If you're working in Australia on a temporary visa — or have a genuine job offer from an Australian employer — the subclass 186 visa (Employer Nomination Scheme, or ENS) remains one of the most reliable pathways to permanent residency. It grants the right to live, work, and study in Australia indefinitely, with a pathway to citizenship down the line. Fees, thresholds, and processing rules have all shifted since mid-2026, so here's what's current.
What Is the 186 Visa?
The subclass 186 visa is a permanent, employer-sponsored visa for skilled workers nominated by an approved Australian business. It's commonly used by people already on a subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) visa converting to permanent residency, as well as skilled workers applying directly from overseas.
The Three Streams
1. Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) Stream
For people already working in Australia on an eligible temporary visa (typically subclass 482, or the older 457) for their nominating employer, generally with relevant work experience in the role.
2. Direct Entry Stream
For applicants who haven't spent years working for their nominating employer in Australia, or who are applying from offshore. The nominated occupation must be on the Core Skills Occupations List (CSOL), and a positive skills assessment is usually required.
3. Labour Agreement Stream
For workers nominated under a formal labour agreement between their employer and the Australian Government — typically the fastest-moving of the three streams.
What's Changed Recently
A few things now shape how a 186 application plays out:
Higher fees and thresholds, effective 1 July 2026. The visa application charge, salary thresholds, and related figures all rose under the Department's annual indexation (see below).
New processing priority order. From 19 September 2026, Ministerial Direction 122 replaced Direction 119 and now governs how Home Affairs sequences skilled visa applications, including all three 186 streams. Applicants in construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing, resources, law enforcement, or defence move to the front of the queue. After that, onshore applicants are prioritised over offshore ones, and offshore applicants who don't include family members in their application sit ahead of those who do. The Direction governs sequencing only — it doesn't guarantee a specific processing time or affect whether you meet the visa criteria.
A wider migration overhaul. On 17 September 2026, the Home Affairs Minister announced a broader package aimed at reducing net overseas migration. Most of the detail targets temporary visa categories — students, visitors, working holiday makers — rather than the 186 directly, but it signals more policy movement is likely before year's end.
Eligibility Requirements
Nomination: A genuine, full-time position with an approved Australian employer.
Age: Generally under 45 at time of application, unless exempt. One common exemption relies on earnings above the Fair Work High Income Threshold, which rose to AUD 190,100 from 1 July 2026 — applicants relying on this exemption need to check their qualifying earnings against the updated figure.
English language: Competent English required, with exemptions for passport holders from New Zealand, the USA, Canada, the UK, and Ireland.
Skills and experience: Qualifications and work history aligned with the nominated occupation.
Health and character: Standard medical and police checks.
Salary threshold: Nominations must meet the Core Skills Income Threshold, now AUD 79,423 (up from AUD 76,515) for applications lodged between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027, alongside market salary rate requirements.
Visa Costs
From 1 July 2026, the base visa application charge for the main applicant is AUD 6,140, up from AUD 4,910. Secondary applicant charges are AUD 3,070 for a dependant aged 18 or over and AUD 1,535 for a dependant under 18. Employers also carry the Skilling Australians Fund levy on the nomination — generally AUD 1,200 per year for businesses with turnover under AUD 10 million, or AUD 1,800 for those above. Since the fee that applies is set by the date Home Affairs receives the application (not when preparation started), it's worth confirming the exact current figure with the Department's Visa Pricing Estimator before lodging.
Processing Times
Based on Home Affairs' global processing times, published 4 September 2026:
Labour Agreement stream: 50% of applications decided within 7 months, 90% within 10 months.
Direct Entry stream: 50% within 13 months, 90% within 21 months.
TRT stream: 50% within 14 months, 90% within 22 months.
These reflect recently finalised applications, not a guarantee for any individual case. With the new priority order now in effect, timing can shift further depending on occupation and whether you're applying onshore or offshore.
The Application Process, Step by Step
Confirm your occupation and stream.
Get a skills assessment, if required — typically four to twelve weeks.
Employer lodges the nomination, demonstrating the role is genuine, full-time, and meets salary requirements.
Lodge your visa application within six months of nomination approval.
Respond to any request for information — missing payslips or an unclear case for genuine, ongoing employment are common causes of delay.
Visa grant — once approved, included family members can live and work in Australia permanently.
Getting the Details Right
Most 186 visa delays trace back to mismatches between the nomination and the visa application — salary figures that don't align with the updated threshold, occupation codes that don't reflect the actual role, or incomplete evidence of genuine need. With higher fees, tighter thresholds, and new priority sequencing all in play at once, getting the nomination right the first time matters more than ever. Edvise Hub works with applicants on skilled and employer-sponsored pathways like the 186 visa, helping assess which stream fits and what documentation the case needs before lodgement.
Final Thoughts
The 186 visa is still a strong permanent residency route, but the settings around it have moved on several fronts since mid-2026 — cost, salary thresholds, and now queue order. The right stream, an accurate nomination, and awareness of where you sit under the current priority rules make the real difference. Always verify current thresholds, fees, and processing settings on the Department of Home Affairs website before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the 186 visa cost in 2026?
In short: AUD 6,140 for the primary applicant from 1 July 2026, plus AUD 3,070 per adult dependant and AUD 1,535 per child.
What is the minimum salary for a 186 visa?
In short: nominations must meet the Core Skills Income Threshold of AUD 79,423 for applications lodged between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027.
How long does the 186 visa take to process now?
In short: Labour Agreement cases clear in 7–10 months, Direct Entry in roughly 13–21 months, and TRT in 14–22 months, per Home Affairs' September 2026 figures.
