Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) — Australia

The Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) allows skilled workers to live and work in Australia permanently. You must be nominated by an Australian employer that’s actively and lawfully operating in Australia.

The Department of Home Affairs assesses both the employer nomination and your visa application. This visa is often the next step after the Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (subclass 482).

Unlike points‑tested visas such as the Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189) and Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190), subclass 186 requires direct employer sponsorship. Health and character standards must be met before Home Affairs will grant the visa.

You might need to submit Form Form 80 to declare personal and background details.

Key Eligibility Requirements

You must:

• Be nominated by an approved Australian employer
• Provide proof of nomination
• Meet English language requirements
• Provide a skills assessment if required
• Meet health and character requirements
• Hold a valid passport

If your documents are incomplete or inaccurate, your application can be refused.

How Subclass 186 Compares

You’ll apply through your ImmiAccount with supporting documents such as identity, employment history, and nomination details. Filing does not guarantee approval.

Visa application charges are paid directly to the Department of Home Affairs. The exact amount depends on your circumstances; check the fee calculator provided by Home Affairs before applying.

Additional costs might include:

• Health examinations
• Police certificates
• English language testing
• Completing Form Form 80 (if requested)

Home Affairs doesn’t publish a single fixed processing time. Use the visa processing time guide tool for recent decisions and current estimates.

Most Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) applications fall within this general range:

processing times vary depending on case complexity and location.

Applications may take longer if referred for character assessment. Serious criminal history may result in refusal.

You can request priority processing if you’re in immigration detention or have compelling and compassionate circumstances.

If asked to complete Form 80, prepare a full 10‑year history of your addresses, employment, education, and travel. Missing travel details or gaps can delay processing.

Other skilled visas—such as subclass 482, subclass 494, subclass 187, subclass 189, and subclass 190—also follow the same Home Affairs processing time guide.

The Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) grants permanent residence once Home Affairs approves your application. You apply through either the Direct Entry stream or the Temporary Residence Transition stream, depending on your situation.

You’ll lodge your visa application online through ImmiAccount and attach supporting documents. Home Affairs checks whether your nominated occupation is on the Skilled Occupation List and whether you meet required skills and experience.

Key steps in the process:

1. Create or log in to your ImmiAccount.

2. Complete the online visa application.

3. Upload required documents, including identity and employment evidence.

4. Submit required forms, such as Form Form 80 if requested.

5. Declare all criminal history, including pending or spent matters.

Failure to disclose criminal history can result in refusal.

You may be exempt from a skills assessment in limited cases, such as:

• Nominated as an academic by an Australian university
• Nominated as a scientist or technical specialist by an Australian government scientific agency
• Holding a qualifying Special Category (subclass 444) status

Subclass 186 replaced the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187).

After grant, you may pursue Australian citizenship if you meet Home Affairs’ eligibility requirements.

Cases get complicated when your role doesn’t clearly match the Core Skills Occupation List or the Skilled Occupations List. If your occupation isn’t listed, your employer may need to negotiate a labour agreement with Home Affairs.

You cannot proceed under subclass 186 without an eligible occupation and an approved nomination.

You may also hold or have previously held another visa, such as:

Each pathway has different eligibility rules. Your current status must align with subclass 186 nomination requirements.

Applications often face delays due to missing documentation. Home Affairs may refuse incomplete applications.

Common risk areas include:

• No positive skills assessment when required
• Missing professional registration or licensing
• Police certificates not provided for countries where you lived 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16
• Forms not completed in English
• Uncertified translations
• Failure to provide certified copies for paper lodgements

If requested, complete Form Form 80 accurately and in English. Errors or inconsistencies across your forms and supporting documents can lead to further scrutiny by Home Affairs.

You’ll have to show that your employment history and qualifications match the role your employer has nominated.

Home Affairs will look at whether your background supports the nomination.

Provide clear, detailed evidence of your skills.

Don’t rely only on job titles.

Core Requirements

• Documented employment history relevant to the nominated occupation
• Proof of skills and formal qualifications
• English language ability, unless you hold a valid exemption
• Compliance with Australian licensing or registration requirements, if needed

Missing any of these can lead to refusal.

If your occupation needs registration or licensing in Australia, you must secure it before approval.

Home Affairs won’t overlook this requirement.

You also need to meet English language standards unless you qualify for an exemption.

Without this, your application won’t move forward.

Applicants moving from the Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (subclass 482), Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187), or Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 494) must provide evidence that meets these criteria.

You might be asked for background information, including Form Form 80, to support your assessment.

Your occupation must appear on the Core Skills Occupation List.

If it’s missing from the list, Home Affairs won’t approve your Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) application.

A skills assessment matching your nominated occupation is required unless you’re exempt.

If your assessment doesn’t align with the occupation listed in your nomination, the visa may be refused.

Inconsistencies between Form Form 80 and Form 1221 often delay decisions.

Travel history, employment, and residential addresses need to match exactly.

Before you submit, you should:

• Cross-check all dates across forms
• Confirm employment history matches your nomination
• Ensure travel records are identical in both forms

If you previously held a Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (subclass 482) or transitioned from the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187) or Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 494), double-check that your occupation details remain consistent across applications.

Applicants who also considered the Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189) or Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190) need to make sure prior claims don’t conflict with the subclass 186 nomination.

Home Affairs will review your full immigration history.

Any mismatch can trigger more scrutiny and stretch out processing times.