Last updated: 30 March 2026

186 Direct Entry Stream: Requirements and Application Process

The Direct Entry stream of the subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa provides a pathway to permanent residency for skilled workers who are nominated by an approved Australian employer but do not have the prior 482/457 work history required for the Temporary Residence Transition stream.

This includes workers applying from overseas, workers currently in Australia on other visa types, and workers who have been in Australia on a 482 but have not yet completed the 2-year employment requirement with their current employer.

Understanding the Direct Entry stream means understanding both what the individual applicant must demonstrate and what the employer must do to nominate them successfully.

Who Qualifies for the Direct Entry Stream

The Direct Entry stream is appropriate if:

• You are applying from outside Australia
• You are in Australia on a student visa, partner visa, working holiday visa, or another temporary visa that is not a 482 or 457
• You hold or have held a 482/457 but have not yet worked for your current employer for 2 continuous years in the nominated occupation
• You have been on a 482 with a different employer and are transitioning to a new employer who wishes to sponsor you permanently

Unlike the TRT stream, the Direct Entry stream does not require any specific prior Australian visa history. The eligibility is built on your skills, qualifications, and the employer’s legitimate sponsoring capacity.

Eligibility Requirements: Individual Applicant

Skills Assessment

A positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority is mandatory for the 186 Direct Entry stream. The assessment authority depends on your ANZSCO occupation code — the same authorities used for points-tested visas apply here.

The skills assessment must confirm that your qualifications and experience are suitable for the nominated ANZSCO occupation at skill level 1, 2, or 3. Negative or conditional assessments are not acceptable.

Start your skills assessment early. It is the component with the longest lead time in a Direct Entry application — many assessments take 6–12 weeks, and some (particularly CDR-based engineering assessments) can take 4–6 months.

Age

You must be under 45 years of age at the time you lodge your visa application. Age is assessed at the lodgement date, not the grant date.

Exemptions to the 45-year limit apply in specific circumstances — see our 186 visa requirements page for details on who may qualify for an exemption.

English Language

At minimum, vocational English is required. Vocational English means achieving at least 5.0 in each band of IELTS Academic (or the equivalent in approved alternatives).

Citizens of the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, New Zealand, and the Republic of Ireland are exempt from the English language requirement.

Higher English proficiency is not a points-scoring criterion for the 186 (unlike the 189), but submitting strong English results can support the overall application and reduce the likelihood of queries.

Health and Character

All applicants and secondary applicants must complete health examinations through a HAP-approved panel physician. Police clearance certificates must be obtained from every country where you have resided for 12 months or more in the past 10 years.

Allow 6–10 weeks for police clearances from countries where processing is slow. For some countries (India, Philippines, Bangladesh, various African nations), government clearances can take 3+ months.

Eligibility Requirements: Employer Nomination

The employer’s role in the 186 Direct Entry process is substantial. Nomination requirements include:

Standard Business Sponsorship

The nominating employer must be an approved Standard Business Sponsor (SBS). If the employer has previously sponsored 482 workers, they likely hold an existing SBS. If not, they must apply for SBS approval, which is assessed based on the employer’s lawful business activity, financial capacity, and compliance record. SBS approval typically takes 3–6 weeks for new applicants.

Position Genuineness

The Department assesses whether the nominated position is genuine — that is, whether it reflects real operational needs of the business and is likely to remain ongoing. The employer must provide:

• A detailed position description
• Evidence of the business’s operational activity
• Explanation of why the role is required
• Evidence that the salary offered reflects the genuine requirements of the role

Labour Market Testing

For most 186 nominations, the employer must demonstrate Labour Market Testing (LMT) — proof they have genuinely attempted to recruit an Australian worker before sponsoring an overseas applicant.

LMT requirements:

• The position must be advertised on the National Employment Information Service (jobs.gov.au) and at least one other approved platform
• Advertising must have run for at least 4 weeks
• Advertising must have occurred within 4 months before lodging the nomination
• The employer must keep records of the advertising and applications received, including evidence that Australian applicants were not suitable

Exemptions from LMT exist for: high-income earners above the income threshold, New Zealand citizens, and certain other circumstances. Check the current LMT guidelines on the Department’s website.

