186 Visa Processing Time: What You Need to Know

Posted by admin on February 11, 2025

Every country needs talented and competent workers to become successful. On this front, Australia has been facing some challenges, though. The 186 visas direct entry is a notable answer to this issue at the present point.  

With this document, skilled professionals from foreign nations can reside and seek employment opportunities in Australia. However, you need to be aware of certain requirements before finally filing the application. 

In this blog, we will analyse closely all 186 visa requirements. This will also assist you in making an informed decision and taking the right approach to your application.

What is the 186 Visa All About?

The 186 visa, also known as the Employer Nomination Scheme Visa, is a travel document. Skilled workers from foreign countries can use this document to live and work permanently in Australia. One of the most basic conditions here is that your employer will have to sponsor you. Once you have this, you can apply for this visa under three different streams that include:      

• Labour Agreement Stream: The first stream allows you to live and work in Australia on a permanent basis. The catch here is to ensure your employer is a part of a labour agreement. Then, the employer will nominate you provided you have an occupation deemed ‘skilled.’ The logic here is that your employment should fall under the skilled occupation list. 
• Direct Entry: Another way you can get into Australia with a 186 visa is direct entry. Here, your employer should be a local Australian and nominate you for a job. The job should again fall under any category of the skilled occupation list. When granted, you can live and work in the country permanently. 
• Temporary Residence Transition Stream: This is another approach for you to live in Australia with the 186 visa. Your employer will have to nominate you, and it is important that you work under them. The catch here is to ensure that you worked with the current employer full-time or at least for two years.

Also Read: Document Checklist for the Employer Nomination Scheme Subclass 186 Visa!

How Long is the Processing Time for this Travel Permit?

The 186 visa processing time is not fixed but can vary based on the application stream. So, let’s break down these timings for a better idea and more clarity on the matter:

• Labour Agreement Stream: For many reasons, most people don’t choose the labour agreement stream for 186 visas. As a result, there is little to no data about its overall processing time. 

• Direct Entry Stream: If you choose the direct entry stream, you will likely get the visa in about 6 months. 75% of visas under this stream are generally processed within 83 days, and 90% are processed within 6 months. 
• Temporary Residence Transition Stream: With this approach, 75% of applications are processed within six months. The other 90% might take ten months before you are done with the entire process.
  

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What Are the Eligibility Criteria for the 186 Visa?

You will need to meet some standards or conditions before applying for the work and travel permit. Here, we will explore these terms closely and verify your qualifications.

1. Skills

You will first need to find a job available on the skilled occupation list. One condition here is to ensure that you have the relevant work experience. You will need at least three years of experience in the chosen trade or profession. Then, the applicant must submit a skill assessment or show a relevant license for verification.

2. Nomination 

The next important criterion is to ensure that your employer nominates you for the job through official channels. Nominations like this verify that you are adhering to all the relevant legal regulations. If your employee withdraws their nomination or furnishes any adverse information about you, you might not get the visa.   

3. Age Limit

Another very important condition for the 186 visa is the relevant age limit. As an applicant, you should be under the age of 45 years while applying. However, there are certain exceptions here for scientists, academic lecturers, or researchers. The exemption will also apply if you already have a 444 visa or already work for an employer who nominates you. 

4. Character Requirements   

Meeting the relevant character requirements is a must for everyone applying for the 186 visa. This is to ensure you don’t have any criminal record or are involved in any anti-social organisation or group. You must also be able to ensure that you lack the potential to indulge in any criminal activities that can harm communities in Australia.   

5. Health Requirements 

Every applicant and their family members must meet certain health requirements. Everyone needs to undergo health check-ups by a registered healthcare provider. This organisation will then submit the results on your behalf. This helps ensure you don’t burden the country’s healthcare system after getting to the island nation.  

6. English Standards

One of the most important requirements for the 186 visa is to ensure your competency with the English language. This does not apply to applicants from countries like the USA, UK, New Zealand, Ireland, or Canada. But if your native country is not on this list, you will need certain scores in tests like the iBT, IELTS, OET, TOEFL, PTE Academic, or Cambridge C1 Advanced tests.      

Read: Employer Nomination Scheme Subclass 186 Visa: Everything You Need to Know

What Are The Necessary Documents for the 186 Visa?

Before you worry about 186 visa conditions after granted, it is important to gather all the relevant documents first. It is not just the applicant; even family members travelling with them will need to furnish these documents. These documents include the following:

• Certification from police verifying your character 
• English competency certificate dated within the last three years 
• Character statutory declaration    
• Skill assessment exemption documents 
• Form 80 for character assessment.
• Skill assessment for occupation or proof of industry body registration 
• Resume or CV
• Proof of name change, if needed
• ID proof such as birth certificate, passport, or national identity card. 
• Australian value statement with your signature
• Marriage certificate, if relevant to you
• Age exemption document if you are over the age of 45 while applying
• Proof of good health, which your healthcare provider will submit to the authorities directly
• Documents of your partner or dependent, including character documents, identity proof, health assessment results, and English test results.     

Read: eVisitor 651 Visa: A Full Guide for the Traveler Going to Australia

Wrapping Up 

The 186 visa is an excellent way for skilled people around the world to seek better employment opportunities. This visa is beneficial not only for the applicant but also for the country that is still dealing with a severe skill shortage.  

This makes it very important that you leave no stone unturned and meet all the relevant eligibility criteria for the visa. You will also need to submit all the relevant documents and wait for the relevant processing time. One simple way to make this process easy for you is by leveraging the expertise of a registered migration agent Adelaide. These experts know how to navigate these complexities and will likely get you the visa on time.