Apply for
186 Nomination
Sponsor a Skilled Worker for Permanent Residency in Australia
The Subclass 186 nomination is the employer’s formal commitment to a genuine, full-time and ongoing role that supports a skilled worker to live and work in Australia permanently. Whether the pathway is Direct Entry, Temporary Residence Transition, or Labour Agreement, the nomination must clearly demonstrate a real business need for the position, confirm employment terms that are no less favourable than an equivalent Australian role, and show the worker will be paid in line with salary requirements, including the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) where applicable. A well-prepared nomination strengthens long-term career stability and permanent residency outcomes, particularly for roles based in regional Australia.
At Knowbal Migration, we support both sponsors and applicants through every stage of the Subclass 186 nomination process. From stream selection and eligibility checks to genuine position assessment, AMSR justification, and document preparation, we ensure your nomination is clear, compliant, and decision-ready. Our personalised approach focuses on reducing risk, aligning business and visa requirements, and supporting long-term workforce and residency goals with confidence.
Overview for 186 Nomination
- Employer Nominates a Skilled Role for Permanent Residency
The employer formally nominates a skilled position to support the applicant’s permanent residence under subclass 186. - Full-Time, Ongoing Position (Minimum 2 Years)
The nominated role must be full-time and genuinely ongoing for at least 2 years. - Supports the Applicant’s PR Outcome
The nomination is the employer’s part of the ENS 186 process and works alongside the applicant’s visa application. - Salary & Skilled Income Threshold Compliance
The role’s pay and conditions must align with skilled visa income threshold requirements, noting thresholds are indexed from 1 July 2025. - Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) Levy Required
The SAF levy must be paid when the employer lodges the nomination. - Different Streams, Same Nomination Concept
Nomination can be lodged under Direct Entry, Temporary Residence Transition, or Labour Agreement (based on eligibility and circumstances). - Processing Times Are Indicative Only
Processing time guidance should be checked via the visa processing time guide tool (it is not specific to any single case).
Cost: From AUD 540.00| You are also required to pay the Skilling Australians Fund levy click here for more info
What your 186 Nominations must cover
- Offer a skilled role that is full-time, ongoing, and available for at least 2 years
- Business eligibility, including being actively and lawfully operating, having a genuine need for a paid skilled employee,
and having complied with immigration and workplace relations laws - Occupation requirement
- Direct Entry: the nominated occupation must be on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)
- Labour Agreement: the occupation must be listed in your labour agreement, and your agreement must include a permanent residence option
- TRT: the nominated occupation must be listed in ANZSCO and be the same occupation as your most recently approved nomination for the applicant
- Salary and conditions
- Terms and conditions must be no less favourable than those for an Australian worker in the same role and location
- If the worker earns less than AUD 250,000, you must pay at least the annual market salary rate (AMSR) and clearly explain your evidence
- Costs and timing
- Nomination fee is AUD 540 (Labour Agreement/TRT: nil if the position is in regional Australia)
- SAF levy applies to nomination applications
- After nomination approval, the nominee must lodge the visa within 6 months
- TRT-specific sponsor requirement
- You must be the applicant’s current sponsor (on a subclass 457 or 482), and agree to employ them full-time for at least 2 years
- TRT applicants must provide evidence they completed at least 2 years of eligible sponsored employment in the 3 years before their visa application
Eligibility for 186 Nomination
| Criteria | Description |
|---|---|
| No adverse information | The business (and associated persons) must have no adverse information known, or it must be reasonable to disregard it. |
| Actively and lawfully operating | The business must actively and lawfully operate in Australia. |
| Labour hire restriction (if applicable) | If the business undertakes labour-hire to unrelated businesses, the nominated position must be within your business activities and not for hire to other unrelated businesses. (Applies: Direct Entry, TRT) |
| Genuine need for the role | The business must have a genuine need for a paid employee to fill a skilled position. |
| Compliance with laws | The business must have complied with Australian immigration and workplace relations laws. |
| Pay the SAF levy | The sponsor must pay the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy when lodging the nomination. |
| Full-time, ongoing position | The sponsor must offer a full-time, ongoing position for at least 2 years. The employment contract must not limit the position to 2 years. |
| Market salary requirement | If the worker earns less than AUD 250,000/year, the sponsor must pay at least the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR). |