Salary Requirements

The offered salary must meet or exceed:

1. Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT): Currently AUD $70,000 per year
2. Market Salary Rate (MSR): The salary must not be less than what an Australian worker in the same role and location would reasonably earn

If the salary is below the TSMIT, the nomination will be refused. If the Department considers the salary below the market rate, it will issue a request for additional information. Salary benchmarking documentation is a useful inclusion in nomination packages.

Step-by-Step Application Process

Step 1: Confirm occupation eligibility

Verify your occupation ANZSCO code, confirm it is at skill level 1, 2, or 3, and identify the correct assessing authority.

Step 2: Begin skills assessment

Apply to the relevant assessing authority with your qualifications and employment evidence. Allow for the authority’s full processing timeframe. A positive outcome is required before you can lodge your visa application (though you can lodge concurrently with skills assessment still pending in some circumstances — confirm with your migration agent).

Step 3: Employer prepares for nomination

The employer should:

• Confirm they hold a current Standard Business Sponsorship or prepare to apply
• Conduct Labour Market Testing at least 4 weeks before intending to lodge, with LMT complete within 4 months of lodgement
• Prepare the position description and salary benchmarking evidence
• Prepare employment contract for the applicant

Step 4: Obtain English results

If you are not exempt from the English requirement, obtain current IELTS, PTE, TOEFL iBT, OET, or Cambridge C1 Advanced results meeting the vocational English threshold.

Step 5: Arrange health examination

Book a health examination with a HAP-approved panel physician. Results are uploaded directly to ImmiAccount. Examinations are valid for 12 months.

Step 6: Obtain police clearances

Apply for police clearances from all required countries. Allow sufficient lead time for slow-processing countries.

Step 7: Lodge nomination and visa application

Both the employer nomination (Form 1395) and the individual visa application (Form 47ES) can be lodged simultaneously through ImmiAccount. Concurrent lodgement is recommended to reduce overall processing time.

Step 8: Respond to requests

Monitor ImmiAccount regularly. If the Department issues a request for additional information, respond promptly with complete documentation.

Step 9: Receive grant

On grant, the 186 visa is a permanent visa with no expiry. Work rights, travel rights, and conditions are confirmed in your grant letter.

Processing Time

The 186 Direct Entry stream typically processes within:

• 75th percentile: Approximately 9–12 months from lodgement
• 90th percentile: Approximately 14–18 months from lodgement

These figures include the time to process the nomination and the visa application. Complex cases — particularly those with health waivers or character considerations — can extend beyond the 90th percentile significantly.

Direct Entry vs TRT: Choosing the Right Stream

If you are currently on a 482 and approaching your 2-year mark with your employer, the TRT stream will become available to you soon — and it offers a simpler pathway because it does not require Labour Market Testing and has fewer documentary requirements.

If you are not on a 482, or have not yet completed 2 years with the nominating employer, the Direct Entry stream is your route. The key difference is that LMT and a skills assessment are required for most DE applicants, while TRT has reduced requirements in exchange for the demonstrated work history.

For a full comparison of stream requirements, see our 186 visa requirements overview. For the TRT stream specifics, see the 186 TRT stream guide.

Frequently Asked Questions About 186 Direct Entry

Can I apply for the 186 Direct Entry stream from outside Australia?

Yes. The Direct Entry stream is available to applicants outside Australia as well as those already in Australia. You do not need to have previously held an Australian work visa. The key requirement is that your employer is an approved Standard Business Sponsor, your occupation meets the eligibility criteria, and you have a positive skills assessment.

How does Labour Market Testing work for the 186 Direct Entry stream?

Labour Market Testing requires your employer to advertise the position to Australian workers before lodging the nomination. The advertising must meet specific requirements: it must have been published on certain platforms (including the National Employment Information Service), run for at least 4 weeks, and occurred within 4 months before lodging the nomination. The employer keeps evidence of the advertising and the responses received.

Is there an Australian experience requirement for the 186 Direct Entry stream?

No. The Direct Entry stream does not require Australian work experience. Your skills assessment can be based entirely on overseas qualifications and experience, provided the assessing authority accepts them as meeting the requirements for your ANZSCO occupation. This distinguishes the DE stream from the TRT stream, which requires at least 2 years of work with the nominating employer in Australia.