Last updated: 30 March 2026

186 Visa Requirements: Direct Entry and TRT Eligibility

The subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa is a permanent residence pathway for skilled workers nominated by an approved Australian employer. Unlike the points-based pathways, the 186 does not use a points test or SkillSelect — your eligibility depends on your employer’s nomination and your ability to meet specific skill, experience, English, age, and health criteria.

The 186 operates under two main streams, each with distinct eligibility requirements:

• Direct Entry (DE) stream: For applicants who have not necessarily held a 482 or prior temporary work visa in Australia
• Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream: For applicants currently holding or having held a 482 (or previous 457) and who have worked for their nominating employer for at least 2 years

This page covers the requirements for both streams in full, including skills assessment, English language, age, employer nomination obligations, and what happens at each stage of the process.

Overview: Which Stream Applies to You?

Most employer-sponsored PR applicants who came through the 482 route will use the TRT stream. Applicants without prior 482/457 status in Australia typically use Direct Entry.

The eligibility requirements differ, so it is important to confirm which stream applies before preparing your application.

Core Requirements: Both Streams

Some requirements apply to both the Direct Entry and TRT streams:

Age Requirement

You must be under 45 at the time you apply (the lodgement date, not the date of grant). Exceeding the age limit on the day you lodge your application renders you ineligible.

Exceptions to the 45-year age limit include:

• High-income earners nominated at a salary above the High Income Threshold (currently $AUD 253,900 per year)
• New Zealand citizens
• Academics nominated by a university
• Scientists or researchers nominated by an eligible scientific or research organisation
• Members of the senior executive of a company with annual turnover exceeding $1 billion

If you are approaching 45 and your nomination process is ongoing, lodge your application before your birthday.

English Language Requirements

Both streams require at least vocational English. Vocational English means achieving a score of at least 5 in each of the four test components (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) in IELTS Academic, or the approved equivalent in alternative tests.

If you hold a passport from the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand, or the Republic of Ireland, you are exempt from providing an English test result — these nationalities are deemed to meet the English requirement.

Some exceptional circumstances allow for an English waiver (for example, hearing or speaking impairment), but these are assessed individually.

Direct Entry Stream: Specific Requirements

The Direct Entry stream is used when the TRT stream does not apply. The key additional requirements are:

Skills Assessment

A positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for your nominated occupation is mandatory for the Direct Entry stream. The assessing authority is the same body that assesses skills for the 189 and 190 points test visas — ACS for ICT, Engineers Australia for engineering, ANMAC for nursing, and so on.

The skills assessment must:

• Be positive (confirming your qualifications and experience are suitable for the ANZSCO occupation)
• Be current and valid at the time of application
• Reference the same ANZSCO code as the occupation nominated by your employer

For the Direct Entry stream, there is no Australian work experience requirement — you can qualify on the basis of overseas qualifications and experience, provided the assessing authority accepts them.

Occupation

Your nominated occupation must appear on the relevant occupation list that the 186 DE stream uses. The occupation must be at ANZSCO skill level 1, 2, or 3 — that is, managerial, professional, or trade occupations.

Employer’s Role in Direct Entry

Under the Direct Entry stream, your employer nominates both the position and you personally. The employer must demonstrate:

• The position is genuine and ongoing
• The salary meets the applicable threshold (at or above the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold, TSMIT, currently AUD $70,000 per year)
• The employer has attempted to fill the position with Australian workers (Labour Market Testing is required for most occupations)
• The employer is an approved Standard Business Sponsor or applies for SBS approval concurrently

TRT Stream: Specific Requirements

The Temporary Residence Transition stream has different requirements because it recognises that the applicant has already been assessed under the 482 framework.

2 Years of Work Experience

The defining requirement for TRT is that you must have worked for the nominating employer in the nominated occupation for at least 2 years while holding a subclass 482 (or the predecessor 457 visa) in the 3 years immediately before lodging the 186 application.

