- Most Highly Rated
470+ google reviews - Top Rated Reviews
Last Update
With Australia’s vast economic and employment opportunities, a lot of skilled migrant workers are attracted to the country, enough to make them apply for permanent residency and stay here in hopes for a better life.
Obtaining an employer-sponsored visa 186, or the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa subclass 186, is seen as the ticket among skilled migrant workers toward permanent residency.
However, in order to secure that visa, applicants must first submit all pertinent documents and 186 visa requirements. In this blog post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about getting a visa 186 in Australia.
The main purpose of Visa 186 is to enable skilled workers to live and work continuously in Australia, as well as contribute to the Australian workforce.
The need for skilled migrant workers arises when employers couldn’t find available workers in the local labour market, and sponsoring the PR of qualified migrant workers can help fill genuine vacancies in these businesses. There are three streams under Visa 186, namely:
For individuals who have not previously worked or only worked for a short period in Australia, they may be sponsored by an employer under a direct entry stream. A skills assessment is mandatory to ensure the qualification and competence of the worker being nominated for a specific occupation.
To be eligible for this employer-sponsored program, you must have been employed full-time for at least three years by your current company. This is also best for applicants who have had a Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (Subclass 482) or the abolished 457 visa.
Under this stream, an employer may sponsor a skilled migrant worker through a labour agreement, provided that the conditions under that agreement are honoured and met. Typically, employers resort to this stream if the sponsored migrant worker didn’t qualify for the TRT stream. This labour agreement is negotiated upon between the employer and a representative from the Australian government.
Talk to one of our Visa Experts Now.
To be granted a permanent resident status visa through any of the above employer-sponsored visa streams, you must first meet the following 186 visa requirements and/or guidelines:
In order to properly perform your job specified on the skilled vocation list, you must possess the necessary skills. A minimum of three years of relevant work experience in your chosen profession or trade is typically required. A skills assessment is mandatory for applicants under the direct entry stream.
Your potential employer must nominate you via authorised procedures. This is done to make sure they are operating legally. If the nominee has negative information about them or the nomination is withdrawn, a visa application will be rejected.
You must be younger than 45 when applying for 186 Visa Australia. There are exceptions, however, such as for scientists, researchers, academic lecturers, or if you already hold a 444 visa and are employed by the employer who recommended you.
The candidate must be in reasonable physical condition, as must any accompanying family members. A licensed healthcare professional must conduct a health assessment on you, and they must submit the medical results on your behalf.
The goal of these character criteria is to make sure you are a nice person. You must not have a criminal record, been associated with organisations that promote antisocial behaviour, or have the potential to participate in criminal activity or cause hostilities in the Australian community. You may be required to fill out a form, make a statutory declaration, and present a police certificate for each nation you’ve ever resided in.
You must be proficient in English unless you are a citizen of the UK, USA, NZ, Canada, or Ireland. You must obtain a passing score for any of the following tests: IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, OET, or Cambridge C1 Advanced test results.
The Australian government just recently announced that access to the TRT stream for 186 visas has been expanded, effective 25 November 2023. Some of the key changes are: the removal of occupation listing, and the inclusion of all employers to nominate skilled workers under the TRT scream.
Read More: Expanding Access to the TRT Stream of SC 186 Visa – Latest Update 2023
To be granted a permanent resident status visa through any of the above employer-sponsored visa streams, you must first meet the following 186 visa requirements and/or guidelines:
1
Verify your eligibility for this visa. Do you qualify for each requirement stated above?
2
Obtain the TRN (Transaction Reference Number) from your company and ask them to sponsor you for the direct entrance stream.
3
Organise all of your documentation and take the necessary English and eligibility requirements tests as well as
assessments of your applicable talents.
4
Within six months of being nominated, apply for the visa. Utilise your ImmiAccount to do this. You can be inside or outside of Australia.
5
Make the visa payment.
It’s good to note that you should reply as soon as possible if the immigration service asks for further information, such as biometrics or other data. The result will then be communicated to you. If it is rejected, they will explain why and let you know if you can ask for a review of the judgement.
Processing times for 186 visas vary per stream.
90% of applications are processed within six months, while 75% of applications are in 83 days.
75% of applications are processed in six months and 90% in ten months.
Because this visa type has low applicants, no data is currently available.
The Immigration Department does not give updates on the status of your visa application. However, you can check your ImmiAccount to make sure they don’t need any more information from you.
All three streams—direct entry stream, labour agreement stream, and temporary residence transition stream start at AUD4,115. However, fees and other costs may change, so it’s best to consult an immigration professional for accurate information.
Talk to one of our Visa Experts Now.
There are numerous documents needed, so start collecting them as soon as you can. Any qualified family members who are planning to travel with you may also need these.
Not all of these will be necessary, and immigration may seek more supporting documents. Nevertheless, it’s best to be prepared.
New 482 Visa Changes: What’s Different in 2026? July 28, 2026
National Innovation Visa May 20, 2026
Regional Visa Australia: Incentives & State Nomination Routes March 2, 2026Our customers are always happy to share their thoughts with us.
Here is what some of them had said!
The team at parish Patience Immigration Lawyers were incredibly helpful throughout the application process. Their assistance made our lives so much less stressful and their expertise cleared up any confusion we had. They remained engaged with us the whole time and quickly responded to any questions with thoughtful, detailed answers. Special thanks to Usman Ali and Shan . We highly recommend the team at Parish patience immigration lawyer for anyone considering help regarding any kind of visa .
Highly recommended lawyers! Extremely professional and reliable service, with outstanding outcomes. A special thanks to Mr Thong and Marlene, for helping us with our difficult case. Not only did they ensure that everything was ready to go, but their professionalism came in favor when we were granted our visa within just under 6 months!
Thong and Marlene helped my partner gain permanent residency in Australia. We did the application ourselves but it turned out lots of information we needed to provide was missing. Thong and Marlene picked our case up and helped amend it. I really appreciate their help and guidance and look forward to contacting them again in the future. I am pleased by their efforts and professionalism.
Successfully handled my case. He had been prompt, caring and very professional in dealing with my case. I am glad to have received very strong support, guidance and service from them. I would highly recommend Parish patience immigration lawyers. I wish the best for their future prospects.
I’m really thankful for the guidance and assistance I’ve received regarding my Partner visa from Shan and his assistance Asha at Parish Patience. They handled my matter professionally and there were clear instructions from the beginning till end. I got my partner visa 820 granted in less than 7 months, thanks to their knowledge and expertise. I wish them all the best and highly recommend Parish Patience Immigration Lawyers for any sort of immigration matters.
Parish Patience is here to assist if you wish to move to Australia as a skilled worker and require professional advice. Because of our more than ten years of experience in the domains of education and migration counselling, we are able to offer comprehensive solutions to the candidates and support them throughout the entire process.
Since 1888, we have been offering assistance and support for all types of Visas in Australia. We’ll make sure your application is processed correctly and quickly – so that it meets the requirements necessary to enter this great country!
Please call our office on 02 9286 8700 or email:ppmail@ppilaw.com.au
Book a Consultation with Parish Patience Immigration Lawyers for Expert Advice on subclass 186 ENS Visa.
