Last updated: 30 March 2026

186 Visa Processing Time: Current Wait Times by Stream

The subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa has two primary application streams — the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream and the Direct Entry (DE) stream — and processing times differ between them. Understanding which stream you are applying through, what typical wait times look like, and what factors affect your individual timeline helps you plan your employment, travel, and financial decisions during what can be a lengthy wait.

This page covers current processing times for both streams, the factors that shorten or extend your wait, how to monitor your application status, and what you should be doing during the processing period.

Overview: Two Streams, Different Processing Profiles

The 186 visa has three streams, but the two that account for the overwhelming majority of applications are:

Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream — for workers who have been sponsored by an Australian employer on a subclass 482 (or former 457) visa for at least 2 years in the nominated occupation. This stream has a known employment and compliance history for both the employer and the worker, which generally supports faster processing.

Direct Entry (DE) stream — for workers who have not previously held a subclass 482 or 457 visa with the nominating employer (or who held a 457 less than 3 years ago and meet different criteria). This stream involves more thorough assessment because the Department does not have a prior compliance record for the employment relationship.

Labour Agreement stream — for workers covered by a formal labour agreement between the Department and a specific employer or industry. Processing timelines vary based on the agreement and the Department’s assessment of the specific circumstances.

Current Processing Times by Stream

The Department of Home Affairs publishes indicative processing times on its website, updated regularly. These times represent the period within which a specified percentage of applications are finalised from the date of lodgement.

Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream

TRT stream applications benefit from the established sponsorship relationship. The employer’s compliance as a Standard Business Sponsor is already on record, and the worker’s employment history and visa compliance are already known to the Department. This prior context reduces the investigative work required and supports more predictable processing.

Direct Entry (DE) stream

Direct Entry applications are assessed without the prior compliance context that TRT applications carry. The Department must assess the genuineness of the employment relationship and the sponsoring employer from scratch, which adds time to the assessment. Applications involving complex occupational evidence, offshore applicants, or qualifications that require additional verification tend toward the longer end of this range.

A note on published processing times

The Department’s published processing times are indicative, not guaranteed. They reflect the overall caseload and are recalculated regularly. During periods of high application volume (such as following occupation list changes or following significant visa program changes), processing times can lengthen. During periods of lower volume, they may shorten.

Always check the current figures on the Department of Home Affairs website on the day you lodge or on the day you are planning your timeline — not figures from this or any other third-party source.

Two-Stage Processing: Nomination and Visa

The 186 is a two-stage application: the employer lodges a nomination, and the worker lodges a separate visa application. Both must be approved for the visa to be granted.

Nomination processing time

The employer’s nomination is assessed separately from the visa application, by a different team within the Department. Nomination processing typically runs:

Nominations are assessed for:

• Lawful employer operation
• Genuineness of the position
• Labour market considerations
• Compliance with salary requirements

Visa application processing time

The visa application cannot be finalised until the nomination is approved. If the nomination is still under assessment, the visa application waits. If the nomination is refused, the visa application is also refused.

Lodging the nomination and visa application simultaneously — rather than waiting for nomination approval before lodging the visa — is standard practice and does not delay either process. The Department processes them in parallel where possible.

Factors That Affect Your Processing Time

Individual processing times can vary significantly from the published indicative times. The following factors tend to shorten or extend your wait.

Factors that support faster processing

Complete application at lodgement. The most impactful factor you control. An application that requires no further information requests from the Department moves through the queue without interruption. An application that is missing documents, has inconsistencies, or requires clarification generates correspondence that can add months to your timeline.

Prior compliance history. For TRT stream applications, an employer who has been a compliant Standard Business Sponsor and a worker who has had no adverse visa compliance events are low-risk applicants from the Department’s perspective.

Straightforward health and character. If no additional health or character investigations are required — for example, if there are no pre-existing health conditions that require specialist review, no criminal history, and all police clearances are from countries with efficient certificate processes — your health and character assessment is resolved quickly.

Employment in a priority occupation. The Department occasionally applies priority processing to occupations or industries facing critical shortages. Check whether any priority processing measures apply to your occupation at the time of your application.

Factors that extend processing time

Incomplete documents at lodgement. Missing reference letters, expired police clearances, or an incomplete medical examination at lodgement means a case officer must send a formal request for information (a Section 56 request). Responding to these requests takes time, and the time spent waiting for your response is not counted against the Department’s processing clock.

Health conditions requiring further review. Pre-existing health conditions may trigger a referral to the Department’s Medical Advisory Unit (MAU). The MAU review adds time — how much depends on the condition and the volume of referrals at the time.

Police clearances from countries with long processing times. Some countries take 3 to 6 months or more to issue police certificates. If a secondary applicant lived in such a country and you did not obtain the certificate before lodgement, it becomes a bottleneck.

Character concerns or national security checks. Any triggers for enhanced character or national security assessment extend processing time unpredictably.

Employer compliance issues. If the Department identifies concerns about the employer’s compliance during the nomination stage, it may place the nomination and linked visa on hold pending investigation. This can add significant time and introduces uncertainty.

