Subclass 186 Visa Guide 2026: TRT vs Direct Entry and the 482 to 186 Pathway
The Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa is an employer-nominated permanent visa: you become an Australian permanent resident on the day it is granted. It has three streams, Temporary Residence Transition (TRT), Direct Entry (DE) and Labour Agreement. The short version is that TRT, the usual "482 to 186" route, turns on 2 years of full-time sponsored employment in the 3 years before you apply, while Direct Entry needs no prior 482 visa but does need an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), a positive skills assessment and, for most applicants, at least 3 years of relevant work experience.
Key numbers: the visa application charge is AUD 6,140 for the main applicant; the usual age limit is under 45; English must be at least Competent English (for example IELTS 6 in each band); and the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 is AUD 79,423. For TRT visa applications made on or after 29 November 2025, the 2 years of work must have been with an approved work sponsor.
This guide is based on the Department of Home Affairs pages for each 186 stream, its salary and cost pages, and the amending regulations on the Federal Register of Legislation. It is general information only and does not assess anyone's eligibility. Information current as at 2026-11-13.
Contents
- 1. Subclass 186 at a glance
- 2. The three streams compared
- 3. 482 to 186: how TRT counts your 2 years
- 4. Direct Entry: no 482 visa required
- 5. English: Competent English score table
- 6. The employer side: nomination and salary threshold
- 7. Costs: visa charge, nomination fee and SAF levy
- 8. Processing times and current priority order
- 9. How 186 relates to 482 and 494
- 10. Who can help if you need assistance?
- FAQ
1. Subclass 186 at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Visa type | Permanent; you are a permanent resident from the grant date |
| Streams | Temporary Residence Transition, Direct Entry, Labour Agreement |
| Two-step process | The employer lodges a nomination; you must apply for the visa within 6 months of the nomination being approved |
| Age | Usually under 45 when you apply, with stream-specific exemptions |
| English | At least Competent English for TRT and DE; set by the agreement for Labour Agreement |
| Main applicant charge | AUD 6,140 |
| Where you can apply | In or outside Australia; if in Australia you must hold a substantive visa or a Bridging visa A, B or C |
| After grant | Live, work and study indefinitely, enrol in Medicare; travel facility lasts 5 years, after which a Resident Return visa is needed to re-enter |
| Expectation | Home Affairs expects you to work for the nominating employer for at least 2 years and to start within 6 months of grant (or of arrival) |
The criteria are the same for every nationality. The one area where your passport matters is how you prove English (section 5).
2. The three streams compared
| Criterion | TRT (482 to 186) | Direct Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Visa you must hold | Primary holder of a subclass 457 or 482 visa (any stream), or an eligible bridging visa | No specific visa; if applying in Australia, a substantive visa or Bridging visa A, B or C |
| Work experience | 2 years of full-time eligible sponsored employment in the 3 years before applying | Most applicants need at least 3 years of relevant experience (waived if exempt from the skills assessment) |
| Skills assessment | You must have the skills and qualifications for the occupation; Home Affairs might ask for an assessment | Positive assessment required before lodging, unless exempt |
| Occupation | Listed in ANZSCO and the same as your most recently approved nomination | On the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) |
| Age | Under 45; exemptions below | Under 45; exemptions below |
| English | Competent English; no exemption for this stream since 16 November 2019 | Competent English |
| Nominating employer | Must be the last employer to sponsor you to work full-time on your 457 or 482 visa | An employer actively and lawfully operating a business in Australia |
Source: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs (CC BY 3.0 AU), accessed 2026-11-13
Age exemptions
- TRT: academics (Academic Level A to E) nominated by an Australian university; scientists, researchers or technical specialists at ANZSCO skill level 1 or 2 nominated by an Australian government scientific agency or university; medical practitioners who worked in that occupation in a designated regional area for at least 2 of the last 3 years on a 457 or 482 visa, where the nominated position is also regional; and 457 or 482 holders with 2 years of eligible sponsored employment in the last 3 years whose earnings in each of those years were at least the Fair Work High Income Threshold. A transitional rule lets people who held (or had applied for and were later granted) a 457 visa on 18 April 2017 apply if under 50.
- Direct Entry: eligible university academic positions nominated by an Australian university (check the official page for the levels covered); scientists, researchers or technical specialists at ANZSCO skill level 1 or 2 nominated by a federal, state or territory government science agency or an Australian university; and subclass 444 or 461 visa holders who worked for the nominating employer in the nominated position for at least 2 of the last 3 years, not counting unpaid leave.
