Does the TRT stream require a skills assessment?

In most cases, no. The Temporary Residence Transition stream generally does not require a separate skills assessment from a formal assessing authority. The two years of employment with the sponsoring employer in the nominated occupation serves as the skills evidence. However, the Department of Home Affairs retains discretion to request additional evidence in individual cases, and some occupations may have additional requirements.

Can overseas work experience count towards the Direct Entry requirement?

Yes, in most cases overseas employment may be counted towards the three-year work experience requirement for Direct Entry. The experience must be in the nominated occupation, or a closely related occupation at an equivalent skill level. All overseas periods must be supported by documentary evidence — payslips, employer reference letters, or equivalent overseas records, accompanied by certified English translations where required.

What is the English requirement and are there exemptions?

The 186 visa generally requires Competent English, commonly demonstrated by an IELTS result of 6 in each band (or equivalent in an approved test). Exemptions may apply to citizens of the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, New Zealand, or Republic of Ireland; to applicants who have completed at least five years of full-time secondary or higher education where the language of instruction was English; and in certain other circumstances. An exemption is not automatic — it must be confirmed against the current legislative requirements.

Is there an age limit for the 186 visa?

Applicants are generally required to be under 45 years of age at the time the visa application is lodged. There are limited legislative exemptions — including for certain academics nominated by an Australian university, and for some high-earning specialists. These exemptions are assessed on a case-by-case basis. If you are 45 or older, obtain specialist advice before the nomination is lodged, as the nomination itself may be affected.

What happens if my skills assessment has expired by the time the visa is decided?

In most cases, the Department of Home Affairs requires the skills assessment to be current at the time of decision, not only at the time of lodgement. If your assessment expires during processing — which can take many months — you may be asked to provide a current assessment. It is generally advisable to check the validity of your assessment relative to the expected processing timeline before lodging.

If I change employers, can I still lodge a 186?

The 186 visa is employer-specific — the nomination must be lodged by the employer who will be employing you. For the TRT stream, changing employers resets the qualifying period; the new employer would need to sponsor you on a 482 and you would generally need to complete a further two years before the new employer could nominate you for a 186 under TRT. For Direct Entry, a new employer can nominate you provided you otherwise meet the skill and experience requirements. Changing employers while a 186 application is pending creates significant risks and specialist advice should be obtained immediately.

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Subclass 186Employer Nomination Scheme · Skill Requirements

186 Skill Requirements
Qualifications & Experience

The subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme generally requires applicants to demonstrate suitable skills for the nominated occupation — the exact evidence depends on which stream applies to your situation.

General information current as at July 2026. Requirements are subject to change — verify with the Department of Home Affairs before lodging.

The Short Answer

For the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream, skills are generally demonstrated through at least two years of employment with the nominating employer in the same occupation — in most cases no separate skills assessment is required. For the Direct Entry stream, applicants generally need a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority and at least three years of relevant full-time equivalent skilled work experience. Requirements may vary; the Department of Home Affairs is the authoritative source.

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Quick Answer

Skill requirements for the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) depend on the stream, as Nanak Migration Group, a registered migration agent (MARN 2619467), explains. Direct Entry usually needs a positive skills assessment and relevant skilled work, while Temporary Residence Transition builds on a qualifying subclass 482. Check the 186 occupations list for eligible roles and confirm English and age criteria before lodging.

Reviewed by Navpreet Aulakh, Registered Migration Agent (MARN 2619467)

Last reviewed: July 2026

Required for most

Skills assessment

In most cases — TRT stream is the main exception.

Generally 3 years

Relevant work experience

Full-time equivalent; varies by stream.

Competent English

English requirement

Unless an exemption applies to you.

Generally under 45

Age at application

Limited exemptions exist for certain occupations.

Section 1

The Four Skill Tests

Nominated occupation on the relevant list

The occupation being nominated must generally appear on one of the Department of Home Affairs occupation lists relevant to the 186 stream and location. The relevant list determines whether the occupation is available, and may specify additional caveats or conditions. Occupation lists are updated periodically and applicants should verify currency before the employer lodges the nomination.

Caveats on occupations may restrict who can be nominated even if the occupation code appears on the list.

Suitable skills assessment from the correct authority

For the Direct Entry stream, applicants generally need a positive skills assessment from the assessing authority specified for their ANZSCO occupation unit group. The assessing authority and the assessment standard are set by the relevant instrument — choosing the wrong body or receiving an assessment that does not meet the required standard will generally not satisfy this criterion.

Most assessments are valid for a limited period (commonly three years from the date of assessment). Check the expiry before lodging.

Work experience at the required skill level

Applicants are generally required to demonstrate relevant skilled work experience in the nominated occupation, or a closely related occupation at an equivalent skill level. For Direct Entry, this is typically at least three years of full-time equivalent experience. For TRT, it is at least two years of employment with the nominating employer in the nominated occupation while holding a qualifying subclass 482 visa.

Overseas experience may be counted for Direct Entry. Documentary evidence is required for all periods claimed.

Licensing or registration where required

For certain regulated occupations — including many health professions, some engineering roles, and trades requiring a licence — the applicant may need to hold relevant registration or licensing in Australia, or demonstrate that they are eligible to obtain it. This requirement operates independently of the skills assessment and is specific to each occupation.

Check with the relevant licensing authority for your occupation. Some registrations cannot be obtained until you hold a suitable visa.