Offshore applications. Applications from workers who are outside Australia at the time of lodgement are handled differently in some respects and can take longer due to additional offshore assessment steps.

What to Do While Waiting

The processing period for the 186 can last 6 to 18 months or more. This is a significant period during which your employment and visa status require careful management.

Continue working lawfully

If you are in Australia on a subclass 482 visa and have lodged a 186 application, you are typically granted a bridging visa that allows you to remain in Australia and continue working for your sponsoring employer while the application is under assessment. Check your bridging visa conditions — a Bridging Visa A allows you to remain and work in Australia but does not permit re-entry if you leave.

Manage bridging visa and travel

If you need to travel internationally while your 186 application is being processed:

1. Confirm you have a valid underlying visa that permits re-entry, or
2. Apply for a Bridging Visa B (BVB) before you depart — the BVB specifies the dates of planned travel and allows you to re-enter on the bridging visa during that period

Do not depart Australia on a Bridging Visa A without a BVB. You will not be able to re-enter, and your absence while the application is under assessment creates complications.

Respond promptly to Department requests

If the Department issues a Section 56 request for further information or documents, respond as completely and quickly as possible. The Department sets a deadline for responses. Missing the deadline risks the application being assessed without the additional information — which may lead to refusal — or in some cases, the application being taken to be withdrawn.

Keep your contact details current

The Department communicates through ImmiAccount and by email to the address on your application. If your email address changes or you move addresses, update your ImmiAccount profile. Missed communications about requests or decisions can result in applications lapsing or decisions being made on incomplete information.

Keep your employer informed

Your employer is a party to the nomination application and may receive independent communication from the Department about the nomination component. Maintain open communication with your employer about the status of both the nomination and the visa application, and ensure your employer responds promptly to any requests directed to them.

How to Track Your 186 Application Status

ImmiAccount

Your application status is visible in ImmiAccount. Log in with the credentials you used to lodge the application. Status updates in ImmiAccount include:

• Received
• Initial assessment
• Further assessment
• Decision ready
• Finalised

Status descriptions in ImmiAccount are high-level and do not indicate exactly where in the queue your application sits. A status of “further assessment” can mean almost anything from a standard mid-point review to an active investigation.

VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online)

VEVO allows you and your employer to check your current visa and bridging visa status. It confirms that you have permission to remain and work in Australia. VEVO does not show the 186 application status, but it confirms your current legal status while you wait.

Contacting the Department

The Department of Home Affairs manages a global service delivery model and does not routinely respond to individual processing status inquiries unless the application has been in assessment significantly longer than the published indicative processing times. If you believe your application has been delayed beyond the 90th percentile processing time for your stream, you may contact the Department through the ImmiAccount help function or through a formal written inquiry.

A MARA-registered migration agent can contact the Department on your behalf and may be able to obtain more specific information about the status of a stalled application.

What Happens After the 186 Is Granted

When the Department approves your 186 visa:

• You receive written notification through ImmiAccount and by email
• The grant is effective from the date of the decision — you become a permanent resident from that date
• You receive full access to Medicare from the date of grant
• Your permanent residency travel facility allows you to travel and re-enter Australia for 5 years from the grant date
• Your timeline for Australian citizenship begins from the date of the permanent visa grant (subject to the relevant residency period requirements)

If the 186 is refused, you receive a written refusal notice explaining the reasons. Depending on the basis for refusal, you may have merits review rights through the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) or judicial review options. A migration agent or registered migration lawyer can advise on the appropriate response given the specific grounds.

Comparing 186 Processing Times to Other PR Pathways

The 186 TRT stream is broadly comparable to the points-tested pathways in processing time, which is notable given that it is an employer-sponsored permanent visa. The Direct Entry stream takes longer because of the additional assessment work involved.

Frequently Asked Questions About 186 Visa Processing Time

How long does the 186 TRT stream take to process?

The Temporary Residence Transition stream of the subclass 186 typically falls within the 6 to 12 month range for 75 percent of applications, based on Department of Home Affairs processing time data. Applications that are complete at lodgement with no outstanding health, character, or national security checks tend to be processed toward the lower end of that range. Applications requiring additional investigation can take significantly longer. Always check current times on the Department’s website, as the figures are updated regularly.

Can I travel outside Australia while my 186 application is being processed?

Yes, with caution. You can travel while your 186 application is in progress, but you must have a valid visa to re-enter Australia. A Bridging Visa A (BVA) — which is typically granted when you lodge the 186 application — does not allow re-entry if you depart Australia. Before travelling, apply for a Bridging Visa B (BVB) that covers your planned travel dates. Lodge the BVB application before you leave Australia. Failing to do this means you cannot re-enter on the bridging visa, and you may need to apply for and be granted a new substantive visa before you can return.

Does the employer nomination need to be approved before my 186 visa application is decided?

Yes. The 186 is a two-stage process: the employer lodges a nomination, and you lodge a separate visa application. While these can be lodged simultaneously, the nomination must be approved before your visa application can be finalised. If the nomination is refused — because the position is not genuine, the salary does not meet requirements, or the employer has compliance issues — the visa application will also be refused. Nomination and visa processing run in parallel, but the visa decision waits on the nomination outcome.