship required
- Yes
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
In short
As of 8 July 2026, the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) for Commonwealth of Australia has a typical government cost of about A$6,140 and typical processing of 6 months – 14 months. Sources: official Commonwealth of Australia government pages, reviewed 8 July 2026.
Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/australia/subclass-186-ens#answer
What is the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) in Commonwealth of Australia?
Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) is a sponsor-led Australia route. Indicative government fees are AUD 6,140 main applicant VAC from 1 July 2026, plus employer-side AUD 540 nomination fee and SAF levy; indicative processing time is Variable; use the Home Affairs processing-time guide for recently decided applications; typical duration is Permanent residence. This route can lead to permanent residence.
Verified against Department of Home Affairs on 1 July 2026.
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.
Recent changes to this route
- Australia: Skills in Demand thresholds indexed (1 Jul 2025, again 1 Jul 2026) and the MATES scheme for India1 July 2025
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.
- Australia replaces 482 TSS with the Skills in Demand visa7 December 2024
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.
Guidance by nationality
Specific information for applicants from these countries. Don’t see yours? The general eligibility criteria above apply to everyone.
Indian applicants
Indian applicants moving from subclass 482 to 186 ENS via the Temporary Residence Transition stream find it the most com…
British applicants
UK nationals typically reach ENS via either TRT (after 2 years on 482) or the Direct Entry stream with a positive skills…
South African applicants
South African professionals use ENS as the main employer-sponsored PR track. SAPS police certificates (8–12 weeks) shoul…
Filipino applicants
Filipino 186 applicants typically reach ENS via TRT after 2 years on subclass 482 in healthcare or trades roles. AHPRA r…
Chinese applicants
Chinese 186 applicants reach ENS via either TRT (after 2 years on 482) or Direct Entry with positive ACS/Engineers Austr…
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.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- Official guidanceApplicant + sponsorNominate and apply for 186 ↗
Employers use this page for nomination requirements; workers use it to lodge the linked permanent visa application.
Department of Home Affairs · verified
Fees and processing time
A typical Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) application runs about A$6,140 in government fees (single applicant, competent English, applicant visa charge only). A decision then typically takes 6 months – 14 months. Both change over time, so the dedicated pages below carry the itemised breakdown and the current official figures.
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Frequently asked questions
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.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
Find a regulated advisor in AustraliaHow we verified this
We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.
Primary source: Department of Home Affairs
Last checked: 1 July 2026