The Subclass 186 Direct Entry Stream – Employer Nomination Scheme visa allows skilled workers to become permanent residents of Australia through employer sponsorship.
As of 2026, the current visa application fees for the Subclass 186 Direct Entry Stream (ENS) visa are outlined in the table below:
| Fee Category | Estimated Cost (AUD) | Paid By |
| Main Applicant Visa Fee | $4,910 | Applicant or Employer |
| Additional Applicant (18+) | $2,455 | Applicant or Employer |
| Additional Applicant (<18) | $1,230 | Applicant or Employer |
To apply for the Direct Entry stream, you must meet strict criteria set by the Department of Home Affairs:
Step 1 Employer Nomination: Your employer lodges a nomination application. They must prove the position is genuine, full-time, and available for at least two years.
Step 2 Visa Application: Once the nomination is lodged (or approved), you lodge your visa application within six months.
Step 3 Health & Character Checks: Complete your medical examinations and provide police clearances for all countries you have lived in for 12+ months.
Step 4 Visa Grant: Upon approval, you and your family are granted Australian Permanent Residency.
As of early 2026, the Department of Home Affairs has prioritized employer-sponsored permanent residency.
If your application is successful, you will receive permanent residency in Australia, which provides several benefits:
Whether you are an employer looking to sponsor skilled talent or a professional aiming to obtain permanent residency through the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Visa (Subclass 186), our experienced team at Migration Dreamz is here to guide you through every stage of the process and ensure your application is prepared with care and precision.
If you would like professional advice regarding your visa options or assistance with your application, you can book a consultation with Migration Dreamz.
you can apply for the Subclass 186 Direct Entry visa immediately as long as
you have an Australian employer who is willing to nominate you for a permanent position and you meet all the other visa eligibility criteria (such as having a positive skills assessment, 3 years of work experience, and competent English).
You do not need to hold a temporary visa (like the 482) first to be eligible for this stream.
The Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa – Direct Entry Stream allows skilled workers to become permanent residents of Australia through employer sponsorship.
This visa pathway is suitable for skilled workers who are nominated by an Australian employer for a permanent position and who meet the required skills, qualifications, and English language requirements.
The Direct Entry (DE) stream requires a genuine job offer, a positive skills assessment, and at least three years of relevant work experience. In contrast, the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream provides a pathway to permanent residency for applicants already working in Australia on an eligible temporary visa and generally does not require a skills assessment.
The Subclass 186 visa grants permanent residency, and there is no visa condition that legally requires you to remain with your sponsoring employer for a specific period. However, the visa is granted based on a genuine full-time position offered by the employer, and applicants usually agree to work for the employer in that role.
If you leave the employer very soon after the visa is granted, it may raise questions about whether the nominated position was genuine at the time the application was lodged. Therefore, it is generally expected that the employee intends to work for the sponsoring employer in the nominated position after the visa is granted.
