Written by Navpreet Aulakh, Registered Migration Agent MARN 2619467
Checked against Department of Home Affairs guidance on 9 October 2026
The 186 TRT (Temporary Residence Transition) stream is the permanent residency pathway for people already working in Australia on a 482 or older 457 visa. If your current sponsor nominates you, you have usually worked for at least 2 years full time in your sponsored role, you are under 45 and you have Competent English, you may be able to move from a 482 to PR without a separate skills-based visa. This guide covers the requirements, costs and common mistakes.
What is the 186 TRT stream?
The Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) has three streams: Direct Entry, Labour Agreement and Temporary Residence Transition. The TRT stream is designed for workers who are already in Australia on an employer-sponsored temporary visa and whose employer wants to keep them permanently.
Home Affairs describes it as a visa that lets skilled workers nominated by their current employer live and work in Australia permanently. Once granted, you can live, work and study in Australia indefinitely, enrol in Medicare, sponsor eligible relatives and apply for citizenship if you become eligible. The visa includes a travel facility of 5 years, after which you need a Resident Return visa to come back as a permanent resident.
The 482 is now called the Skills in Demand visa, but Home Affairs still refers to subclass 482 (and the closed 457) in the TRT criteria. For a wider view of every route from a 482, see our 482 to PR pathway page.
Who can use the 186 TRT stream to go from a 482 to PR?
The TRT stream suits workers who:
- currently hold a subclass 482 visa (any stream) or subclass 457 visa (any stream) as the primary visa holder, or a bridging visa linked to a 457, 482, 186 or 187 application where the last substantive visa was a 457 or 482
- have worked full time for the nominating employer in their sponsored occupation
- have an employer who is willing to nominate them for a permanent position
If you have not yet built up 2 years on a 482, or your employer is not able to nominate you through TRT, the 186 Direct Entry stream may be worth comparing. Direct Entry usually needs a positive skills assessment and 3 years of relevant experience instead.
What are the 186 TRT requirements for the worker?
| Requirement | What Home Affairs says |
|---|---|
| Current visa | Primary holder of a subclass 457 or 482 (any stream), or an eligible bridging visa |
| Work experience | A total of 2 years of eligible sponsored employment in the 3 years before you apply |
| Nominating employer | Must be the employer who last sponsored you to work full time on your 457 or 482 |
| Age | Usually under 45 when you apply (exemptions apply) |
| English | At least Competent English, with no exemption for this stream |
| Skills | The skills and qualifications to perform the nominated occupation; a skills assessment may be requested |
| Licensing | Any licence, registration or membership that is mandatory in your state or territory |
| Timing | Apply within 6 months of the nomination being approved |
| Health and character | You and family members applying with you must meet both |
What counts as eligible sponsored employment?
Home Affairs says eligible sponsored employment must be full time, done in Australia, done while holding a 457, 482 or eligible bridging visa, and done in an occupation you were granted the 457 or 482 to perform.
Two details help people who have moved jobs. If you have held more than one 457 or 482 in the past 3 years, your sponsored employment can be counted in any occupation you were approved to work in. If you have changed employer, your time can be counted from the date an approved nomination was lodged, if you started working there before the nomination was approved.
Keep strong records. Home Affairs asks for documents covering the employment period, paid and unpaid leave, and overseas trips for training or work, along with PAYG payment summaries, employment contracts, payslips and leave records. Long unpaid leave or a gap between visas can reduce the time that counts.
Is there an age exemption for the TRT stream?
The usual age limit is under 45 at the time you apply. Home Affairs lists several exemptions, including:
- academics at Level A to E nominated by an Australian university
- scientists, researchers or technical specialists at ANZSCO skill level 1 or 2 nominated by an Australian scientific government agency or university
- medical practitioners who have worked in a designated regional area for at least 2 of the last 3 years as a 457 or 482 holder
- workers in a regional position who have worked in eligible sponsored employment for at least 2 of the last 3 years and earned at least the Fair Work high income threshold in each of those years
There is also a transitional arrangement for people who held a 457 visa (or had applied for one and were later granted it) on 18 April 2017. They can still apply if they are under 50.
What English level do you need?
You need at least Competent English. Home Affairs states that from 16 November 2019 there is no exemption to the English requirement for the TRT stream. Your test results must be issued no more than 3 years before you apply, and you must have the results before you lodge. See our English requirements page for the accepted tests.
Do you need a skills assessment for 186 TRT?
Not always. Home Affairs says you must have the skills and qualifications needed for the nominated occupation and that it might ask you to get a skills assessment. Be ready in case a request comes. Our 186 skill requirements and skills assessment pages explain what is involved.
