What kind of work experience is required for Subclass 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:

1. 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.
2. Temporary Residence Transition stream: You can apply for this stream if you are currently holding an 482 visa.
3. Labour Agreement Stream: This stream is for applicants whose employers have an agreement with the Australian government.

• Applicants must have worked under a 482 visa
• The work experience must have been gained while working full time for at least 2 years under the 482 visa
• Work experience must be gained while working for the nominated occupation
• Work experience must be gained in the last 3 years
• Work experience is counted from the day you lodged your nomination application for the 482 visa
• You can count work experience with different employers while on a 482 visa, as long as each job was in the same nominated occupation.

• Applicants must have been employed in their nominated occupation for at least 3 years on a full-time basis.
• The experience must correspond to the skill level required by the nominated occupation.
• The three years of work experience required need not be gained in 3 consecutive years or immediately before the visa application
• The total work experience must amount to an average of 38 hours per week over the total period.
• If the applicant is exempt from satisfying the skill assessment requirement then they need not fulfill the work experience requirement either.
• For certain circumstances and occupations, you can be exemt from fulfilling the work experience requrirerment. 

• Experience must be post-qualification.
• It must be paid and verifiable  as voluntary or unpaid work does not count.
• It can be in Australia or overseas, provided it is relevant and properly documented.

• Employer reference letters- The letter has to be on official letterhead detailing duties, employment dates, position title, hours worked, and contact details
• Payslips or salary statements
• Tax records
• Employment contracts
• Skills assessment results only if it’s applicable

John is a Mechanical Engineer. He has worked  for employer X for 6 months under his 485 visa. He has worked with employer Y for 18 months full-time under a 482 visa. 

John has 2 years (24 months) of total work experience but wont be eligible for the Transition stream as he only has 18 months of work experience under 482 visa. He has to have worked at least for 2 years, 24 months under 482 to be eligible for the Transition streaem

John will not be eligible for the Direct Entry stream as well as he doesn’t have 3 years of work experience.