The Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme is a permanent residence visa granted to skilled workers nominated by their Australian employer. It's the most common employer-sponsored pathway to PR and comes in three streams — Transition (from 482), Direct Entry, and Labour Agreement. Getting the paperwork right is critical; an incorrect nomination can delay your PR by years.

Key Requirements

•   Employer must be an approved Australian standard business sponsor

•   Nomination for a skilled position (ANZSCO skill levels 1–3)

•   Transition Stream: Hold or have held a 482/TSS visa and have worked for the sponsor 2+ years

•   Direct Entry Stream: Positive skills assessment + 3 years relevant work experience

•   Salary at or above the Annual Market Salary Rate

•  Under 45 years (Direct Entry); no age limit for Transition Stream

•    Competent English (IELTS 6.0 minimum; higher for some occupations)

Who is This Visa For?

Skilled workers are nominated by an Australian employer for a permanent position. Most commonly used by people transitioning from the Subclass 482 visa (Transition Stream) or being brought directly from overseas by an employer (Direct Entry Stream).

Visa Conditions and Key Details

•   Permanent Residence, live and work anywhere in Australia

•   No ongoing obligation to stay with the nominating employer after the grant

•   Travel freely for 5 years from the grant date

•   Access to Medicare immediately upon grant

•   Pathway to Australian citizenship in 4 years

Processing Time and Cost

•   Processing Time: 75% within 13 months; 90% within 22 months

•    Visa Application Charge: AUD 4,770 (2024–25) primary applicant

Gemini's Role: How We Help

Gemini manages the entire two-step process: employer nomination and visa application. Our agents ensure the occupation correctly aligns with ANZSCO, the salary meets market rates, and the employment evidence is airtight for the Transition Stream