Subclass 186 — Employer Nomination Scheme

Permanent residence sponsored by your Australian employer. The standard PR pathway after holding a 482 work visa for 2+ years. Direct Entry stream also available offshore for skilled workers without prior 482 history.

Employer-led

The three streams

Direct Entry (DE)

3+ years skilled work in nominated occupation, positive skills assessment, employer nomination on a job in MLTSSL, IELTS 6.0 each band.

Most accessible offshore route — no prior 482 visa required.

Temporary Residence Transition (TRT)

Held subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) for 2-3 years with same employer in same occupation. Employer nominates for PR.

Most common route — typical 482 → 186 progression after 2 years.

Labour Agreement

Employer holds an active Labour Agreement with the Department covering the role.

Niche — specific industries (e.g. meat processing, restaurants).

Eligibility (Direct Entry)

Age

Under 45 at time of application (some exemptions for high earners and academics).

Occupation on MLTSSL

Job must be on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List. Verify with the latest list at home affairs as the list shifts.

Skills assessment

Positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority (e.g. Engineers Australia, ACS, ANMAC).

Work experience

At least 3 years full-time skilled work in the nominated occupation. Combinable across employers and countries.

English

Competent English (IELTS 6.0 each band) — or equivalent. Higher scores helpful but not required for DE.

Employer nomination

Australian employer nominates a genuine, full-time, ongoing position in your occupation. Salary at or above AMSR (Annual Market Salary Rate) for the role.

Health + character

Standard medicals + police clearances from each country lived 12+ months in the last 10 years.

The application process

Confirm employer is willing to sponsor

Employer must hold or apply for Standard Business Sponsorship if not already nominating elsewhere. Nomination fee AUD 540.

Skills assessment (DE only)

Positive skills assessment in nominated occupation — typically 4-6 months for engineers, 4-12 weeks for IT (ACS).

Employer lodges nomination

Form 1395 + supporting evidence: position description, market salary research, evidence of need.

You lodge visa application

Form 47SK via ImmiAccount with skills assessment, English test, work evidence, and supporting documents. Visa fee AUD 4,765.

Department assesses both

Nomination + visa typically assessed in parallel. Bridging visa keeps you onshore if applying onshore.

Grant

PR granted; full work rights for principal + spouse + dependants. 5-year travel facility.

Notes for South African applicants

Most SA applicants reach 186 via the 482 → 186 route. Find an AU employer willing to sponsor on a 482, work for them 2 years in the same role, then they nominate you for 186 TRT. Total 4-5 years from arrival to PR.

Direct Entry is for offshore applicants with strong CVs. SA professionals with 8+ years experience in MLTSSL occupations often qualify. Senior engineers, healthcare professionals, and specialist IT roles are typical.

Skills assessment is the bottleneck. Don't underestimate the time and quality of evidence required. Apply early — the assessment outcome is needed before the employer nomination is lodged.

Salary must hit AMSR. The Department checks the nominated salary against current market rates for the role + city. Below-market offers get refused. Get an Australian recruiter's indicative salary before signing the offer.

Build your 186 ENS document checklist

Personalised checklist covering nomination evidence + skills assessment + visa application — print or save as PDF.

General information only. For advice specific to your situation consult a MARA-registered migration agent or Australian immigration lawyer.