186 Nomination Australia: Streams, Age Limits and Salary Requirements

A 186 nomination is how an Australian employer nominates a skilled worker for permanent residency under the Employer Nomination Scheme, using one of three streams – Temporary Residence Transition, Direct Entry, or Labour Agreement. Applicants must generally be under 45 and meet a minimum salary of AUD $76,515. As at 2026, Direct Entry processing is currently running at 17 to 20 months.

186 Nomination Streams Compared

3 Steps to Lodging a 186 Nomination

1. Choose the Right Stream: Confirm whether TRT, Direct Entry, or Labour Agreement applies based on the worker’s visa history and occupation.
2. Check Age and Salary Thresholds: Confirm the worker is under 45 (unless exempt) and that the salary meets both the TSMIT and the AMSR.
3. Prepare and Lodge: Compile the skills assessment (if Direct Entry), English test results, and salary evidence, then lodge the nomination and visa application.

Overview

For many 482 visa holders, the real destination is permanent residency under the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186). The 186 nomination is the employer’s part of that process, and the stream chosen – Temporary Residence Transition, Direct Entry, or Labour Agreement – shapes everything that follows. This guide covers the streams, the eligibility rules, and the practical planning points employers and workers need to know.

What is a 186 nomination in Australia?

A 186 nomination is the formal process by which an Australian employer nominates a skilled overseas worker for permanent residency under the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS). It is the employer’s role in the permanent residency process – committing to employ the worker on an ongoing basis in a genuine skilled position.

For many skilled workers and their employers, the 186 nomination represents the culmination of a planned pathway that began with the Standard Business Sponsorship and 482 visa. The nomination is the employer’s declaration to the Department of Home Affairs that this worker is the right person for this role on a permanent basis – and that the role itself meets the requirements for permanent sponsorship.

From our experience working with employer clients through the 186 process, the nominations that succeed most cleanly are the ones where the employer has been thoughtful about the role from the beginning – where the occupation code, salary, and duties have been consistently documented from the 482 nomination stage through to the 186 application.

The 186 nomination connects directly to the worker’s 186 visa application – in most cases both are lodged at the same time, though the nomination must be approved before the visa can be granted. Once granted, the worker becomes a permanent resident from the date of the visa grant – not a provisional or conditional status, but full permanent residency.

For an overview of the 186 nomination process see https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/employer-nomination-scheme-186

The Three Nomination Streams

The Employer Nomination Scheme 186 visa operates under three distinct streams, and the stream that applies to a worker determines the eligibility criteria, required documentation, and processing approach for both the nomination and the visa application.

The Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream is the most common pathway and is available to workers who have held a Subclass 482 or 457 visa and have completed at least two years of full-time work in the nominated occupation with their sponsoring employer – or across multiple sponsors under the cumulative experience rules introduced in recent years. The TRT stream does not require a formal skills assessment, which makes it a more streamlined pathway for workers already established in Australia.

The Direct Entry stream is available to workers who are either offshore or have not previously held a 482 or 457 visa, or who have not yet accumulated the required work history with their employer. It requires a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority and at least three years of relevant work experience. Processing times for the Direct Entry stream are considerably longer than the TRT stream – currently 17 to 20 months as at February 2026.

The Labour Agreement stream applies to workers being nominated under an approved Labour Agreement between the employer and the Australian Government. These arrangements are less common and are typically negotiated for industries or regions with specific workforce needs.

One of the most important conversations we have with clients considering a 186 nomination is confirming which stream genuinely applies to their circumstances before any lodgement decisions are made. Applying under the wrong stream – even when the worker would otherwise be eligible – can result in refusal.

For stream details see https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/employer-nomination-scheme-186

What work experience is required for a 186 nomination?

The work experience required for a 186 nomination depends on which stream the application is made under, and the distinction matters enormously in terms of both eligibility and what evidence needs to be provided.

For the Temporary Residence Transition stream, the worker must have completed at least two years of full-time work in the nominated occupation while holding a Subclass 482 or 457 visa. Critically, this two-year period is now accumulated across multiple sponsors – it does not need to have been completed with the nominating employer only. Workers who changed employers during their 482 visa period can have their combined experience counted, provided it was with approved sponsors.

For the Direct Entry stream, three years of relevant work experience is required, and a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority must be obtained before the nomination can be lodged. The skills assessment is conducted by the body responsible for the nominated occupation and assesses whether the worker’s qualifications and experience meet the Australian standard. This process can take several months and should be initiated well in advance of the intended lodgement date.

Work experience needs to be clearly documented in both streams. For TRT, the focus is on employment records, payslips, and confirmation from employers that the work was genuinely performed in the nominated occupation. For Direct Entry, the skills assessing authority will specify its own evidence requirements, which vary by occupation.

We consistently advise clients to begin gathering work experience documentation well before they intend to lodge – reconstructing employment history in a hurry at application time is one of the most preventable delays in the process.

For stream requirements see https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/employer-nomination-scheme-186

What age limit applies to a 186 nomination?

Applicants for the 186 visa must be under 45 years of age at the time the visa application is lodged. This requirement applies to the primary applicant and is assessed strictly – being 45 years and one day at lodgement means ineligibility, regardless of how strong the application is in every other respect.

This is one of the requirements we raise earliest with clients who are approaching the age threshold. Age is not a matter that can be managed or mitigated after the fact – it either is or is not met on the day of lodgement.

For workers in their late 30s or early 40s, the age requirement creates a real planning deadline. If the 186 application involves the Direct Entry stream – which requires a skills assessment that can take several months, and a current processing time of 17 to 20 months – lodging comfortably before the 45th birthday requires forward planning that starts years in advance.

