186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) – Direct Entry stream

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Employer Nomination Scheme, subclass 186
Stream	Direct Entry
Stay	Permanent
Cost	From AUD6,140
Apply from	Inside or outside Australia
Age	Under 45, unless exempt
Occupation	Core Skills Occupation List
Work rights	Work indefinitely
Study	Study indefinitely
Medicare	Eligible to enrol
Travel facility	Five years from grant
Citizenship	May apply if eligible
Family sponsorship	Sponsor eligible relatives
Visa record	Digital visa; no label
Processing	Guide tool only

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Purpose

The Direct Entry stream lets skilled workers nominated by an employer live and work in Australia permanently.

Eligibility

You must:

• Be nominated by an Australian employer actively and lawfully operating.
• Apply within 6 months of nomination approval.
• Be under 45 when applying, unless exempt.
• Have an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL).
• Have at least 3 years relevant work experience, unless exempt.
• Hold a positive skills assessment before applying, unless exempt.
• Have at least Competent English.
• Meet health and character requirements.
• Have repaid Australian Government debts, or have a formal repayment arrangement.
• Sign an Australian Values Statement if aged 18 or older.
• Hold required licensing, registration or professional membership for the intended state or territory.

The Department may consider visa cancellations or previous refusals when deciding eligibility.

Nomination requirements

The visa cannot be granted if:

• Adverse information about the nominator cannot reasonably be disregarded.
• The nomination is withdrawn.
• The nominated position is no longer available.

Your employer must provide a nomination Transaction Reference Number (TRN). You can lodge the visa application before nomination approval.

Skills assessment exemptions

You may be exempt from skills assessment and work-experience requirements if you are:

• An academic nominated by an Australian university.
• A scientist, researcher or technical specialist nominated by an Australian government scientific agency.
• A subclass 444 or 461 visa holder who worked for the nominating employer in the nominated position for at least 2 years in the previous 3 years.

A required skills assessment must be positive and generally issued within 3 years before application. Skills assessments obtained for subclass 485 visas are not accepted.

Age exemptions

Applicants aged 45 or older may be exempt if nominated as:

• An eligible academic by an Australian university.
• A scientist, researcher or technical specialist by an eligible government science agency or Australian university.
• A qualifying subclass 444 or 461 visa holder with required employment history.

Stay and Rights

This is a permanent visa. You become a permanent resident on visa grant.

You can:

• Stay in Australia indefinitely.
• Work and study in Australia.
• Enrol in Medicare.
• Sponsor eligible relatives.
• Apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible.
• Travel in and out of Australia for 5 years from grant.

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

For citizenship purposes, permanent residence starts:

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

Family Provisions

You can 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.
• Certain dependent children or stepchildren of eligible dependants.
• Eligible subclass 457 or 482 visa holders granted as your family members.

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

Applicants aged 18 or over who do not show Functional English must pay a second instalment.

Cost

The main applicant charge is AUD6,140.

Additional charges apply for each family member included in the application.

A AUD4,890 second instalment applies to each included family member aged 18 or over who has less than Functional English.

Other possible costs include:

• Health examinations.
• Police certificates.
• Biometrics.

From 1 July 2026, eligible citizens of specified Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste may receive a lower application charge. Eligibility is based on the primary applicant’s valid passport.

Application Location

You can apply from inside 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.

You can be inside or outside Australia when the Department decides the application.

Required Documents

Provide clear colour scans or photographs of all documents. Translate non-English documents into English and include both originals and translations.

Key documents may include:

• Passport identity pages and name-change evidence.
• Nomination TRN.
• Positive skills assessment, if required.
• CV or resume.
• Qualifications and employment references.
• Evidence of relevant work experience.
• Evidence of required licence, registration or professional membership.
• Competent English evidence.
• Health information, if requested.
• Australian and overseas police certificates, where required.
• Military service records or discharge papers, if applicable.
• Skills or age exemption evidence, if applicable.

Character evidence

Provide an Australian Federal Police complete disclosure National Police Certificate if you spent 12 months or more in Australia during the past 10 years since turning 16.

Provide overseas police certificates for each country where you spent 12 months or more during that period. Provide military records if you served in any country’s armed forces.

Family evidence

For partners, provide identity and character documents plus:

• Marriage certificate, or
• Evidence of a de facto relationship lasting at least 12 months.

For dependent children, provide identity, relationship and character documents as applicable.

For a child under 18 travelling without a person with legal parental responsibility, provide:

• Form 1229, or
• A statutory declaration giving consent.

For adult dependants, provide Form 47a and evidence of at least 12 months’ financial dependence.

How to Apply

1. Obtain a skills assessment, if required.
2. Complete an English test, if required.
3. Ask your employer for the nomination TRN.
4. Gather supporting documents.
5. Apply online through ImmiAccount.
6. Attach documents and pay the application charge.
7. Record your application TRN.
8. Respond promptly to any requests for further information.

The Department will not process the application until the charge is paid.

After Applying

You must:

• Provide accurate information.
• Check ImmiAccount for requests and updates.
• Stay lawful by holding a valid visa.
• Tell the Department about changed contact details, passport details, relationship status, births, errors, or withdrawal intentions.
• Use Form 1023 to correct incorrect answers.

If applying in Australia, you are likely to receive a bridging visa if your current visa expires before a decision.

The Department may request health examinations, biometrics or further documents.

Processing

Use the visa processing time guide for recently decided applications. It is indicative only and is not specific to your application.

Processing may take longer if the application is incomplete, incorrect, requires further information, or requires verification.

Obligations and Conditions

You and included family members must obey Australian laws.

You are expected to:

• Work for the nominating employer for at least 2 years.
• Begin employment within 6 months of entering Australia, if granted offshore.
• Begin employment within 6 months of visa grant, if granted in Australia.

Travel

The visa has a 5-year travel facility from grant.

After it expires, obtain a Resident Return visa before returning to Australia as a permanent resident. Check travel conditions and expiry through VEVO.

If you leave Australia after the travel facility expires without another valid travel facility, you may not be able to return as a permanent resident.

Important Warnings

• Do not pay or offer benefits in exchange for visa sponsorship. Criminal and civil penalties may apply.
• Only registered migration agents, legal practitioners and exempt persons may provide immigration assistance.
• Australian visas are digital; no passport label is issued.
• New Zealand passport holders should tell border officers they hold this permanent visa and do not want a subclass 444 visa. A subclass 444 grant may override the permanent visa and affect citizenship eligibility.