186 visa requirements
What is the 186 visa?
The 186 visa is a PR visa for migrants who wish to permanently settle in Australia through eployer sponsorship.With this visa you and your family can live, work, and study in Australia permanently, with a pathway to citizenship.
Different streams of the 186 visa?
The Employer Nomination Scheme visa (SC 186) is a Permanent Residency visa. This visa has 3 streams thorough which you can apply for PR. You have to select the most approriate stream according to your circumstances for a successful outcome for your visa application. The 3 main streams are:
- Direct Entry Stream: If you are applying for the 186 visa directly, you can explore this stream whether you are onshore or offshore. If you currently hold any temporary visa other than the 482 visa and you are hoping to apply for PR directly then this stream is for you.
- Temporary Residence Transition stream: You can apply for this stream if you are currently holding an 482 visa.
- Labour Agreement Stream: This stream is for applicants whose employers have an agreement with the Australian government.
General eligibility requirements for the 186 visa
- Be under 45 years of age, unless you are exempt
- Be licensed, registered or a member if a professional body if its mandatory in the state/territory that you intend to work in.
- Be under 45 years of age, unless exempt
- Have at at least 2-3years work experience
- Have a positive skills assessment, if applicable
- Be nominated by an Australian employer
- Meet character and health requirement
- Have at least IELTS 6.0 for each band or for any equivalent English tests.
- Not have a previous visa cancelled or refused
Apart from the above gneral eligibility requirements there are stream specific requirements for the Direct Entry Stream, they are
- Have an occupation in the Core Skills Occupation List
- Have at least 3 years of work experience in the nominated field
- Have a positive skills assessment
- Be paid a salary at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT).
Apart from the above gneral eligibility requirements there are stream specific requirements for the Direct Entry Stream, they are
- Hold a 482 visa or a Bridging visa associated with a 482 visa or a 186 visa
- Be licensed, registered or a member if a professional body if its mandatory in the state/territory that you intend to work in.
- Have 2 years of work experience while on 482 visa in the last 3 years
- Have a positive skills assessment, only if applicable for your occupation
- Be nominated by the employer who sponsored your current 482 visa
Differences between the main 2 streams of the 186 visa
Direct Entry Stream
Apply for PR directly
Transition stream
Apply for PR, after 2 years of holding the 482 visa
Have an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)
Have an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)
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Need not have an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)
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Most occupations will require a mandatory skills assessment
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Most times a skills assessment won’t be mandatory
Employer/Sponsor requirements for the 186 visa
- Nominate the worker for an eligible occupation in the skilled occupations list
- Be unable to find an Australian resident as a worker
- Pay the annual market salary rate
- Have a genuine position available
- Have a written contract of employment
- Not engage in discriminatory practices
- Employment conditions must be equivalent to Australian workers
- Have no adverse information
Salary requirements for the 186 visa
The Direct Entry stream of the 186 visa has a mandatory salary requirement. It's that the employee must be paid at least to the value of CSIT.
The CSIT is the Core Skills Income Threshold and is similar to the TSMIT. It sets the minimum salary a sponsoring employer must pay to ensure the sponsored employee's salary is fair, aligns with Australian market standards, and is not less than that of an Austrlian worker in a similar role.
The CSIT was introduced on 7th December 2024. The current CSIT for the year 2025-2026 is set at AUD 76,515 per annum.
Work experience rerquirement for the 186 visa
Direct Entry stream: Applicants need to have at least 3 years of work experience
Transition Stream: Applicants must have worked under the 482 visa for at least 2 years during the last 3 years. You can work for different employers as long as its under the 482 visa to accumulate the 2 year work experience.
Dependents who are older than 18 years must have at least Functional English which is equivalent to 4.5 IELTS average score. If they dont have Functional English then, they will have to pay a second installment of AUD 4,890.
Exemptions for the 186 visa
Direct Entry stream
Skills assessment exemption
- Applicants who are nominated as an academic (university lecturer or faculty head at Academic Level A, B, C, D or E) by a university in Australia.
- Applicants can also be a scientist, researcher, or technical specialist by an Australian government scientific agency.
- Special Category Visa (SC 444) holders or New Zealand Family Relationship visa (SC 461) holders, who have worked for their nominating employer for a minimum of 2 years in the last 3 years before applying for this visa are exempted.
Transition stream
Skills assessment exemption
- Skills assessments are not mandatory, However its mandatory to be licensed, registered or a member of a professional body if it is mandatory in the state or territory the applicant works.
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Work experience exemption
If you are exempt from skills assessment, then you will be exempt from the work experience as well
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Work experience exemption
There is no exception for the work experience.
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Age requirement exemption
- Applicants nominated as an academic (university lecturer or faculty head at Academic Level A, B, C, D or E) by a university in Australia
- Applicants who are nominated as scientists, researchers, or technical specialists by an Australian government scientific agency or a university.
- Special Category Visa (SC 444) or New Zealand Family Relationship visa (SC 461) visa holders who have worked for the nominating employer for a minimum of 2 years in the last 3 years.
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Age requirement exemption
- Applicants nominated as an academic (university lecturer or faculty head at Academic Level A, B, C, D or E) by a university in Australia
- Applicants who are nominated as scientists, researchers, or technical specialists by an Australian government scientific agency or a university.
- Worked as a medical practitioner in a designated reegional area under a 482 visa for 2 years in the last 3 years and the nominated postion is also in the regional area.
- Must have worked under a 482 visa for 2 years within the last 3 years, earning at least Fairwork High Income Threshold. This threshold for the year 2025-2026 is AUD 183,100
- Must have held or applied for a 457 visa which was later granted in 18th of April 2017 and is still under 50.
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English language exemption
There is no English language exemption
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English language exemption
There is no English language exemption
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