What does the employer need to do?
The employer lodges a nomination for the position. Home Affairs requires the business to be actively and lawfully operating in Australia, and the employer must be the one who last sponsored you on your 457 or 482. A visa cannot be granted if the department is aware of adverse information about the nominator (unless it is reasonable to disregard it), if the nomination is withdrawn, or if the position is no longer available.
What salary must the employer pay?
Unless the salary is AUD250,000 or more, the employer must show it has worked out the annual market salary rate (AMSR) correctly, will pay you no less than that rate, and that both the AMSR and your pay meet the relevant income threshold.
For ENS (subclass 186) nominations, the threshold is the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT). Home Affairs publishes it as AUD79,423 for nominations lodged between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027 (it was AUD76,515 in 2025-26). Non-monetary benefits such as accommodation or a car do not count towards it. Our post on skilled visa income thresholds for 2026-27 covers the detail.
How much does the 186 TRT visa cost?
| Cost | Who pays | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Visa application charge (main applicant) | Applicant | AUD6,140 |
| Family members applying with you | Applicant | Extra charge per person (see the Visa Pricing Estimator) |
| Second instalment (family member 18+ with less than 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 |
Home Affairs is clear that the employer must pay the costs of sponsoring and nominating and cannot pass them on to the worker or their family. Costs are not refunded if the application is unsuccessful. From 1 July 2026 a lower visa charge applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens. For a full employer budget, read what it really costs to sponsor a worker.
What are the steps to move from a 482 to a 186 TRT?
- Check your timeline. Count your full-time sponsored employment in the last 3 years and allow for unpaid leave and gaps.
- Organise English results. Make sure your test meets Competent English and was issued within 3 years of applying.
- Employer lodges the nomination. The employer receives a Transaction Reference Number (TRN). Home Affairs says you do not need to wait for the nomination to be approved before you lodge the visa.
- Gather documents. Identity documents, employment evidence (contracts, payslips, PAYG summaries, leave records), licences if required, and any age exemption evidence.
- Lodge the visa in ImmiAccount. Include family members when you apply, or add them before a decision is made.
- Respond to requests. Health checks, police certificates, biometrics or a skills assessment may be requested.
Our Employer Nomination Scheme page has more on how we prepare the nomination and visa together.
How long does 186 TRT processing take?
Home Affairs does not publish a fixed figure for the TRT stream. It points applicants to its visa processing time guide tool, which shows times for recently decided applications and is a guide only. Applications can take longer if forms are incomplete, documents are missing, more information is needed or verification takes time. See our 186 visa processing time post for how to read the guide.
What are your obligations after the grant?
Home Affairs expects you to work for your nominating employer for at least 2 years. You must start the job within 6 months of the grant date if you were granted the visa in Australia, or within 6 months of entering Australia if you were granted it outside Australia. You and your family must obey all Australian laws.
What are the common mistakes in a 482 to 186 application?
- Counting part-time work, or time before the visa was granted, as eligible sponsored employment
- Applying more than 6 months after the nomination was approved
- Relying on an English test that is more than 3 years old
- A nomination from an employer who was not your last 482 sponsor
- A salary that falls below the CSIT or the market rate
- Turning 45 before lodging without checking whether an exemption applies
Common questions about the 186 TRT stream
Can I apply for 186 TRT if I changed employers on my 482?
Yes, if your new employer is the one that last sponsored you full time and you meet the 2-year requirement. Time with the new employer can count from the date an approved nomination was lodged, if you started work before it was approved.
Do I need to be in Australia when the visa is decided?
No. Home Affairs says you can be in or outside Australia when the decision is made, but you must hold a substantive visa or a Bridging visa A, B or C when you apply if you are in Australia.
Is there an exemption from the English requirement?
No. Since 16 November 2019 there is no English exemption for the TRT stream.
Can my family be included?
Yes. Your partner, dependent children and stepchildren can be included. Family members aged 18 or over with less than Functional English trigger the second instalment of AUD4,890.
What if I am not eligible for TRT yet?
You may be able to keep working on your 482 until you reach 2 years, or compare the Direct Entry stream. Our 482 visa guide covers the temporary stage.
Get advice before you lodge
Small details such as leave periods, a change of employer or a birthday close to 45 can change the outcome. To have your 482 history and your employer's nomination checked by a registered migration agent, book your consultation.
Official sources: Home Affairs - 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream; Home Affairs - Salary requirements; Home Affairs - Cost of sponsoring.
This article is general information only and is not migration advice for your circumstances. Visa rules, charges and thresholds change. Book a consultation with a registered migration agent before making decisions about your visa.