Labour Agreement stream
| Criterion | Labour Agreement stream |
|---|---|
| Who it is for | People who work, or plan to work, for an employer that is party to a labour agreement with the Australian Government |
| Employer | The agreement must include a permanent residence option and list the nominated occupation |
| Age | Under 45 unless the agreement provides otherwise |
| English, skills, experience | As set out in the agreement; a skills assessment only if Home Affairs asks |
| Visa held | If in Australia, a substantive 457 or 482 visa issued under a labour agreement |
3. 482 to 186: how TRT counts your 2 years
TRT is the stream most Skills in Demand (subclass 482) holders look at when planning for permanent residence. Home Affairs describes the requirement as 2 years of "eligible sponsored employment" in the 3 years before the visa application. To count, the employment must be:
- full-time;
- undertaken in Australia;
- undertaken while you held a 457, 482 or eligible bridging visa; and
- in an occupation your 457 or 482 visa was granted for.
Two clarifications appear on the official page. If you held more than one 457 or 482 visa in the 3 years, sponsored employment in any occupation you were approved for can count. If you changed employers and began working for the new one before its nomination was approved, time can be counted from the date that later-approved nomination was lodged.
From 29 November 2025: only work for an approved work sponsor counts
The Migration Amendment (Skilled Visa Reform Technical Measures) Regulations 2025 commenced on 29 November 2025 and inserted the words "by an approved work sponsor" after "employed" in subclauses 186.227(1) and (2) of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations 1994. The Explanatory Statement notes that non-sponsored work in the same occupation could previously be counted; now the 2 years of full-time work (excluding unpaid leave) must have been completed with an approved work sponsor. The change applies to subclass 186 visa applications made on or after 29 November 2025; applications lodged earlier are not affected.
Three further points. The nominating employer must be the most recent one to sponsor you to work full-time. At the time of application you must be the primary holder of a 457 or 482 visa, or hold a bridging visa linked to a 457, 482, 186 or 187 application with a 457 or 482 as your last substantive visa. And the nominated occupation must be in ANZSCO and match your most recently approved nomination. The page says "any stream" for both the 457 and 482 visas.
Evidence listed by Home Affairs includes the employment period, paid and unpaid leave, overseas trips for work or training, PAYG payment summaries, employment contracts, payslips and leave record extracts.
4. Direct Entry: no 482 visa required
Direct Entry does not require a 482 visa or a period of work with the nominating employer, and it can be lodged from outside Australia. Instead, the skills evidence is more formal:
- CSOL occupation. The nominated occupation must be on the Core Skills Occupation List. Some occupations carry caveats; for chefs, for example, the position cannot be in a fast food or takeaway food service.
- Positive skills assessment. You need it before lodging the visa application, issued no more than 3 years earlier. Assessments obtained for a subclass 485 visa are not accepted.
- At least 3 years of relevant work experience. This applies to most applicants; those exempt from the skills assessment are also exempt from the experience requirement.
- Licensing or registration. Required where it is mandatory in the state or territory of work.
The skills assessment exemptions cover academics nominated by an Australian university, scientists, researchers or technical specialists nominated by an Australian government scientific agency, and 444 or 461 visa holders with 2 years in the nominated position over the last 3 years.
In practice the difference between the streams is the kind of proof: TRT relies on your record of work for an approved sponsor on a 482 visa, while Direct Entry relies on a skills assessment and prior experience. Which stream fits depends on individual visa, occupation and work history, which this article does not assess.
5. English: Competent English score table
Both TRT and Direct Entry require at least Competent English. You can show it with a valid passport from, and citizenship of, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland, or with one of the test results below. Every other passport needs a test result. That includes Brazil, Colombia, Chile and other Latin American countries, as well as South Africa, India and the Philippines.
The approved tests and scores changed on 7 August 2025, so the scores depend on when you sat the test:
| Test (listening / reading / writing / speaking) | Taken on or after 7 Aug 2025 | Taken on or before 6 Aug 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic or General Training) | 6 / 6 / 6 / 6 | 6 / 6 / 6 / 6 |
| PTE Academic | 47 / 48 / 51 / 54 | 50 / 50 / 50 / 50 |
| TOEFL iBT | 16 / 16 / 19 / 19 | 12 / 13 / 21 / 21 |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced | 163 / 163 / 170 / 179 | 169 / 169 / 169 / 169 |
| OET | 290 / 310 / 290 / 330 | B / B / B / B |
| CELPIP General | 7 / 7 / 7 / 7 | Not in that table |
| Michigan English Test (MET) | 56 / 55 / 57 / 48 | Not in that table |
| LANGUAGECERT Academic | 57 / 60 / 64 / 70 | Not in that table |
Source: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs (CC BY 3.0 AU), accessed 2026-11-13
- For the 186 visa, results cannot have been issued more than 3 years before you apply, and you must have them before you lodge.
- Results from tests taken on or before 6 August 2025 may be used until 6 August 2028, depending on the visa.
- PTE Academic kept its name, but the test and scores differ, so check the column that matches your test date.