| Licence/registration/membership (if required) | The sponsor must demonstrate that the nominee is eligible for any licence, registration, or membership required at the time of application/nomination. |
| Occupation requirement — CSOL | The nominated occupation must be on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). (for: Direct Entry) |
| Labour agreement in place | The sponsor must have a current labour agreement in place with the Australian Government. (for: Labour Agreement) |
| Meet labour agreement nomination requirements | The sponsor must have met any nomination requirements specified in the labour agreement. (for: Labour Agreement) |
| Occupation listed in the agreement | The occupation being nominated must be listed in the labour agreement as an occupation the sponsor can nominate. (for: Labour Agreement) |
| Occupation requirement — ANZSCO + match rule | The nominated occupation must be listed in ANZSCO and be the same occupation as the applicant’s most recently approved nomination. (for: TRT) |
| Must be the applicant’s current/most recent sponsor | The sponsor may nominate only if they remain with the applicant’s most recently approved sponsor (SBS or labour agreement party). If there was a restructure/new ABN/ACN, sponsorship arrangements must reflect this before lodging under TRT. (for: TRT) |
| Applicant’s visa status requirement (TRT-linked) | At nomination time, the applicant must hold or have the most recently held subclass 457 or 482 (or hold a relevant bridging visa as described in your extract). (for: TRT) |
| Continuity of employment (business change) | If ownership changes (sale/takeover/restructure), nomination may still be possible if you can show the current and previous sponsor are effectively the same employer, and you remain the most recently approved sponsor. (for: TRT) |
| ASIC action risk note | If the business (or associated business) has been subject to ASIC action (e.g., administration), the nomination may not meet approval requirements. (for: TRT) |
The Knowbal Visa Application Process
Applying for the 186 Nomination can feel complicated, but Knowbal is here to support you at every stage. Here’s how we simplify the application process
Initial Consultation
We start by reviewing your study history, current visa status, and eligibility for the Temporary Graduate Visa. This personalised consultation helps us understand your situation and plan the best application approach for you.
Assigning an Expert Agent
Once we assess your case, you’ll be assigned a dedicated migration expert. This professional will be your main point of contact, guiding you through each step and answering your questions promptly.
Document Preparation
Gathering and organising your documents correctly is critical. Knowbal helps you prepare all necessary paperwork, including your Confirmation of Enrolment, academic transcripts, proof of completion, health insurance, and identity documents to avoid delays or errors.
Submitting the Application
We lodge your visa application on your behalf with the Department of Home Affairs, ensuring everything complies with visa requirements and your information is accurately presented.
Ongoing Updates
Throughout the processing period, Knowbal monitors your application and keeps you informed. Should the Department request additional information, we will assist you promptly to ensure a smooth process.
FAQs
A strong nomination usually needs: a detailed Position Description aligned to the occupation, an organisational chart showing reporting lines, evidence of business activity (contracts/projects/work pipeline), and financial capacity evidence (recent BAS/financials and payroll). The goal is to show the role is real, needed, and sustainable.
Use a clear way: employment contract with clear base + super, payslips matching the contract, and credible market evidence (salary benchmarking or comparable internal roles). Avoid “made-to-fit” figures that don’t align with the business size, location, and role level.
Not if the evidence shows your duties match the nominated occupation. Make the nomination duty-led: map the Position Description, KPIs, reporting line, and business need to the occupation, and include a short explanation for the title difference (many businesses use internal titles that don’t match ANZSCO wording).
For nomination compliance, these costs should be treated as the employer’s responsibility and not recovered from you via payroll deductions or indirect arrangements. If there’s any cost-recovery wording in your contract, it should be removed before lodgement to avoid unnecessary risk.
Common triggers include generic PDs, unclear org structure, weak evidence of business need, inconsistent salary evidence, and messy payroll records. A decision-ready nomination is one where all documents agree (PD/contract/payslips/org chart), and the business case is specific, measurable, and easy for a case officer to follow.
Yes—nomination of cost settings can differ depending on whether the position is located in a regional area, and location also affects how the business case is assessed (worksite, operational need, and local labour context). Make sure the nominated work location is consistent across the contract, PD, and business documents.
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