The 186 visa is a permanent visa for skilled foreign workers who have a nominating employer in Australia
186 Visa holders can:
• work in Australia indefinitely
• study in Australia
• travel to and from Australia for 5 years
• apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible
Applying for a 186 Visa
You may be eligible to apply for a 186 (ENS) permanent visa if you meet the below requirements:
• you have an occupation that is on the relevant skilled occupations list
• you have at least 3 years relevant work experience (unless exempt)
• have a positive skill assessment (unless exempt)
• have at least competent English
Subclass 186 Visa streams
DIRECT ENTRY STREAM
For applicants who are qualified or have sufficient experience in an eligible occupation.
TRANSITIONAL STREAM
For 457 or TSS Visa holders who have worked for their nominating employer for a minimum of two or three years.
AGREEMENT STREAM
For applicants who are sponsored by an employer under a labour agreement.
This is a permanent visa for skilled foreign workers who have a nominating employer in Australia
General
The 186 visa allows you to
• stay in Australia permanently
• work and study in Australia
• enrol in Medicare (Australia’s public healthcare system)
• sponsor your relatives to come to Australia
• travel to and from Australia for 5 years
• Apply for Australian Citizenship (If eligible)
Include your family
186 visa holders may be able to include the below family members to their application
• partner
• dependent child
• partner’s dependent child
Family members must meet the health and character requirements.
If you already hold a permanent 186 (ENS) Visa and you would like to bring your family to Australia, you will need to apply for one of the family visas.
Employer Nomination
Applicants must be nominated for by an Australian employer before applying for this visa and must apply within 6 months of the nomination being approved if the applications aren’t lodged together.
The visa cannot be granted if:
• the nomination is withdrawn, or
• the position is no longer available
Length of stay
• This is a permanent visa, however, the 186 visa has a travel component that expires 5 years after the date of visa grant.
After this time, applicants can apply for one of the below:
• Australian Citizenship
• Resident Return Visa
Speak to one of our registered migration agents to find out whether you may be eligible to apply for the 186 Visa.
You may be able to apply for Permanent Residency through the direct entry stream if you meet the following requirements
EXPERIENCE
You must have at least 3 years of relevant work experience
ENGLISH
You can provide evidence of Competent English with one of the below:
• A valid passport from the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland.
• IELTS – Minimum score of 6 in each component
• OET – Minimum score of B in each component
• TOEFL iBT – Minimum scores of 12 for listening, 13 for reading, 21 for writing and 18 for speaking
• PTE – Minimum score of 50 in each component
Don’t meet this requirement? Click here to increase your English score
AGE
You are under 45 years of age
or you can be older than 45 years if you are;
• nominated under an eligible ANZCO
• applying through the transitional stream and meet the exemption
• exempt from this requirement. See 186 & 187 Visa age exemptions
HEALTH & CHARACTER
Meet the health and character requirements (Unless you are exempt)
NOMINATION
You must be nominated by an Australian employer and apply for the 186 visa within 6 months of the nomination being approved (If the visa and nomination applications were not lodged at the same time)
The visa will not be granted if the nomination is withdrawn. The Department does not link new nominations to existing visa applications.
Include your family
186 visa holders may be able to include the below family members to their application
-> Dependent children/step-children
-> Partner’s dependent child or children
-> Partner
PARTNERS
Your married or de facto partner can be the same or opposite sex. Applicants must prove:
• the relationship is genuine and continuing
• you live together, or do not live separately on a permanent basis.
• your partner is at least 18 years of age when the application is lodged (there are some exceptions)
• you are not related by family (if you are in a de facto relationship)
• you and your partner have a mutual commitment to a shared life to the exclusion of all others
CHILDREN
To be eligible to be included or added to a 186 visa, a child must:
• be your child or a stepchild from a current or a previous relationship (in certain circumstances);
• not be married, engaged to be married, or have a de facto partner; and must be:
• under 18 years of age
or
• over 18 years of age but not yet turned 23, and be dependent on you or your partner
or
• over 23 years of age and be unable to earn a living to support themselves due to physical or cognitive limitations and be dependent on you or your partner (Note: The child will still need to meet Australia’s health requirement)
or
• a dependent child of a child who is eligible under 1, 2 or 3 above.
ENGLISH
Applicants over 18 must demonstrate Functional English. However, you can choose to pay an additional application fee to the department for family members who have less than functional English.
AGE
Children 23 years and over cannot be included in your application. (Unless there are exceptional circumstances)
HEALTH & CHARACTER
All family members must meet the health and character requirements. All applicants over 16 must provide police clearances.
If you already hold a permanent 186 (ENS) Visa and you would like to bring your family to Australia, you will need to apply for one of the family visas.
Subclass 186 Visa streams
DIRECT ENTRY STREAM
• Applicants must have an occupation listed on the Medium Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)
• Applicants must perform a Skill Assessment through the authorised assessing authority
• Employers are required to meet the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT)
• Applicants must be nominated by an Australian employer
TEMPORARY RESIDENCE TRANSITION STREAM (TRT)
• Applicants must hold a 457 visa or a TSS visa
• Applicants must have worked for their employer full-time for two or three years (depending on when your visa was lodged)
• Applicants must be nominated by an employer