- For TOEFL iBT you must select "Taking TOEFL for Australia" when registering.
- Fully online or at-home tests such as IELTS Online, TOEFL iBT Home Edition and OET@Home are not accepted.
- Family members aged 18 or over need Functional English, or a second instalment applies (section 7).
6. The employer side: nomination and salary threshold
According to the official stream pages, the nominating business and position must meet these conditions:
- The business actively and lawfully operates in Australia, has no adverse information against it and complies with immigration and workplace laws.
- There is a genuine need for a paid employee in the skilled position.
- The position is full-time and ongoing for at least 2 years, and the contract must not limit it to 2 years.
- Terms and conditions are no less favourable than those of an Australian citizen or permanent resident doing the same work.
- The Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy is paid when the nomination is lodged.
Salary threshold: the CSIT is AUD 79,423
Where the worker will earn less than AUD 250,000 a year, the employer must show that the annual market salary rate (AMSR) was determined correctly, that the worker will not be paid less than the AMSR, and that both the AMSR and the pay, excluding non-monetary benefits, are no less than the relevant income threshold. The Home Affairs salary requirements page states that the CSIT has applied to subclass 186 nominations lodged on or after 7 December 2024:
| Nomination lodged | CSIT |
|---|---|
| 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 | AUD 79,423 |
| 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026 | AUD 76,515 |
| 7 December 2024 to 30 June 2025 | AUD 73,150 |
Source: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs (CC BY 3.0 AU), accessed 2026-11-13
The figure of 79,499 that circulates online does not appear on the Home Affairs page; the official number is 79,423. Thresholds are indexed each 1 July, and the amount that applies is set by the date the nomination is lodged.
7. Costs: visa charge, nomination fee and SAF levy
| Cost | Amount | Paid by |
|---|---|---|
| Visa application charge, main applicant | AUD 6,140 | Applicant |
| Family member aged 18 or over | AUD 3,070 each | Applicant |
| Family member under 18 | AUD 1,535 each | Applicant |
| Second instalment, adult family member with less than Functional English | AUD 4,890 each (AUD 9,800 for a main applicant) | Applicant |
| Nomination fee | AUD 540, subject to stream and location; no fee for regional positions under TRT and Labour Agreement | Employer |
| SAF levy, annual turnover under AUD 10 million | AUD 3,000 one-off | Employer |
| SAF levy, annual turnover of AUD 10 million or more | AUD 5,000 one-off | Employer |
Source: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs (CC BY 3.0 AU), accessed 2026-11-13
The visa application charge is the same in all three streams. Home Affairs states that employers must not pass the SAF levy on to the visa applicant. Health checks, police certificates, biometrics and skills assessments are extra. A lower charge has applied since 1 July 2026 to passport holders of certain Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste only.
8. Processing times and current priority order
Subclass 186 visa applications are prioritised under Ministerial Direction 122, in effect since 19 September 2026. The 186 page (last updated 2 November 2026; accessed 2026-11-13, and these months change as Home Affairs updates the page) shows which lodgement months are currently being processed:
| Priority | Currently processing applications lodged in |
|---|---|
| 1. Construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing and resources sectors, or Australia's law enforcement and defence interests | November 2025 |
| 2. Other applicants who were in Australia when they lodged | March 2025 |
| 3. Primary applicant outside Australia at lodgement, application never combined with another person's | November 2024 |
| 4. All other offshore applications | July 2024 |
Source: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs (CC BY 3.0 AU), accessed 2026-11-13
Home Affairs warns that allocation dates and timeframes may fluctuate while it transitions to the new priorities, and that some may temporarily increase. For individual timeframes it points to its visa processing time guide tool, which reflects recently decided applications only; incomplete applications and verification checks add time. Our explainer on skilled visa processing priorities under MD 121 and 122 covers the full order.
9. How 186 relates to 482 and 494
| Visa | Type and length | Link to permanent residence |
|---|---|---|
| 482 Skills in Demand | Temporary, up to 4 years in most cases; the Core Skills stream needs at least 1 year of relevant experience | The official page says your employer may be able to sponsor you for permanent residence through the 186; TRT is that pathway |
| 186 Employer Nomination Scheme | Permanent | Permanent resident on grant |
| 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional | Provisional, 5 years, with living, working and studying limited to designated regional areas | If eligible, you can apply for the permanent 191 visa after holding the 494 for 3 years |
Designated regional areas cover all of Australia except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. The income threshold used for the 494 (TSMIT) is also AUD 79,423 for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027.
Many international graduates and working holiday makers first work in Australia on a Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa or a subclass 417 or 462 visa before an employer sponsors them on a 482. Time worked on those visas, or on a student visa, is not 457 or 482 sponsored employment for TRT, and a skills assessment obtained for a 485 is not accepted for Direct Entry. Where no employer nomination is available, state nomination for the 190 and 491 visas is a separate, points-tested system.
