186 Visa Australia is a visa program under the Employer Sponsored Visas schemes which is provided by the government of Australia. The 186 visa Australia or the Employer Nominated Scheme is a visa that provides Permanent Residency (PR) through employer sponsorship across direct entry, temporary Residence transition, and Labour Agreement streams. Unlike other visa schemes that are points-tested, the 186 visa Australia is a direct and an employer driven visa that ultimately leads to PR in Australia. With dynamic changes in the migration scenes in Australia, the 186 visa Australia has become widely popular and is considered a gold standard in the Australian migration schemes.
In this comprehensive guide by BJay Education and Visa Services, you can get all the required details about the 186 Visa Australia verified against the latest Departments of Home Affairs (DHA) standards.
What is 186 Visa Australia?
The 186 visa Australia also known as the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) is a visa program that provides permanent residency to skilled workers, which are nominated by an approved Australian employer, to live and work in Australia permanently. It is a one-step or two-step process (depending on the stream) that helps you bypass the “temporary” nature of other visas and grants you full PR from day one of application. The Visa 186 Australia offers three pathways i.e.
- Direct Entry (DE) Stream: If you are a skilled worker who might be outside of Australia or haven’t worked in Australia before then this is the stream for you. The DE requires a positive skills assessment and 3 years of full-time work experience.
- Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) Stream: If you are currently a provisional visa holder of a 482 (TSS) or 457 visa who have worked for their employer for at least 2 years then this is the desirable pathway.
- Labour Agreement Stream: If you are looking for employers with a specific, negotiated agreement with the Australian government, then this is the designated stream.
| Stream | Target Group | Experience | Location | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Direct Entry (DE) |
Overseas/new workers |
3 years post-qualification |
Anywhere |
12-19 months |
|
TRT |
482/457 holders |
2 years with sponsor |
Same employer |
13-18 months |
|
Labour Agreement |
Labour Agreement |
Varies |
Negotiated |
5-9 months |
Key Features of 186 Visa Australia:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
|
Visa Type |
Permanent Residency (PR) |
|
Age Limit |
Under 45 (Exemptions apply) |
|
English Level |
Competent level (IELTS 6.0 or equivalent scores) |
|
Work Rights |
Full, unrestricted work rights in nominated stream |
|
Path to Citizenship |
Eligible after 4 years of residency in Australia |
186 Visa Australia vs 190 Visa Australia
One of the most frequent dilemmas for skilled migrants in 2025-2026 is choosing between the 186 visa Australia (Employer Nomination Scheme) and the 190 Skilled Nominated Visa. A common question arises while choosing between both is which is better?
While both visa result in providing you with Permanent Residency (PR), the actual better path depends entirely on you and whether you prefer the security of a guaranteed job or the flexibility of the career.
While the 186 Visa Australia is a employer-driven visa and is an ideal visa program for working professionals who are already a part of an Australian company or have a highly secured job. The 190 Visa is a state-nominated and a points-tested visa which provides preferred choice for you if you want independence from a single employer.
| Feature | 186 Visa (Employer Sponsored) | 190 Visa (State Nominated) |
|---|---|---|
| Selection Basis | Employer Nomination | Points Test + State Nomination |
| Independence | Low (Tied to your sponsor) | High (Work for any employer) |
| Points Required | N/A (Non-points tested) | Minimum 65 (Competitive) |
| Location | Anywhere in Australia | Nominating State (First 2 years) |
| Experience | 3 years (Direct Entry) or 2 years (TRT) | 1+ year (Usually required by states) |
| Skills Assessment | Mandatory (Direct Entry) | Mandatory |
| Processing Time | 12–19 Months | 9–19 Months |
| Best For | Stable employees with strong sponsors | Competitive applicants seeking flexibility |
Core Skills Occupation List 2025
Currently CSOL or the Core Skills Occupation List have replaced the old and traditional MLTSSL and STSOL lists. The CSOL list is more dynamic, focusing on 29% of occupations currently in critical shortage.
Priority Sectors of CSOL:
- Healthcare: Registered Nurses, Aged Care Workers, General Practitioners.
