Subclass 186
Employer Nomination Scheme visa
A permanent employer-nominated skilled visa. Its streams and current requirements are described by Home Affairs.
Overview
A permanent employer-nominated skilled visa. Its streams and current requirements are described by Home Affairs.
General factual information. This page does not assess your eligibility and has not been reviewed by a lawyer or registered migration agent.
Requirements
Open the official visa page for its current requirements and stream details. A listing here does not mean applications are open.
Requirements on Home AffairsDocuments & forms
Home Affairs lists the documents for each stream. Your practitioner can prepare a checklist for your matter.
Browse official form linksForms commonly used with this visa
- Form 80: Personal Particulars for Assessment Including Character Assessment — Personal particulars and character — routinely requested for permanent employer-sponsored applicants.
- Form 1221: Additional Personal Particulars Information — Additional personal particulars, if requested.
- Form 956: Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person — If a migration agent or legal practitioner acts for you or the nominating employer.
- Form 956a: Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient — To appoint an authorised recipient for correspondence.
- Form 1022: Notification of Changes in Circumstances — To notify a change in circumstances after lodgement.
- Form 1023: Notification of Incorrect Answer(s) — To correct an incorrect answer after lodgement.
Factual associations from a dated snapshot. The official visa page lists what an application actually requires.
Open official visa documents and instructions
General preparation checklist — a printable, official-linked list of common steps and documents. It is not advice.
Occupation lists
- Core Skills Occupation List (Employer Nomination Scheme, subclass 186) — 456 occupations in the captured instrument
Which list a program uses, and any caveats, are set by the official source. Appearing on a list is not an assessment of any person.
Published processing times and charges
Official global processing times
| Stream | 25% of applications | 50% | 75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agreement Pathway | 30 Days | 8 Months | 10 Months | 10 Months |
| Direct Entry Pathway | 6 Months | 10 Months | 12 Months | 14 Months |
| Transition Pathway | 6 Months | 11 Months | 13 Months | 15 Months |
Aggregate figures for applications decided in the period ending 2026-06-30, published 2026-08-04. They describe past decisions and never an individual timeframe. Current official processing times ↗
Visa application charge (published table)
| Published entry | Base applicant | Additional applicant 18+ | Additional applicant under 18 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) - Direct Entry stream | $6,140 | $3,070 | $1,535 |
| Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) - Labour agreement stream | $6,140 | $3,070 | $1,535 |
| Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) - Temporary Residence Transition stream | $6,140 | $3,070 | $1,535 |
Generic published amounts as at 2026-07-01. Government charges are separate from any professional fee, and surcharges or exemptions may apply. Current official pricing ↗
Updates & sources
Australian Government Department of Home Affairs
Source link checked: 9 September 2026. This records a source check, not a guarantee that the information has not changed.
Changes are reviewed before publication. Manage source update preferences or report a correction.