Age exemptions do exist for certain occupations, most notably in healthcare and academia. These exemptions are set by the Minister and apply to specific occupation codes. Whether an exemption applies to a particular worker’s occupation is worth confirming before structuring any planning around it, as the exemption list is updated periodically.

We have worked with clients who came to us with only months to spare before their 45th birthday, and while it is possible to lodge a well-prepared application quickly, it creates pressure that is entirely avoidable with earlier planning. If age is a factor in your situation, the best time to get advice is now.

For current age requirement detail see https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/employer-nomination-scheme-186/who-can-apply

Occupation List for Direct Entry

For the Direct Entry stream of the 186 visa, the nominated occupation must appear on the 186 Eligible Occupations. The list currently covers 456 occupations across a broad range of industries and was developed by Jobs and Skills Australia to reflect genuine skill shortages in the Australian economy.

If the occupation does not appear on the list, the Direct Entry stream is not available – regardless of how qualified the worker is or how genuine the employer’s need. This is a hard eligibility requirement, not a discretionary one.

In addition to the occupation being listed, the worker must obtain a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for the nominated occupation before the nomination can be lodged. The assessing authority is different for each occupation group – engineers are assessed by Engineers Australia, accountants by CPA Australia or CAANZ, IT professionals by the Australian Computer Society, and so on.

The skills assessment process involves the authority comparing the worker’s qualifications and work experience against Australian standards for the occupation. The outcome is either positive or negative, and a positive outcome is a prerequisite for the Direct Entry nomination – it cannot be applied for concurrently.

For workers whose qualifications were obtained outside Australia, the skills assessment can be the most uncertain part of the process. How overseas qualifications are recognised varies by occupation and by assessing authority. This is an area where we frequently assist clients in understanding their position before they commit to the Direct Entry pathway. https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2024L01618/latest/text

What salary must an employer pay under a 186 nomination?

An employer nominating a worker for the 186 visa must pay a salary that meets two separate requirements: the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold and the Annual Market Salary Rate for the nominated position.

The Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) is currently AUD $76,515 per year. It will increase to $79,499 from 1 July 2026. This is the minimum annual earnings that must be paid to 186 visa holders and is adjusted periodically. Superannuation is generally not included in this calculation.

The Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) requirement means that the salary offered must be comparable to what an Australian employee performing the same duties in the same location and industry would receive. Where the market rate for the occupation exceeds the TSMIT, the employer must pay the market rate – not simply the threshold figure.

This dual requirement exists to protect both Australian workers (by preventing overseas workers from being used to undercut local wages) and the sponsored worker (by ensuring they receive fair remuneration for their work).

We regularly assist employers in conducting salary benchmarking at the nomination stage – using industry salary surveys, enterprise agreements, and comparable job advertisements to document that the offered salary reflects the genuine market rate. This is particularly important for occupations where the TSMIT is substantially below what the market actually pays, as the nomination can be questioned even if the threshold is technically met.

For the 186 TRT stream specifically, we also advise clients to ensure the salary being paid at the time of the 186 nomination is consistent with what was nominated under the original 482 – unexplained discrepancies can attract scrutiny.

For current threshold figures see https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-in-australia/temporary-skilled-migration-income-threshold

What English language requirements apply to a 186 nomination?

For both the Temporary Residence Transition and Direct Entry streams of the 186 visa, applicants must demonstrate at least competent English unless they qualify for an exemption.

Competent English for the 186 visa is generally demonstrated through an approved language test with the following minimum scores: IELTS 6.0 in each of the four components (reading, writing, listening, and speaking), or the equivalent score on an approved alternative test such as PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, or Cambridge C1 Advanced.

It is important to note that the requirement is a minimum score in each component – not just an average. An applicant who achieves 7.0 overall but scores 5.5 in writing, for example, does not meet the requirement. This is a common pitfall for applicants who have been working in English professionally for years but have not sat a formal test recently.

Exemptions from the English language test requirement apply to passport holders from the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, New Zealand, and the Republic of Ireland. Applicants who have completed at least five years of full-time study conducted in English may also be exempt.

For applicants whose English is strong but who have not recently sat a test, we recommend sitting the test well before the nomination is lodged. Test results are typically valid for three years, and giving yourself adequate time to re-sit if needed avoids a situation where an otherwise ready application is delayed by a borderline test outcome.

For workers in the TRT stream who have been living and working in Australia for two or more years, English proficiency is not usually an issue – but the formal test requirement still applies unless an exemption is confirmed.

For English language requirements see https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/english-language

How long does it take to process a 186 nomination?

Processing times for the 186 nomination and visa application are among the most important planning factors for both employers and workers, and the current times are substantially longer than many applicants expect.

As at early 2026, the Department of Home Affairs is reporting processing times of 17 to 20 months for 186 Direct Entry stream applications. This is a significant timeline that needs to be factored into any planning that involves an offshore worker or a worker whose current visa has limited remaining validity.

For the Temporary Residence Transition stream, processing times can differ from the Direct Entry stream, and the Department’s published figures should be checked regularly as they fluctuate. TRT applications that are straightforward and complete tend to move more predictably than Direct Entry applications, which involve additional documentation including skills assessments that may require clarification.

For workers currently in Australia on a 482 visa, the most important protection against the extended processing period is lodging the 186 nomination and visa application before the 482 visa expires. Once a valid 186 visa application is lodged, the applicant holds a Bridging visa that maintains their lawful status and work rights while the PR application is processed – regardless of how long that takes.

We advise our clients not to wait until their 482 visa is approaching expiry to begin the 186 process. Ideally the nomination is lodged with at least two to three years of validity remaining on the 482, giving a comfortable buffer against any processing variations.

For current indicative processing times see https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-processing-times/global-visa-processing-times