Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)

The three streams

Direct Entry

• Your occupation is on the Core Skills Occupation List.
• Most applicants need at least 3 years of relevant work experience and a positive skills assessment before they lodge (valid for up to 3 years). People exempt from the assessment are also exempt from the experience requirement.
• At least Competent English.
• Licensed, registered or a member of a professional body if that is mandatory where you will work.

Temporary Residence Transition (TRT)

• You hold a 457 or 482 visa (any stream) or an eligible bridging visa.
• Usually 2 years of full-time work in eligible sponsored employment on a 457 or 482.
• The employer who last sponsored you must nominate you.
• At least Competent English, with no exemption.

Labour Agreement

For employers with a labour agreement.

Common rules

• Nomination: from an employer whose business is actively and lawfully operating. You must apply within 6 months of the nomination being approved. You cannot link a new nomination to an existing application.
• Pay: at least the Annual Market Salary Rate and no less than the Core Skills Income Threshold, A$79,423 for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 (A$76,515 for 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026).
• Age: under 45 when you apply. Exempt if you are an academic nominated by a university, a scientist, researcher or technical specialist nominated by a science agency or university, or (TRT only) a medical practitioner who worked 2 years in a designated regional area. TRT is also exempt if you earned at least the Fair Work High Income Threshold for 2 years in eligible employment in a designated regional area. Special Category (444) and NZ family (461) visa holders with 2 years of work for the nominator are exempt in Direct Entry.
• Health and character: you and family members 16 and over. Sign the Australian values statement.
• Debt: repay or arrange to repay any debt to the Australian Government.

Cost

• A$6,140 for the main applicant, plus a charge for each family member.
• Second instalment: A$4,890 for each family member aged 18 or over who applies with you and has less than Functional English. You are invoiced after the other requirements are met.
• Lower charges for eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens from 1 July 2026.
• Health checks, police certificates and biometrics cost extra.

What you get

• Stay in Australia indefinitely, and work and study.
• Medicare enrolment.
• Travel to and from Australia for 5 years, then a Resident Return visa (RRV) is needed.
• Sponsor eligible relatives.
• You become a permanent resident on the grant date if you are in Australia, or the day you enter if you are outside.

Newly arrived residents may need to wait before accessing certain payments.

Obligations

The Department expects you to work for the nominating employer for at least 2 years. You must begin work within 6 months of arriving or being granted the visa.

Family

Include your partner, dependent children and stepchildren, and your partner's. In TRT you can also include a 457 or 482 holder who was granted that visa as your family member. You can add family after you apply but before a decision.

Where can you apply?

Inside or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance. Inside Australia you need a substantive visa or Bridging visa A, B or C.

Processing priority

Applications are processed under Ministerial Direction 122. The Department is working on applications lodged in July 2025 (construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing, resources, law enforcement and defence), March 2025 (applicants in Australia when they lodged) and July 2024 (applicants outside Australia). Complete applications can be processed more quickly.