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Employer Nomination Scheme Visa – Direct Entry Stream
Secure permanent residency in Australia with a genuine job offer from an approved employer, offering long-term stability and full work rights.
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Subclass 186 - Direct Entry Stream
Permanent Residence from Day One
This visa grants immediate permanent residency in Australia, allowing you to live, work, and study indefinitely.
Employer-Sponsored Skilled Migration
Designed for skilled workers nominated by an approved Australian employer for a genuine full-time position.
Suitable for Overseas & Onshore Applicants
Available to applicants inside or outside Australia, provided eligibility criteria are met.
Skills & Experience Focused
Requires a positive skills assessment and relevant work experience in an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL).
Family Inclusion
You can include eligible family members (partner and dependent children), who receive the same permanent residence rights.
Clear Pathway to Citizenship
As a permanent resident, you may become eligible for Australian citizenship once residency requirements are met.
Subclass 186 - Direct Entry Stream
Open to eligible applicants of any nationality (subject to meeting visa criteria)
Must be under the age of 45 at the time of application, unless an exemption applies (as set by relevant policy/instrument).
Must meet the Competent English level.
Any dependent applicant who is aged at least 18 years on the day you make your application should provide evidence they have at least functional English. If they cannot show functional English, you will need to pay the second instalment of the visa application charge for them when requested.
If applying in Australia, the applicant must hold a lawful visa status at time of lodgement (commonly a substantive visa or eligible bridging visa, where permitted).
Can generally be lodged in or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance.
Must have a suitable skills assessment for the nominated occupation unless an exemption applies.
The nominated occupation must be an eligible skilled occupation for the Direct Entry stream, as listed on the relevant skilled occupation list for this visa (often referred to as the CSOL – Consolidated Sponsored Occupation List).
Must have at least three years of relevant work experience in the nominated occupation, as per the stream rules; however, applicants who are exempt from the skills assessment requirement are also exempt from this three-year work experience requirement.
Must have qualifications suitable for the nominated occupation/role (often demonstrated through the skills assessment and employment evidence).
Applicants and family members aged 16+ must meet character requirements
Applicants (and any applying family) must meet health requirements.
No mandatory Australian study requirement for this stream (unless relevant to licensing/registration).
If the occupation is regulated, the applicant must meet mandatory licensing/registration requirements to work in the relevant state/territory.
Employers must lodge a valid nomination for a genuine, ongoing full-time position and meet nomination obligations (including salary/market rate alignment where required).
Visa application must be lodged within 6 months of nomination approval.
Not a standard “eligibility” requirement for the permanent visa itself, but applicants should maintain appropriate cover if they are onshore and not yet Medicare-eligible.
Must meet the health requirements; medical examinations may be required.
Must meet character requirements; police checks may be required (AFP is commonly requested where applicable
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The Knowbal Visa Application Process
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct Entry is for applicants who can meet the eligibility requirements without needing to complete years on a sponsored temporary visa with the same employer first. It’s often used by applicants who already have the required skills of assessment and experience, or who are applying from overseas or from another visa type.
A genuine position means the role is real, ongoing, and necessary for the business — not created just for migration. Decision-makers usually look at the business structure, need for the role, duties matching the occupation, salary consistency with the market, and evidence the employer can sustain the position long-term.
Delays often happen when the job duties don’t clearly match the nominated occupation, the organisational structure is unclear, business financials are weak or inconsistent, required employment documents are incomplete, or there are inconsistencies between the nomination and visa application details.
Yes. Eligible family members can be included in the visa application. The key is to organise family documents early (relationship evidence, dependency evidence, identity documents) so your application stays decision-ready and avoids unnecessary requests for more information. You will also need to pay an extra charge called a second instalment for any family member aged 18 years or older who applies for the visa with you and has less than Functional English. The second instalment for these family members is AUD 4,890 and is only requested after you have met all other requirements for the visa.
Significant changes can affect the nomination because the visa is tied to a specific role and conditions. If duties, work location, hours, or salary change, it may require review, updates, or even a new nomination depending on the circumstances. It’s best to get advice before any changes are implemented.
The strongest applications are built on a clear strategy: correct occupation selection, a well-written position description aligned to the occupation, strong evidence of business need and capacity, consistent employment evidence for the applicant, and clean, organised documentation. Planning the “PR story” before lodgement usually reduces delays and improves confidence in the outcome.
The strongest applications are built on a clear strategy: correct occupation selection, a well-written position description aligned to the occupation, strong evidence of business need and capacity, consistent employment evidence for the applicant, and clean, organised documentation. Planning the “PR story” before lodgement usually reduces delays and improves confidence in the outcome.
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