Subclass 186
A permanent visa for skilled workers nominated by their Australian employer, through the Temporary Residence Transition, Direct Entry or Labour Agreement stream.
The official page lists these main requirements. Each stream adds its own.
The official page lists the documents to provide with an application. Open the documents list on Home Affairs.
The official page lists the documents each application requires.
Preparation checklist: a printable list of common steps and documents, each linked to its official source.
The official page says which list each stream uses. Being on a list does not mean an applicant is eligible.
Home Affairs publishes how long it took to decide past applications: the time within which 25, 50, 75 and 90 per cent were decided. Each stream keeps its own reporting period.
YourVisaSite compares this list with the Home Affairs processing times on a regular schedule. Our copy last changed on 21 October 2026. The source reports 12 October 2026 for this version; this is separate from our check date. A successful check does not independently verify every underlying fact. The official source remains the authority; open it before you rely on an entry.
| Stream | 25% of applications | 50% | 75% | 90% | Reporting period ended | Source published |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agreement Pathway | 24 days | 50 days | 12 months | 12 months | 31 August 2026 | 29 September 2026 |
| Direct Entry Pathway | 15 months | 21 months | 24 months | 25 months | 31 August 2026 | 29 September 2026 |
| Transition Pathway | 14 months | 21 months | 24 months | 25 months | 31 August 2026 | 29 September 2026 |
Source: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs, CC BY 3.0 Australia with source-specific exclusions (Australian Government Department of Home Affairs, CC BY 3.0 Australia with source-specific exclusions). Past decisions only; not a prediction for any application. Current official processing times ↗
Processing times for this visa, by stream, with the reporting period.
| Application | Main applicant | Each additional applicant 18 or over | Each additional applicant under 18 |
|---|---|---|---|
Direct Entry streamOfficial conditions and notesNote See Nomination and sponsorship fees For applicants who have turned 18 at the time of application and who are assessed as not having functional English the second instalment is: main applicants AUD9,800 secondary applicants AUD4,890. An applicant nominated as a Minister of Religion by a religious institution or an applicant applying as a member of the family unit of an applicant nominated as a Minister of Religion by a religious institution is eligible to pay no second instalment of the visa application charge. For information about the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy requirement, see Employer Sponsored Skilled visas - Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy . get_app Go to visa page | $6,140 | $3,070 | $1,535 |
Temporary Residence Transition streamOfficial conditions and notesNote See Nomination and sponsorship fees For applicants who have turned 18 at the time of application and who are assessed as not having functional English the second instalment is: main applicants AUD9,800 secondary applicants AUD4,890. An applicant nominated as a Minister of Religion by a religious institution or an applicant applying as a member of the family unit of an applicant nominated as a Minister of Religion by a religious institution is eligible to pay no second instalment of the visa application charge. For information about the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy requirement, see Employer Sponsored Skilled visas - Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy . get_app Go to visa page | $6,140 | $3,070 | $1,535 |
Labour agreement streamOfficial conditions and notesNote See Nomination and sponsorship fees For applicants who have turned 18 at the time of application and who are assessed as not having functional English the second instalment is: main applicants AUD9,800 secondary applicants AUD4,890. An applicant nominated as a Minister of Religion by a religious institution or an applicant applying as a member of the family unit of an applicant nominated as a Minister of Religion by a religious institution is eligible to pay no second instalment of the visa application charge. For information about the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy requirement, see Employer Sponsored Skilled visas - Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy . get_app Go to visa page | $6,140 | $3,070 | $1,535 |
YourVisaSite compares this list with the Home Affairs price list on a regular schedule. Our copy last changed on 21 October 2026. A successful check does not independently verify every underlying fact. The official source remains the authority; open it before you rely on an entry. Other costs, such as health checks or a second instalment, may apply, and government charges are separate from any professional fee. Current official pricing ↗
Source: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs. This summary was written from the official page on 20 October 2026.
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This page is general information written from the official page. It does not assess anyone’s eligibility, is not migration advice and has not been reviewed by a lawyer or registered migration agent. The official page is always the current source. Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.
Subclass 186
Home Affairs updated the processing priority notice under Ministerial Direction 122. Priority sector applications lodged up to July 2025 are now being processed.
Subclass 186
Official information and reference links for the Employer Nomination Scheme visa. This is a reference collection, not an announcement of a visa-rule change.
Registered practitioners
Registered migration agents and lawyers appear here once they have chosen to be listed for this visa. For requirements and how to apply, the official page is the place to start.