Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186)
This visa lets skilled workers nominated by an employer live and work in Australia permanently.
Why this page is in English
This page explains your legal rights and how FairLanding works. Because the exact wording matters for legal accuracy, we keep it in English only — the same language as the official Fair Work and Department of Home Affairs documents it refers to.
If anything here is unclear, you have a few free options:
- •Use your browser's built-in translate feature (right-click the page and select "Translate")
- •Call 131 450 (Translating and Interpreting Service) for a free phone interpreter in over 150 languages
- •Email us at hello@fairlanding.com.au and we'll explain it in plain language
We'd rather you ask a question than guess. Your rights are the same whether you read this page in English or with a translation.
With this visa, you can
stay in Australia indefinitely
work and study in Australia
enrol in Australia's public health care scheme, Medicare
sponsor eligible relatives to come to Australia
travel to and from Australia for 5 years
apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible
How long you can stay
This is a permanent visa across all three streams (Direct Entry, Labour Agreement, Temporary Residence Transition) — you can stay indefinitely.
You become a permanent resident on the day the visa is granted. For citizenship purposes, permanent residency starts on the grant date (if in Australia) or the entry date (if outside Australia when granted).
Newly arrived residents may have to wait before they can access certain Australian Government payments and benefits.
Include family
You can include family members when you apply, or add them after you apply but before a decision is made.
Your family members are: your partner, your (or your partner's) dependent child or stepchild, and the dependent child or stepchild of that child.
You can also include a subclass 457 or 482 visa holder if they were granted that visa as a member of your family — they must hold the eligible visa and be included in your application when you apply.
Family members who apply with you must meet health and character requirements; family members not applying with you may also need to meet these requirements.
Cost
The visa costs AUD $6,140.00 for the main applicant (concessions apply in limited circumstances). There is also a charge for each family member who applies with you.
You must pay an extra charge (the second instalment, AUD $4,890.00) for any family member 18 or older who applies with you and has less than Functional English — invoiced after you've met all other visa requirements. You'll also pay separately for health checks, police certificates, and biometrics.
From 1 July 2026, a lower visa cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens who lodge a valid visa application. This is based on the primary applicant's passport and also covers eligible family members.
Eligible passports: Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu
Apply from
You can apply from in or outside Australia. If in Australia, you must hold a substantive visa or a related Bridging visa A, B, or C.
If your substantive visa has a 'no further stay' condition, you might still be able to lodge in Australia in certain circumstances.
You can be in or outside Australia when a decision is made.
Processing times
Use the DHA visa processing time guide tool for an indication based on recently decided applications — it is a guide only, not specific to your application.
Processing can take longer if you don't fill in the application correctly, don't include all required documents, or if verifying your information takes time. Complete applications with all supporting documents are generally processed more quickly.
Your obligations
You and your family members must obey all Australian laws.
Direct Entry and Labour Agreement streams: you're expected to work for your nominating employer for at least 2 years, and must begin employment within 6 months of entering Australia (if granted outside Australia) or the grant date (if granted in Australia).
Temporary Residence Transition stream: check your specific grant letter for conditions, since this stream's obligations can differ from the other two.
Tell the Department if your phone number, email, address, passport, or relationship status changes, or if you have a child.
Travel
From the grant date, you can travel to and from Australia for up to 5 years.
After that, you'll need a Resident Return (RRV) visa (subclass 155 or 157) to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident.
If you leave after your travel facility expires without another permanent visa with a valid travel facility, you might not be able to return as a permanent resident.
Visa label
We will digitally link your visa to your passport. You will not get a label in your passport.
Sourced directly from the Department of Home Affairs — last verified 29 July 2026. This is general information, not migration advice. Always confirm current requirements at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au or consult a MARA-registered migration agent.