Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186)

The 186 is the main employer-sponsored route to PR. Your employer nominates you for a permanent position. Two streams matter:

• Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream — for people who've held a sponsored temporary work visa with the same employer for a qualifying period. This is the most common path for 482 holders.
• Direct Entry (DE) stream — for people without an existing sponsored work history. Requires a positive skills assessment and 3 years of full-time skilled work experience.

TRT — the standard 482-to-PR path

• Recent reforms have shortened the time on the temporary visa needed before TRT eligibility. Verify the current qualifying period on the TRT page (it's been reduced relative to the older 3-year requirement).
• You must continue to work in the nominated occupation for the same employer.
• The nominated occupation must be on the relevant list.
• Age limit applies, with some exemptions.

Direct Entry

• Higher bar than TRT — you need a skills assessment and demonstrated 3 years of skilled work in the nominated occupation.
• Occupation must be on the eligible list.
• Useful for offshore candidates with an Australian employer willing to sponsor.

Common gotchas

• An employer offering "PR sponsorship" sometimes means "we'll sponsor a 482, then maybe a 186". These are two separate decisions and the second one requires the employer to renew their commitment.
• Underpayment on the underlying 482 can disqualify a TRT application. Keep payslips, super statements, and the original nomination document.
• The 186 requires the role to be a permanent (not temporary or fixed-term) position with the sponsor.

Where to read more

• Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186): https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/employer-nomination-scheme-186
• TRT stream: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/employer-nomination-scheme-186/temporary-residence-transition-stream
• Direct Entry stream: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/employer-nomination-scheme-186/direct-entry-stream
• Salary requirements for sponsored workers: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/employing-and-sponsoring-someone/sponsoring-workers/nominating-a-position/salary-requirements