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Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186)

Updated 22 July 2026

This is general information, not migration advice. Visa rules, fees and eligibility change often — always confirm on the Department of Home Affairs website, and speak to a registered migration agent about your own situation.

Overview

The Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) lets skilled workers who are nominated by their employer live and work in Australia permanently. It has three streams: the Direct Entry stream (for applicants nominated directly by an Australian employer, generally requiring a skills assessment and 3 years relevant work experience), the Temporary Residence Transition stream (for holders of a subclass 457, 482 or eligible bridging visa who have usually worked in eligible sponsored employment full time for at least 2 years), and the Labour Agreement stream (where the nominating employer is party to a labour agreement with the Australian Government). With this visa you can stay in Australia indefinitely, work and study, enrol in Medicare, sponsor eligible relatives, travel to and from Australia for 5 years, and apply for Australian citizenship if eligible. How long you can stay: Permanently. Officially: "This is a permanent visa - it lets you stay in Australia indefinitely." You become a permanent resident on the day the visa is granted. Your permanent residency for citizenship purposes starts on the day the visa is granted if you are in Australia, or on the day you enter Australia on this visa if you are outside Australia. The travel facility on the visa allows travel to and from Australia for 5 years.

Step by step

  1. Step 1: Step 1 - Before you apply: confirm which stream applies to you (Direct Entry, Temporary Residence Transition, or Labour Agreement), check your occupation, arrange a skills assessment and English test if required, arrange health examinations, and decide whether to get help from a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person. Your employer must lodge the nomination - in the Direct Entry stream you must apply for the visa within 6 months of the nomination being approved.

  2. Step 2: Step 2 - Gather your documents: identity documents, skills assessment and qualifications, work experience evidence, licensing or registration evidence, English language, health and character documents, and partner and dependant documents. Have all non-English documents translated into English and scanned or photographed in colour.

  3. Step 3: Step 3 - Apply for the visa: apply online in ImmiAccount, attach your documents and pay the visa application charge.

  4. Step 4: Step 4 - After you apply: complete health examinations and biometrics if required, provide any further information requested, stay lawful in Australia, pay the second instalment if the Department invoices you, and tell the Department if your circumstances change.

  5. Step 5: Step 5 - Visa outcome: the Department notifies you of the decision in writing, including your visa grant number, when the visa starts and your visa conditions.

Eligibility & requirements

  • Be nominated by an Australian employer. Direct Entry stream: nomination by an Australian employer whose business is actively and lawfully operating, and you must apply within 6 months of the nomination being approved. Temporary Residence Transition stream: you must hold a subclass 457, 482 or eligible bridging visa, usually have worked in eligible sponsored employment on a full-time basis for at least 2 years, and have an employer nomination approved in the 6 months before you applied. Labour Agreement stream: your nominating employer must be party to a labour agreement with the Australian Government and you must meet the age, skills and English requirements set out in that agreement.
  • Have an eligible occupation - for the Direct Entry stream your occupation must be on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). Check the official occupation list rather than any unofficial source.
  • Have relevant work experience - in the Direct Entry stream, unless exempt, most applicants need at least 3 years relevant work experience in their occupation. Applicants exempt from the skills assessment requirement are also exempt from the work experience requirement.
  • Have a positive skills assessment before you lodge your application (Direct Entry stream), unless exempt. Exemptions cover certain academics nominated by an Australian university, certain scientists/researchers/technical specialists nominated by an Australian government scientific agency, and certain subclass 444 or 461 holders who have worked for the nominating employer in the nominated position for at least 2 years in the last 3 years.
  • Be under 45 years of age on the date you lodge your application, unless exempt (exemptions cover certain academics, certain scientists/researchers/technical specialists at ANZSCO skill level 1 or 2, and certain subclass 444 or 461 holders).
  • Be licensed, registered or a member of a professional body if that is mandatory in the state or territory where you intend to work.
  • Have at least Competent English. Dependent applicants aged 18 or over should provide evidence of at least functional English, otherwise you must pay the second instalment of the visa application charge.
  • Meet the health and character requirements (character applies to you and family members aged 16 and over), have paid back or arranged to pay back any debt to the Australian Government, sign the Australian Values Statement if you are 18 or older, and note that a previous visa cancellation or refusal may make you ineligible.

Costs

ItemIndicative cost
Application charge - main applicantFrom AUD6,140.00 (concessions apply in limited circumstances)
Application charge - each family member who applies with youCurrent fee is published on the Home Affairs page for this visa — see Key links.
Second instalment - for each family member aged 18 or over with less than Functional EnglishAUD4,890.00
Other costs (health checks, police certificates, biometrics)Current fee is published on the Home Affairs page for this visa — see Key links.

Key links

Contacts

Registered migration agent (MARA)
For advice about your own circumstances, use a registered migration agent or a legal service. This page is general information only.