ENS 186 permanent residence needs role, worker and pathway alignment
Decision points
- Temporary Residence Transition or Direct Entry pathway
- Position, salary and business evidence
- Skills, English, age and registration issues where relevant
Permanent pathway focus
Plan the nomination and visa evidence as one decision-ready matter.
Employer-side review
Check the position and business evidence before lodgement.
Worker eligibility
Identify skills, registration, English or timing risks early.
Common questions
Questions to settle before lodgement
These are the practical issues we usually clarify before a matter is treated as ready.
Our clients
Our partners and memberships
Employer Nomination Scheme Visa ENS (Subclass 186)
What is 186 Visa?
The current situation of on-going skill shortages across a number of industry sectors has resulted in Australian employers seeking suitably qualified personnel from overseas or highly skilled temporary residents currently in Australia to fulfil existing contracts or to meet new business commitments. Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) grants permanent residence to overseas workers who are sponsored by their Australian employer.
Employer Nomination Scheme visa application process is a two-stage process:
- 186 Nomination by the employer
- Visa 186 application
Who can get 186 Visa?
Eligibility requirements:
- For Direct Entry and Temporary Residence Transition, applicants generally must be under 45 at application; the applicable age exemptions remain available.
- have required skills, qualifications, and/or licences or registrations to fulfil the position.
- Direct Entry and Temporary Residence Transition applicants must establish competent English unless an applicable exemption applies. The accepted passport route requires both citizenship and a valid passport from the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, New Zealand or Republic of Ireland.
- business must be actively and lawfully operating in Australia
- must have a genuine need to fill a skilled position
- full-time employment contract for at least two years
- pay market rate salary
- business has no adverse information
- meet health and character requirement
- must meet additional criteria of the stream in which you are applying for
After the nomination has been approved, the visa application must be lodged within six (6) months. This visa allows the visa applicant and any dependent family members included in the visa application to live as permanent residents in Australia.
What are the Streams under 186 visa?
Direct Entry stream – Direct Entry generally requires an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List, at least three years of relevant work experience and a suitable skills assessment before application, unless an applicable exemption applies.
Temporary Residence Transition stream – usually requires two years of eligible sponsored employment, subject to the applicable requirements and exemptions
Labour agreement stream – currently work, or will work, for an employer under a labour agreement. Sponsored by an employer through a negotiated formal labour agreement
How long to process 186 Visa?
ENS 186 processing times vary by stream, application completeness and Home Affairs caseload. Check current processing guidance before relying on a fixed estimate.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main ENS 186 pathways?
ENS 186 matters commonly involve the Temporary Residence Transition, Direct Entry or Labour Agreement stream. The correct stream affects employer, nomination and worker evidence.
Why does the nominated position need separate review?
The nomination should support the genuine position, salary, business need and ongoing employment requirements before the visa evidence is treated as ready.
When can skills or registration evidence matter?
Skills assessments, licensing, registration, English, age and work history can affect the visa stage depending on the chosen ENS 186 stream and occupation.
Sources (2)
- Home Affairs — Employer Nomination Scheme 186 Visa eligibility and process — accessed 29 October 2026 and rechecked in official indexed material 2 November 2026.
- Federal Register — Migration Regulations 1994, Schedules 1 and 2 — accessed 29 October 2026.