Key details:

• The 2 years must be with the same employer who is nominating you for the 186
• The work must have been in the same occupation (ANZSCO code) as the 186 nomination
• Full-time employment is required (or the part-time equivalent over a longer period)
• The 2-year period must fall within the 3 years immediately before lodgement

Gaps in employment, changes of employer, or changes in occupation during the 2-year period can affect eligibility. If you changed roles or employers during your 482 tenure, confirm with a migration agent whether the TRT requirements are still met.

Skills Assessment Under TRT

For most occupations, a skills assessment is still required under the TRT stream. The limited exemption applies primarily to trade occupations assessed by TRA in circumstances where the applicant has completed their assessment through the 482 nomination process. For professional occupations — ICT, accounting, engineering, nursing — a skills assessment is required.

If you have already obtained a positive skills assessment for a previous visa application (including for an EOI under the 189 or 190), that assessment may be reusable if it is still valid and covers the same ANZSCO occupation. Confirm validity with the relevant assessing authority.

No Labour Market Testing

Unlike the Direct Entry stream, the TRT stream does not require Labour Market Testing. The reasoning is that the employer has already demonstrated a genuine employment relationship by retaining you in the role for 2 years.

The Employer Nomination

Under both streams, the 186 visa requires a two-component application:

1. Employer nomination application (Form 1395): The employer applies to nominate the position and the worker. Assessed against employer eligibility, position genuineness, and salary.

2. Visa application (Form 47ES): The individual applicant lodges their visa application. Assessed against personal eligibility criteria.

Both can be lodged simultaneously. The visa application is not finalised until the nomination is approved.

Standard Business Sponsorship

The nominating employer must hold a current Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) approval. An employer who already sponsors workers on 482 visas will typically have an existing SBS. If not, a new SBS application is required — this adds 3–6 weeks to the nomination timeline.

Salary Requirements

The salary offered must meet the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) and must also match or exceed the Market Salary Rate for the occupation. The TSMIT is currently AUD $70,000 per year. Employers offering salaries below the TSMIT cannot nominate under the 186.

Health and Character Requirements

All applicants — including secondary applicants — must meet Australia’s health and character requirements.

Health examinations must be completed through a HAP-approved panel physician. Results are uploaded directly to ImmiAccount. Examinations are valid for 12 months.

Character requirements involve police clearance certificates from every country where you have lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Allow significant lead time for clearances from countries with slow processing.

What to Do Next

If you are currently on a 482 and approaching 2 years with your employer, begin the conversation about the 186 TRT application well before the 2-year mark. Confirm your occupation is eligible, prepare your skills assessment if required, and ensure your employer is prepared to lodge the nomination.

If you are outside Australia and seeking a direct entry permanent employer-sponsored pathway, review whether your occupation is eligible, identify potential Australian employers, and understand the skills assessment timeline for your occupation category.

For a detailed guide on the Direct Entry stream application process, see our page on the 186 Direct Entry stream. For the transition pathway from 482, see the 186 TRT stream guide.

Frequently Asked Questions About 186 Visa Requirements

What is the age limit for the 186 visa?

Applicants must generally be under 45 years of age at the time of application. There are limited exemptions: certain high-income earners (nominated at a salary above $AUD 253,900 per year), New Zealand citizens, academics nominated by a university, scientists or researchers nominated by a scientific or research organisation, or members of the senior executive of a company with turnover exceeding $1 billion.

Do I need a skills assessment for the 186 TRT stream?

For most occupations, yes. Skills assessments are required for most 186 applicants in both streams. The TRT stream has a limited exemption for some applicants who have been working in Australia in their nominated occupation under a qualifying temporary visa. The exemption applies to trades occupations assessed by TRA in specific circumstances. For most professional occupations, a skills assessment is required regardless of stream.

Does the employer need to be an approved Standard Business Sponsor to nominate me for a 186?

Yes. The nominating employer must hold (or apply for concurrently) a Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) approval. The same SBS used for 482 nominations can be used for 186 nominations. An employer who already sponsors you on a 482 typically already holds an approved SBS, making the 186 nomination step more straightforward.