Two routes to permanent residence through your employer
186 Visa: Direct Entry vs Temporary Residence Transition
Navigating the migration process can feel overwhelming, but with MigrationBuro, you are never alone.
The subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme permanent visa has two streams: the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream, and the Direct Entry (DE) stream. Both lead to the same permanent visa, but the eligibility requirements and the type of applicant they suit are quite different.
For most employer-sponsored workers, the TRT stream is the path from a 482 visa to permanent residence. The DE stream is for workers who have a positive skills assessment and are nominated directly by an employer without having first held a 482.
THE CORE DIFFERENCES
Temporary Residence Transition (TRT): requires the applicant to have held a 482 visa (or certain other specified temporary visas) in the nominated occupation for at least two years in total in the three years before you apply. No formal skills assessment required, the 482 history and employment record substitutes. Usually under 45 when you apply, unless an exemption applies.
Direct Entry (DE): no requirement to have held a 482. Requires a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority (TRA, Engineers Australia, ACS, AHPRA, etc.). Age limit: applicants must be under 45 at the time of application (with limited exceptions for certain occupations).
Last sponsor requirement for TRT: the employer nominating you must be the last employer to have sponsored you on the 482. The two years can include time with an earlier sponsor. A change of employer does not by itself end the TRT pathway. TRT requirements checked against the Department of Home Affairs on 10 October 2026.
Skills assessment requirement: TRT does not require a separate skills assessment. DE does. This is a significant difference in the documentation burden.
WHICH STREAM APPLIES
Step 1 Confirm the applicant's current visa: is the applicant on a 482
(or other qualifying temporary visa) with the nominating employer?
Step 2 If yes and two years in role are complete
(or close to complete): TRT stream. No separate skills assessment needed.
Step 3 If no qualifying temporary visa, or if the employer wants to nominate without a preceding 482: DE stream
Confirm age is under 45 (or an exception applies). Obtain a positive skills assessment.
Step 4 Employer nominates
(new nomination application regardless of stream).
Step 5 Applicant lodges the 186 visa application
Speak to a Migration agent
Call 1300 VISA OZ (1300 8472 69) to discuss your visa or sponsorship options. Available Monday to Friday. Zoom consultations take 45-60 minutes and give you a clear answer on what is achievable.
Prefer to start in writing? Email info@migrationburo.com.au with the role title, the occupation, and the candidate's nationality and qualifications.
Skills in Demand (SID) Visa
(Subclass 482)
Custom migration pathways for businesses facing ongoing skills shortages, including DAMA’s, industry-specific Labour agreements and Company Specific Labour Agreements.
Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Visa (Subclass 186)
Secure permanent residency for skilled international employees, strengthening your workforce with long-term expertise.
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 494)
This visa provides a way for skilled workers in specific occupations, nominated by their employer for a position in a designated regional area, to live and work in Australia for five years. This visa contains two ‘streams’ with varying conditions and eligibility requirements. Click below to learn more, and contact us for professional advice and assistance.
Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)
A points-tested permanent visa for skilled workers in an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list, with no employer or state nomination required.
Your Australian Visa application
Some frequently asked questions
Answers to some questions we often hear from people in your situation.
Does the TRT stream have an age limit?
Yes. Like the Direct Entry stream, the TRT stream usually requires you to be under 45 when you apply. Some people aged 45 or over are exempt, and the Department’s page on the TRT stream sets out who. If you are 45 or older, check whether an exemption applies to you before you plan on this pathway. (Checked against the Department’s page, 26 September 2026.)
What is the age limit for the 186 DE stream?
45 years of age at the date of application. Exceptions exist for certain high-income earners and in some specified occupations, confirm whether an exception applies at consultation.
Can an employer nominate someone on a 482 for the DE stream?
Yes, if the applicant meets the DE requirements (skills assessment, under 45). But if the TRT requirements are also met (two years in role), the TRT stream is generally simpler.
What happens if the employer closes before the 186 is granted?
The nomination may lapse. The outcome depends on timing and whether an alternative employer is available to provide a new nomination. A change of employer after 186 visa lodgement but before grant can be managed in some circumstances, seek advice immediately.
What is the difference between a 482 and a 186 visa?
Migration experience you can trust
MigrationBuro are your trusted migration agents in Brisbane. Founded and led by Andrew Heathcote, we specialise in Australian immigration services. Registered since 2008, Andrew is a registered migration agent (MARN 0850840) and a member of the Migration Institute of Australia, ensuring expert guidance through every step of the immigration process.
