186 Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) – Labour Agreement stream

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Employer Nomination Scheme, subclass 186
Stream	Labour Agreement stream
Stay	Permanent; stay indefinitely
Cost	From AUD6,140
Eligibility timing	Usually under 45 at application
Work rights	Work in Australia indefinitely
Study	Study in Australia
Medicare	Eligible to enrol
Travel facility	Five years from grant
Citizenship	May apply if eligible
Family sponsorship	Sponsor eligible relatives
Family inclusion	Include eligible family members
Visa record	Digitally linked to passport
Processing	Use processing-time guide
Employer requirement	Labour-agreement employer nomination

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Purpose

This permanent skilled visa lets workers nominated under an employer labour agreement live and work in Australia permanently.

Eligibility

You must:

• Be currently working, or planning to work, for an employer under a labour agreement.
• Be nominated by an Australian business that is actively and lawfully operating and party to a labour agreement.
• Meet the labour agreement’s English, skills, experience and other position requirements.
• Be licensed, registered or a professional-body member where mandatory in your intended state or territory.
• Usually be under 45 when applying, unless the labour agreement says otherwise.
• If applying in Australia, hold a substantive subclass 457 or 482 visa issued under a labour agreement.
• Meet health requirements, with family members applying with you.
• Meet character requirements; this applies to family members aged 16 or older applying with you.
• Sign the Australian Values Statement if aged 18 or older.
• Repay Australian Government debts, or have a formal repayment arrangement.

A visa cannot be granted if the nomination is withdrawn, the position is unavailable, or adverse information about the nominator cannot reasonably be disregarded.

Past visa cancellation or refusal may affect eligibility.

Stay and Permanent Residence

The visa allows indefinite stay in Australia. You become a permanent resident on the grant date.

For citizenship purposes, permanent residence starts:

• On grant, if you are in Australia.
• On entry to Australia on this visa, if granted while outside Australia.

Cost

The main applicant charge is AUD6,140. Charges also apply for each family member.

An additional AUD4,890 second instalment applies to each family member aged 18 or older who has less than Functional English. It is invoiced after all other requirements are met.

Other possible costs include health examinations, police certificates and biometrics.

Pacific Island and Timor-Leste concession

From 1 July 2026, eligible citizens of specified Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste pay a lower visa application charge.

The primary applicant must hold a valid passport from:

• Federated States of Micronesia
• Fiji
• Kiribati
• Nauru
• Palau
• Papua New Guinea
• Republic of the Marshall Islands
• Samoa
• Solomon Islands
• Timor-Leste
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Vanuatu

Eligible family members receive the lower charge based on the primary applicant’s passport.

Rights

You can:

• Live, work and study in Australia indefinitely.
• Enrol in Medicare.
• Sponsor eligible relatives.
• Apply for Australian citizenship if eligible.
• Travel to and from Australia for five years from grant.

Newly arrived residents may need to wait before accessing certain government payments and benefits.

Family Provisions

You may include family members when applying, or add them before a decision is made.

Eligible family members include:

• Your partner.
• Your dependent child or stepchild.
• Your partner’s dependent child or stepchild.
• A dependent child or stepchild of those children.
• Certain subclass 457 or 482 holders granted those visas as your family member.

Family members applying with you must meet health and character requirements. Family members not applying may also need to meet requirements.

For dependent family members aged 18 or older, evidence must show financial dependence for at least 12 months before application.

Travel

You may travel in and out of Australia for five years from visa grant.

After the travel facility expires, obtain a Resident Return visa (RRV) to re-enter as a permanent resident. Leaving Australia after travel facility expiry without a valid travel facility may prevent return as a permanent resident.

Check travel conditions and expiry in VEVO.

Obligations

You and your family members must obey Australian laws.

You are expected to:

• Work for the nominating employer for at least two years.
• Start employment within six months of entering Australia, if granted offshore.
• Start employment within six months of grant, if granted in Australia.

Where You Can Apply

You may apply and be granted the visa either in or outside Australia, but not while in immigration clearance.

If applying in Australia, you must hold:

• A substantive visa; or
• Bridging visa A, B or C.

Documents

Main applicant

Provide:

• Current passport identity pages.
• National identity card, if held.
• Name-change evidence, if applicable.
• Australian Federal Police complete disclosure National Police Certificate.
• Overseas police certificates for countries where you spent 12 months or more during the past 10 years since turning 16.
• Military records or discharge papers, if applicable.

Do not obtain a skills assessment unless requested.

Family members

Provide identity and character documents for family members.

For a partner, provide a marriage certificate or evidence of a de facto relationship of at least 12 months, such as joint financial, billing, housing or address records.

For children under 18, provide relationship evidence and consent from any non-travelling person with legal authority over where the child lives. Use Form 1229 or a statutory declaration with identification.

For dependants aged 18 or older, provide Form 47a, relationship evidence and proof of at least 12 months’ financial dependence.

Document format

• Translate non-English documents into English.
• Upload original and translated documents.
• Scan or photograph documents in colour.
• Ensure documents are clear and multi-page documents are one file.
• Certification is not required.

Application Steps

1. Ensure your employer submits the nomination application.
2. Obtain the nomination Transaction Reference Number (TRN).
3. Gather supporting documents.
4. Apply online through ImmiAccount.
5. Attach documents and pay the application charge.
6. Record your application TRN.
7. Check ImmiAccount for requests, health examinations, biometrics or additional information.
8. Keep a valid visa while the application is processed.

A bridging visa is likely if you apply in Australia and your current visa expires before a decision.

Processing

Use the visa processing time guide for recently decided applications. It is only a guide.

Processing may take longer if the application is incomplete, documents are missing, further information is required, or information needs verification.

The application cannot be processed until the correct visa application charge is paid.

Important Warnings

• Provide accurate information; incorrect information may affect the application.
• Notify the Department of changes to contact details, passport, relationship status, childbirth, or withdrawal intentions.
• Use Form 1023 to correct incorrect answers.
• No visa application charge refund applies if the visa is refused.
• Only registered migration agents, legal practitioners or exempt persons may provide immigration assistance.
• Criminal and civil penalties may apply for benefits exchanged for visa sponsorship.
• The visa is electronically linked to your passport; no visa label is issued.