Subclass 186 – Direct Entry Stream

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Subclass 186: Employer Nomination Scheme - Direct Entry Stream

The Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) visa allow eligible  employers to bring skilled overseas workers to Australia, indefinitely.

To be eligible for the Direct Entry visa, you must:

  • be ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​nominated by an Australian employer
  • have at least 3 years of relevant work experience
  • have at least Competent English

Here are the new changes to Subclass 186 – Direct Entry stream, since the introduction of Skills in Demand Visa.

You must now have an occupation in CSOL to be eligible for the visa. 

The Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) replaces the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT). This is the same amount of AUD73,150, indexed annually.

Three streams under the Subclass 186 Visa

Direct Entry Stream

Allows skilled workers nominated by an Australian employer to gain permanent residency.

Applicants must meet specific criteria, including having their occupation on  CSOL, a positive skills assessment, and at least 3 years of work experience.

 

TRT Stream

for those who have already demonstrated their skills and contributions in the Australian workforce.

Applicants must be employed full-time in Australia for at least 2 years on a qualifying visa (e.g., sc457 or 482) and are nominated by their employer to transition to permanent residency. 

 

Labour Agreement Stream

Be those who currently work  for an employer who is a party to a labour agreement.

This stream is tailored for roles that cannot be filled through a standard skilled migration program and requires the employer to have an approved labour agreement in place.

 

 

Schedule a Consultation with Aust Migration & Settlement Services

Our Registered Migration Agents can assist with determining your eligibility for Subclass 186 – Direct Entry visa.

Subclass 186 - Direct Entry Stream Eligibility

To be eligible for a Subclass 186 - Direct Entry Stream, you & your sponsoring organisation must meet the below requirements:

Nomination Eligibility Criteria

Sponsor Requirements

Your sponsoring organisation must undertake market research for your nominated occupation

You must offer a skilled position that is full time and ongoing for at least 2 years

Your sponsoring organisation must pay the Skilling Australians Fund levy as per the table below.

Business size

ENS / RSMS and SESR visas

Small (annual turnover less than $10 million)

AUD3000 one-off

Other business (annual turnover of $10 million or more)

AUD5000 one-off

Your sponsoring organisation must not have any adverse information known about it or any person associated with it, or it is reasonable to disregard this information

Your sponsoring organisation must be actively and lawfully operating a business in Australia

Your sponsoring organisation must provide evidence that the position must be within your business activities and not for unrelated businesses and that there is a genuine need for a paid employee to fill the position.

Visa Eligibility Criteria

Applicant Requirements

Usually, you must be under 45 years of age when you apply.

You are exempt from this criteria if any of the following applies to you:

  • you are nominated as an academic (university lecturer or faculty head at Academic Level B, C D or E) by a university in Australia
  • you are nominated as a scientist, researcher or technical (scientific) specialist at ANZSCO skill level 1 or 2 by an Australian scientific government agency
  • you currently hold a Special Category (subclass 444) or New Zealand citizen’s family member (subclass 461) visa and have worked for the employer who nominated you, in the nominated position, for at least 2 years in the last 3 years immediately before you apply. The 2 years excludes periods of unpaid leave.

You must be nominated by an Australian employer whose business is actively and lawfully operating.

You must apply for the visa within 6 months of the nomination being approved.

We can’t grant you a visa if:

  • we are aware of adverse information about your nominator or any person associated with them, unless it is reasonable to disregard this information, or
  • the nomination is withdrawn, or
  • the position is no longer available

Please note that the Department can’t link a new nomination to your existing visa application. Therefore, you must submit a new visa application in relation to the new nomination. 

Most applicants need to have a skills assessment that shows they have the skills to work in the nominated position

Unless exempt, most applicants need to have at least 3 years relevant work experience in their occupation.

Applicants who are exempt from the skills assessment requirement are also exempt from the work experience requirement.

You must have at least competent English to be granted this stream of the visa.

To prove you have competent English, provide evidence:

    • that you are a citizen of and hold a valid passport issued by the United Kingdom*, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland, with your application. *British National (Overseas) passports are not acceptable as evidence of competent English; or
    • you have an obtained one of the following English language test results:

 

SPECIFIED TEST RESULTS

TestRequired score
International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic or General Training​)At least 6 for each of the 4 components
Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT)At least 12 for listening, 13 for reading, 21 for writing and 18 for speaking
Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic)At least 50 for each of the 4 components
Occupational English Test (OET)At least B for each of the 4 components
​Cambridge C1 Advanced testAt least 169 in each of the 4 components
 

You and family members aged 16 years and over who apply for the visa with you must meet the Department’s character requirement & health requirement

New Core Skilled Occupation List(CSOL)

To be eligible for the Direct Entry Stream, your occupation must be listed on the CSOL, which includes over 450 occupations.

Steps for Subclass 186 - Direct Entry Application

Nomination

To begin applying for Subclass 186, your sponsoring employer needs to nominate you for a permanent position in your nominated occupation.

Subclass 186 visa does not have a sponsorship application. 

Visa Application

Once both sponsorship and nomination has been applied for, our Registered Migration Agents will apply for your Subclass 186 application and will liaise with the Department on your behalf.

We will ensure that all relevant documents are submitted at the time of lodgement to ensure faster processing of your visa application.

Wait for Visa Outcome.

Once all relevant documents are uploaded, we will wait for a visa application outcome, and follow up wherever necessary. 

Something else ?

    FAQ

    We are happy to answer
    any queries you may have

    Do I need to be in Australia to apply for the Direct Entry Stream?

    No, you can apply for the Subclass 186 Direct Entry Stream either while in Australia or from overseas, provided you meet all the eligibility criteria.

    What is a skills assessment, and why is it required?

    A skills assessment is a formal process conducted by a recognised assessing authority to verify that your qualifications and work experience match the requirements of your nominated occupation.

    It is a mandatory step for the Direct Entry Stream.

    How does the Direct Entry Stream differ from the TRT Stream?

    The Direct Entry Stream is for skilled workers who may not have worked in Australia previously or are applying directly from overseas.

    In contrast, the TRT Stream is for workers who have been employed in Australia for at least 2 years on a qualifying visa.

    Can my family members work in Australia?

    Yes, they are granted full working rights upon the grant of visa. 

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