Written by Navpreet Aulakh, Registered Migration Agent MARN 2619467
Checked against Department of Home Affairs guidance on 2 October 2026
The 186 visa Direct Entry stream lets an Australian employer nominate a skilled worker straight for permanent residence, without the worker first spending two years on a 482 visa. To use it, the worker generally needs an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List, a positive skills assessment, at least 3 years of relevant work experience, competent English and to be under 45 when they apply, unless an exemption applies. The employer has to pay at least the market rate and the Core Skills Income Threshold, and cover the nomination fee and Skilling Australians Fund levy.
Below we cover the 186 direct entry requirements, the skills assessment, costs and how it compares with the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream.
What is the 186 Direct Entry stream?
The Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) is a permanent employer-sponsored visa. It has more than one stream. The Direct Entry stream is for workers who have not been on a 482 (or older 457) visa with their employer for the required time, or who are applying from outside Australia, but who can show their skills independently.
With the visa you become a permanent resident on the day it is granted. According to Home Affairs, you can:
- live, work and study in Australia indefinitely
- enrol in Medicare
- sponsor eligible relatives
- travel to and from Australia for 5 years from the grant date
- apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible.
After the 5-year travel facility ends you need a Resident Return visa to come back as a permanent resident.
Who can skip the 482 and go straight to PR?
Direct Entry suits workers who already have the skills and experience an employer needs and can prove it through a skills assessment. Typical examples:
- an experienced worker overseas whose employer in Australia wants to hire them permanently from day one
- a worker in Australia on another visa (for example a graduate or partner-related temporary visa) who has a job offer in a Core Skills occupation
- a 482 holder who has not yet built up 2 years of full-time sponsored work, but who already meets the Direct Entry criteria in their own right.
If you hold a 482 and have already worked for at least 2 years full time in eligible sponsored employment, the TRT stream is usually the better fit. For TRT, Home Affairs only asks for a skills assessment if it decides you need one. Our 482 to PR pathway page explains that route.
What are the 186 Direct Entry requirements for the worker?
Home Affairs lists these main 186 direct entry requirements for the applicant:
| Requirement | What Home Affairs says |
|---|---|
| Age | Under 45 when you apply, unless exempt |
| Occupation | Nominated occupation must be on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) |
| Work experience | At least 3 years relevant work experience in the occupation, unless exempt |
| Skills assessment | Positive assessment before you lodge, unless exempt, issued no more than 3 years before you apply |
| English | At least competent English |
| Licensing or registration | Required if it is mandatory for the job in the state or territory where you will work |
| Nomination | An approved nomination from an Australian employer; apply within 6 months of approval |
| Health and character | You and included family members must meet both |
Is there an age exemption for the Direct Entry stream?
Yes, but it is narrow. Home Affairs lists exemptions for academics nominated by an Australian university at certain academic levels, scientists, researchers or technical (scientific) specialists at ANZSCO skill level 1 or 2 nominated by a government science agency or Australian university, and certain subclass 444 or 461 holders who have worked for the nominating employer in the nominated position for at least 2 of the last 3 years. Most workers will not fall into these groups, so plan on lodging before your 45th birthday. See our 186 skill requirements page for more detail.
How much work experience do you need?
Most applicants need at least 3 years of relevant work experience in the nominated occupation. People who are exempt from the skills assessment are also exempt from the work experience requirement. Your employment references should match the duties of the nominated occupation and your skills assessment.
What English score do you need?
The main applicant needs at least competent English for this stream. Your test results must be issued no more than 3 years before you lodge, and you must have the results before you apply. Any family member aged 18 or over who applies with you should show at least functional English, or a second instalment of the visa charge applies. Our English requirements page sets out the test score equivalents.
How does the skills assessment work for 186 Direct Entry?
The skills assessment is the main thing that separates Direct Entry from TRT. It is done by the assessing authority for your occupation, not by Home Affairs, and it shows you have the skills and qualifications to do the job.
Points to know from Home Affairs:
- You must have a positive outcome before you lodge the visa application.
- It cannot have been issued more than 3 years before you apply, or a shorter period if the assessing authority sets one.
- A skills assessment obtained for a subclass 485 visa is not accepted.
- CSOL occupations use the 2022 version of ANZSCO. An assessment done under an older ANZSCO code is generally accepted if it is still valid, the assessing authority was the right one at the time and the occupation matches the older classification.
Each assessing authority has its own evidence rules and processing times, and some assess employment differently from Home Affairs. Our skills assessment guide explains how to choose the right authority, and the occupation search tool helps you check your ANZSCO code first.
Which occupations are eligible?
For nominations under the current rules, the occupation must be on the Core Skills Occupation List. You can check the list on our Core Skills Occupation List page and see 186-specific notes on the 186 occupations list page. Check caveats and licensing before the employer lodges.
What does the employer need to do?