- Construction: Project Managers, Civil Engineers, Quantity Surveyors.
- Technology: Cyber Security Specialists, AI Engineers, Data Scientists.
- Education: Early Childhood Teachers, Secondary School Teachers.
Top Demanded CSOL Occupations
| Rank | Occupation | ANZSCO Code | Sector | Annual Vacancies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Registered Nurse (Aged Care) | 254418 | Healthcare | 45,000+ |
| 2 | Software Engineer | 261313 | IT | 28,000+ |
| 3 | Civil Engineer | 233211 | Engineering | 12,000+ |
| 4 | Electrician | 341111 | Trades | 18,000+ |
| 5 | General Practitioner | 253111 | Healthcare | 8,500+ |
| 6 | Cyber Security Analyst | 262116 | IT | 6,200+ |
| 7 | Plumber | 334111 | Trades | 10,000+ |
| 8 | Secondary School Teacher | 241411 | Education | 7,800+ |
| 9 | Mechanical Engineer | 233512 | Engineering | 5,400+ |
| 10 | Aged Care Worker | 423313 | Healthcare | 22,000+ |
| 11 | Carpenter | 331212 | Trades | 9,500+ |
| 12 | ICT Business Analyst | 261111 | IT | 4,800+ |
| 13 | Anesthetist | 253211 | Healthcare | 2,100+ |
| 14 | Agricultural Technician | 311112 | Agriculture | 3,200+ |
| 15 | Construction Manager | 133111 | Construction | 6,700+ |
| 16 | Pharmacy Technician | 311215 | Healthcare | 4,500+ |
| 17 | Network Administrator | 262113 | IT | 3,900+ |
| 18 | Civil Engineering Technician | 312212 | Engineering | 2,800+ |
| 19 | Early Childhood Teacher | 241111 | Education | 5,200+ |
| 20 | Motor Mechanic | 321211 | Trades | 7,100+ |
Source: ANZSCO
186 Visa Australia Requirements
The major reason that causes 186 visa Australia refusals isn’t involve the applicant’s skill, but it is due to the applicant disability to meet the “Genuine Need” criteria of the 186 Visa Australia. For you to satisfy 186 visa Australia requirements, here are the criteria you must meet:
- Employer or the business must be in active and operating state and prove that they require Genuine Need for a full-time position that is available for at least 2 years.
- The occupation you are looking to apply for must be included on the MLTSSL (Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List) or the updated Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL).
- You must have a Positive Skills Assessment from concerned authorities like VETASSESS, ACS, EA.
- You must have at least 3 years of full-time work experience in the nominated position.
- You are required to have Competent English meaning having the IELTS score of 6.0 or overall, 50 in PTE.
- You must be under the age of 45 at the time of application
- Your salary must meet the requirement of Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) and at least needs to be AUD $76,515 (TSMIT/CSIT) as of July 1, 2025.
186 Visa Australia Processing Time
As per the data given by the DHA in late 2025, the DHA clears backlogs, but “Decision Ready” applications are still being prioritized which shows 50% completed within 13 months, 90% within 19 months.
| Stream | 50% of Applications | 90% of Applications |
|---|---|---|
|
Direct Entry Stream |
12 Months |
19 Months |
|
TRT Stream |
13 Months |
18 Months |
|
Labour Agreement |
5 Months |
9 Months |
Source: [DHA Global Visa Processing Times – Verified Dec 2025]
186 Visa Australia Fees
The 186 visa Australia fee for the current application as of late 2025 given by the DHA can be found below with distinct cost between the Applicant and the sponsor.
Applicant Costs:
| Applicant Type | Fee (AUD) |
|---|---|
|
Main Applicant |
AUD $4,910 |
|
Additional Applicant (18+) |
AUD $2,455 |
|
Additional Applicant (<18) |
AUD $1,230 |
Source: DHA – 186 Costs
Employer Costs:
- Nomination Fee: $540
- Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) Levy: $3,000 (Small business) or $5,000 (Large business).