10. Who can help if you need assistance?
You can apply for the subclass 186 visa yourself in ImmiAccount. If you want someone else to give you immigration assistance (assessing your eligibility, preparing or lodging an application, or dealing with Home Affairs for you), the Migration Act allows only a registered migration agent (with a MARN) or an Australian legal practitioner to provide it. You can search the register on the OMARA website, mara.gov.au.
Level Up Studies can help with course planning and school applications. This article is general information and is not migration advice.
FAQ
Q1: Do I need 2 years with the same employer to move from a 482 to a 186?
The TRT page asks for 2 years of full-time eligible sponsored employment in the 3 years before you apply and does not say it must all be with one employer. However, the employer nominating you must be the last one to sponsor you to work full-time on your 457 or 482 visa, and for applications made on or after 29 November 2025 the 2 years must have been with an approved work sponsor.
Q2: Which passports are exempt from the English test for the 186 visa?
Only citizens holding a valid passport from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland can show Competent English without a test. All other applicants need an approved test result, such as IELTS 6 in each band or the PTE Academic scores set by Home Affairs.
Q3: Is the 186 salary threshold AUD 79,423 or AUD 79,499?
The Home Affairs salary requirements page lists the Core Skills Income Threshold as AUD 79,423 for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. The figure 79,499 does not appear there. For positions paying under AUD 250,000, both the market salary rate and the actual pay must be at least the threshold.
Q4: Can I apply for Direct Entry without ever holding a 482 visa?
Yes, the Direct Entry criteria do not require a 482 visa, and you can apply from outside Australia. You need an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List, a positive skills assessment before lodging and, for most applicants, at least 3 years of relevant work experience, plus the age, English, health and character requirements.
Q5: How much does the 186 visa cost, and can my employer charge me the SAF levy?
The visa application charge is AUD 6,140 for the main applicant, AUD 3,070 for each family member aged 18 or over and AUD 1,535 for each child under 18. The employer pays the nomination fee and the SAF levy of AUD 3,000 or AUD 5,000, and Home Affairs states that the levy must not be passed on to the visa applicant.
Q6: How long is 186 processing taking right now?
As updated on 2 November 2026 (accessed 2026-11-13), Home Affairs was processing priority-sector applications lodged in November 2025, other onshore applications lodged in March 2025, standalone offshore applications lodged in November 2024 and all other offshore applications lodged in July 2024. It warns that these dates may fluctuate during the transition to Ministerial Direction 122, so check the official page for the latest months.
Planning to study in Australia? Level Up Studies offers free study and course counselling:
- Melbourne Head Office: +61 3 8590 3229 | contactus@levelupstudies.com | 1/105 Queen Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
- LINE: add our official account
Related reading
- Skilled Visa Processing Priorities 2026: MD 121 and 122
- 485 Visa Australia 2026: Requirements, Fees and Family Rules
- Australian State Nomination 2026–27: 190/491 by State
Sources
- Department of Home Affairs: Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) – Temporary Residence Transition stream, accessed 2026-11-13
- Department of Home Affairs: Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) – Direct Entry stream, accessed 2026-11-13
- Department of Home Affairs: Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) – Labour Agreement stream, accessed 2026-11-13
- Department of Home Affairs: Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa, accessed 2026-11-13
- Department of Home Affairs: Competent English, accessed 2026-11-13
- Department of Home Affairs: Salary requirements to nominate a worker, accessed 2026-11-13
- Department of Home Affairs: Cost of sponsoring, accessed 2026-11-13
- Department of Home Affairs: Current visa pricing, accessed 2026-11-13
- Department of Home Affairs: Skilled visa processing priorities, accessed 2026-11-13
- Department of Home Affairs: Skilled occupation list, accessed 2026-11-13
- Department of Home Affairs: Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) – Core Skills stream, accessed 2026-11-13
- Department of Home Affairs: Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) – Employer Sponsored stream, accessed 2026-11-13
- Federal Register of Legislation: Migration Amendment (Skilled Visa Reform Technical Measures) Regulations 2025 (F2025L01389), accessed 2026-11-13
- Federal Register of Legislation: Explanatory Statement, F2025L01389, accessed 2026-11-13
- Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA), accessed 2026-11-13
Disclaimer: 1. This article is general information only and is not migration or legal advice. 2. We have a qualified education agent counsellor (QEAC #2822) who can help with study planning, but visa decisions rest with the Australian Government. 3. Figures and rules are as shown on official pages accessed on 2026-11-13. 4. Course details, fees, start dates, and migration policies are subject to change. Please check the latest announcements from the school and the Australian Department of Home Affairs.
For personalised study or migration planning, please contact our professional advisory team.
Registered Migration Agent MARA: 2519162
Qualified Education Agent Counsellor QEAC: 2822