The employer nominates the position. Home Affairs requires that the business is actively and lawfully operating, and a visa cannot be granted if there is adverse information about the nominator that cannot reasonably be disregarded, if the nomination is withdrawn or if the position is no longer available.
What salary must the employer pay?
For nominations under $250,000 a year, the employer must work out the annual market salary rate (AMSR) for the role, pay at least that, and make sure both the AMSR and the worker's pay (excluding non-monetary benefits) meet the relevant income threshold. Since 7 December 2024 the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) applies to 186 nominations. Home Affairs lists the CSIT as:
| Nomination lodged | Core Skills Income Threshold |
|---|---|
| 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 | AUD79,423 |
| 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026 | AUD76,515 |
Thresholds are indexed on 1 July each year, and the figure that applies is the one in force when the nomination is lodged. Our post on skilled visa income thresholds for 2026-27 explains how the AMSR and thresholds interact.
How much does the 186 Direct Entry visa cost?
The costs are split between the employer and the worker. These are the figures Home Affairs publishes on the Direct Entry page and the cost of sponsoring page:
| Cost | Who pays | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Visa application charge (main applicant) | Applicant | AUD6,140 |
| Family members applying with you | Applicant | Extra charge per person (use the Visa Pricing Estimator) |
| Second instalment (family member 18+ without functional English) | Applicant | AUD4,890 |
| ENS 186 nomination fee | Employer | AUD540 (subject to stream and location) |
| Skilling Australians Fund levy, turnover under $10 million | Employer | AUD3,000 one-off |
| Skilling Australians Fund levy, turnover $10 million or more | Employer | AUD5,000 one-off |
| Health checks, police certificates, biometrics | Applicant | Varies |
The employer must pay the nomination fee and levy and cannot pass them on to the worker. From 1 July 2026 a lower visa charge applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens. For a full breakdown across visa types, see our guide to employer sponsorship costs.
What are the steps to apply?
- Check the occupation and salary. Confirm the role is on the CSOL and that the pay meets the AMSR and the CSIT.
- Get the skills assessment. Apply to the right assessing authority and wait for a positive outcome.
- Sit the English test if you need one, and keep the results within 3 years.
- Employer lodges the nomination. They receive a Transaction Reference Number (TRN), which you need for the visa application. You do not have to wait for the nomination to be approved before lodging.
- Lodge the visa application with identity, skills, work experience, English and any licensing documents.
- Complete health and character checks when asked.
If you are applying in Australia you must hold a substantive visa or a Bridging visa A, B or C, and you cannot apply while in immigration clearance.
How long does 186 Direct Entry processing take?
Home Affairs does not publish a fixed figure. It points applicants to its visa processing time guide tool, which shows times for recently decided applications and is a guide only. Applications that are complete when lodged can generally be processed more quickly, and missing documents or extra checks slow things down. Read our 186 visa processing time post for what affects timing.
What are your obligations after the grant?
Home Affairs expects you to work for the nominating employer for at least 2 years after the grant, and to start that job within 6 months of arriving (if granted outside Australia) or of the grant date (if granted in Australia). Employers have their own sponsorship obligations too.
186 Direct Entry vs TRT: which one fits?
| Direct Entry | Temporary Residence Transition | |
|---|---|---|
| Prior visa | Not required | Hold a 457, 482 or eligible bridging visa |
| Time with employer | Not required | Usually at least 2 years full time in eligible sponsored employment in the 3 years before applying |
| Skills assessment | Required before you lodge, unless exempt | Only if Home Affairs asks for one |
| Work experience | At least 3 years unless exempt | Covered by the sponsored employment |
If you are not yet eligible for either, a temporary Skills in Demand (482) visa may be the first step.
Common questions about the 186 Direct Entry stream
Can I apply for 186 Direct Entry from outside Australia?
Yes. You can be in or outside Australia when you apply and when the visa is decided, but not in immigration clearance.
Do I need a skills assessment if I am already on a 482?
For Direct Entry, yes, unless you fall into an exemption. If you have 2 years of full-time sponsored work on your 482, check the TRT stream instead.
Can my partner and children be included?
Yes. Your partner, dependent children and stepchildren can be included when you apply, or added before a decision. Each pays a separate charge and must meet health and character requirements.
Can I use a skills assessment from my 485 visa?
No. Home Affairs states that skills assessments obtained for a subclass 485 visa are not accepted for this stream.
Talk to a registered migration agent
Direct Entry works well when the occupation, skills assessment, experience and salary all line up. If one piece is weak, the nomination or the visa can be refused, and Home Affairs does not refund the employer's sponsorship costs just because an application is unsuccessful. If you are a worker or an employer weighing up Direct Entry, TRT or a 482 first, book your consultation with our team.
This article is general information only and is not migration advice for your circumstances. Visa rules, fees and thresholds change. Book a consultation with a registered migration agent before you make any decision or lodge an application.