Note: According to the law stated by the Australian government, the employer or the business is required to pay the SAF levy and nomination fee.
186 Visa Australia Document Checklist
As discussed earlier in the article, most of the applications related to the 186 visa Australia are rejected due to failing to adhere to the strict rules provided by the DHA, here is a 186 visa Australia document checklist that will provide you with a guide to meticulously organize and arrange the required documents for the successful outcome of the application:
- Employer nomination approval (TRN)
- Skills assessment outcome letter
- IELTS/PTE results (competent English)
- Employment reference letters (3 years)
- Payslips, tax records proving experience
- Passport, birth/marriage certificates that provides identification proof
- Health examinations (HAP ID)
- Police certificates (12+ months past 10 years)
Step-by-Step 186 Visa Application Process
For you to successfully get your 186 visa Australia you should draft your application with the help of the steps below
- Step 1: Employer should secure a Standard Business Sponsor (SBS) and are required to conduct mandatory Labour Market Testing for 4 weeks to give proof that the local labour force cannot satisfy the vacancy and there is an actual shortage.
- Step 2: The business must Lodge the nomination and pay the SAF levy fees.
- Step 3: You must obtain a Positive Skills Assessment from a verifies designated body like the VETASSESS, TRA or ACS that verify that you meet the Australian standards.
- Step 4: After the nomination is lodged, the applicant submits their visa application through ImmiAccount with a base fee.
- Step 5: You must provide health and character certificates like English competency test result (IELTS or PTE) and HAP-ID.
- Step 6: The Department conducts a thorough review, often taking 6–12 months, specifically scrutinizing the “Genuine Need” for the role within the business.
- Step 7: Upon the grant of the 1816 visa, your Permanent Residency is activated, granting you full work and travel rights across Australia.
Common Refusal Reasons for 186 visa and solutions
In the current migration scenario of Australia, a subclass 186 visa Australia is a significantly a achievement, but it still remains as one of the most scrutinized visa programs available in Australia. Despite this, even if a person has sponsor and top-notch skills, the visa application may be rejected due to technicalities or a lack of required evidence from the Department of Home Affairs. Hence, here are the common refusal reasons and the solution that can be implemented to avoid them.
- Inaccurate LMT: While Labour Market Testing is not always required for the 186, the employer or the sponsor must be able to prove the Genuine Need of the skilled worker to be eligible. If the business has recently seen significant layoffs, the DHA may refuse the nomination.
- ANZSCO Mismatch: Another major cause that can result in your application refusal is that your daily duties must align at least 80% with the official ANZSCO description. For example: If you are nominated as a “Marketing Specialist” but perform the duties related to “Sales Representative”, your visa will be automatically refused.
- Financial Capacity: If the sponsor or the business that is sponsoring you is a Small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs), then it must provide the profit-and-loss statements proving they can afford your salary for at least 24 months.
Common FAQs on 191 Visa
A 186 visa Australia or Employer Nomination Scheme visa program exists for the skilled workforce that provides direct permanent residency either through Direct Entry or TRT.
One of the major ways in which both 186 visas and 482 visas differ is that 186 visas are permanent visas, and 482 visas are the temporary work visas of employees.
To make you eligible for a PR with 186 visa, it is Immediate PR with the processing time of maximum 19 months from lodgment.
Comparing the two visa types in the employment schemes: the 186 visas and the 190 visas, the 186 visa would be the better visa because the 186 visa is a nomination visa and does not include the points system.
Yes, you must be under 45 years of age when you apply. However, you will qualify for exemption if you earn above the Fair Work High Income Threshold.
Get your free Consultation with BJay
The transition process to the Permanent Residence is the final and the most rewarding step in your Australian PR journey. However, from late 2025 onwards, due to stricter regulation by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), the application process itself has become harder. Also, if you overlook even a minute detail while submitting the application, you may end up waiting for PR for months or even have it rejected.
At BJay Education & Migration, we specialize in providing the best support we can offer. We are currently offering a completely free, non-obligatory consultation to help you with your queries so that you can investigate the process without stress and gain a positive result.