Section 2

Stream Comparison

Feature	TRT Stream	Direct Entry	Labour Agreement
Skills assessment	Not generally required; employment record serves as evidence of skills	Generally required — positive result from the relevant assessing authority	Determined by the terms of the individual labour agreement
Work experience	Generally at least 2 years with the same sponsoring employer in the same nominated occupation on a qualifying 482 visa	Generally at least 3 years full-time equivalent in the nominated occupation	Set by the labour agreement; may differ from standard requirements
English	Generally Competent English; same exemptions apply as Direct Entry	Generally Competent English (e.g. IELTS 6 overall); exemptions may apply	Generally follows standard requirements unless the agreement specifies otherwise
Typical applicant	Workers who have held a subclass 482 (Core or Specialist stream) for at least 2 years with the nominating employer	Skilled workers being sponsored from overseas, or those who have not completed 2 years on a 482 with the same employer	Workers covered by an employer-specific or industry-wide labour agreement that includes a 186 pathway

Current as at July 2026. Verify current requirements with the Department of Home Affairs before lodging.

Section 3

How Work Experience Is Counted

What generally counts

Full-time employment in the nominated occupation at the required skill level

Part-time employment, generally counted on a full-time equivalent (FTE) basis

Overseas employment in a comparable occupation (Direct Entry)

Self-employment, in most cases, at the required skill level with documentary evidence

Employment in a closely related occupation assessed as equivalent

Time spent studying full-time (not counted as work experience)

Unpaid internships, volunteer work, or work below the required skill level

Experience gained more than ten years before lodgement (may attract closer scrutiny)

Evidence generally required

Employment contracts or letters of offer

On employer letterhead, showing commencement date, position title, and hours.

Payslips for each employer and period claimed

Covering the full period; must show employer name, employee name, dates, and amounts paid.

Employer reference letters

Signed by an authorised representative; confirming dates of employment, duties performed, and occupation.

Tax records and income assessments

ATO notices or overseas equivalent tax records corroborating income and employment periods.

Superannuation records

For Australian employment periods; confirms employment duration and employer identity.

Overseas documents: Documents not in English must in most cases be accompanied by a certified English translation prepared by a NAATI-accredited translator or equivalent. The Department of Home Affairs may request additional verification of overseas employment records.

Section 4

Common Reasons the Skill Requirements Are Not Met

Section 5

Evidence Checklist

An indicative checklist — your specific case may require additional documents. Always confirm requirements with your registered migration agent.

Applicant passport (all pages)

Employer's current Standard Business Sponsorship approval evidence

Approved nomination from the employer (or concurrent lodgement)

Evidence of the employment relationship — contract, payslips, tax records

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Not sure your experience meets
the 186 skill test?

Navpreet Aulakh (MARN 2619467) can review your employment history, skills assessment, and nominated occupation against current Department of Home Affairs requirements — in most cases identifying issues before the nomination is lodged.

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General information only — not immigration advice

About this information

This information is general in nature and does not constitute immigration assistance or legal advice for any individual situation. Requirements including occupation lists, fees and processing criteria change without notice.

No outcome representation

Nanak Migration Group Pty Ltd makes no representation that information on this site is complete, current or applicable to your circumstances. Nothing here guarantees, implies or represents any visa outcome, approval likelihood or processing time.

Get personal advice

Obtain advice tailored to your situation from a registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner. Navpreet Aulakh, MARN 2619467, is registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority.

About this page

Occupation lists and assessment standards are subject to change. This page does not publish fees for any visa application.

Information current as at July 2026. Verify all requirements with the Department of Home Affairs (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au) before lodging any application.

186 Skill Requirements
Qualifications & Experience

General information current as at July 2026. Requirements are subject to change — verify with the Department of Home Affairs before lodging.

The Short Answer

Feature

TRT Stream

Direct Entry

Labour Agreement

Skills assessment

Not generally required; employment record serves as evidence of skills

Generally required — positive result from the relevant assessing authority

Determined by the terms of the individual labour agreement

Work experience

Generally at least 2 years with the same sponsoring employer in the same nominated occupation on a qualifying 482 visa

Generally at least 3 years full-time equivalent in the nominated occupation

Set by the labour agreement; may differ from standard requirements

English

Generally Competent English; same exemptions apply as Direct Entry

Generally Competent English (e.g. IELTS 6 overall); exemptions may apply

Generally follows standard requirements unless the agreement specifies otherwise

Typical applicant

Workers who have held a subclass 482 (Core or Specialist stream) for at least 2 years with the nominating employer

Skilled workers being sponsored from overseas, or those who have not completed 2 years on a 482 with the same employer

Workers covered by an employer-specific or industry-wide labour agreement that includes a 186 pathway

Not sure your experience meets
the 186 skill test?

Consultations in HindiConsultations in PunjabiConsultations in English

The Four Skill Tests

Nominated occupation on the relevant list

Suitable skills assessment from the correct authority

Work experience at the required skill level

Licensing or registration where required

Stream Comparison

How Work Experience Is Counted

What generally counts

Evidence generally required

Common Reasons the Skill Requirements Are Not Met

Evidence Checklist

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Pages

Not sure your experience meetsthe 186 skill test?

The Four Skill Tests

Nominated occupation on the relevant list

Suitable skills assessment from the correct authority

Work experience at the required skill level

Licensing or registration where required

Stream Comparison

How Work Experience Is Counted

What generally counts

Evidence generally required

Common Reasons the Skill Requirements Are Not Met

Evidence Checklist

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Pages

Not sure your experience meetsthe 186 skill test?

Not sure your experience meets
the 186 skill test?

Not sure your experience meets
the 186 skill test?