Subclass 186

TRT Stream

The Subclass 186 TRT Stream offers a pathway to permanent residency for eligible 457 and 482 visa holders. From age and English requirements to nomination rules and 2-year employment criteria, here’s what you must meet in 2026.

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Age

Must be under 45 at time of application, unless in one of six exemption categories: academic applicants, legacy 457 workers (applications on or before 30 June 2024), regional medical practitioner applicants, science applicants, Subclass 457/482 workers, or transitional 457 workers under 50. The coronavirus concession is not available for applications made after 25 November 2023.

English Language

Must have competent English at time of application — either a passport from a specified country, or an approved English test completed within the 3 years before the application with the required score. No exemptions currently apply for TRT applicants. At-home or online test versions are not accepted.

Subclass 491 or 494 Visa Holders

If holding — or the last substantive visa was — a Subclass 491 or 494 visa, must have held it for at least 3 years at time of application. No instrument currently specifies any exception to this.

The Position and Nomination

The position must match the associated TRT stream nomination under regulation 5.19. The nomination must identify the applicant — no substitution is allowed once a nomination is lodged. Both the nomination and visa application must be in the same stream. Nominations must be made before the visa application, but need not be approved before lodgement. The nomination must be approved before the visa can be granted. A withdrawn nomination means the visa cannot be granted — even if re-lodged later.

Adverse Information

There must be no adverse information about the nominator, or it must be reasonable to disregard it. If adverse information arises after nomination approval, the officer must seek manager advice and may need to give the applicant an opportunity to respond.

Position Must Still Be Available

The job offer must remain open. The criterion is not satisfied if the nomination or offer is withdrawn, the position is fraudulent, the nomination was based on false information, the position is not as approved, or the nominating entity has ceased trading. Applicants must notify the Department if the offer falls through under section 104 of the Act.

6-Month Time Limit

If the nomination was approved before the visa application was made, the visa application must be lodged within 6 months minus 1 day of nomination approval.

Discretionary Skills Assessment

A discretionary skills assessment can be requested where genuine concerns exist about the applicant's skills — for example, if there are allegations they were not working in the nominated occupation while on their 457 or 482 visa. Officers must consult their manager before requesting this.

Fahad Shamim

Migration & Education Consultant

MARA Registered MARN 2619225

QEAC G12906

As a Migration & Education Consultant, I provide expert guidance on Australian visas and international education, helping clients navigate both with ease.

Phone +61 424 295 050

Email fahad@edvisehub.com

Contact on WhatsApp

Holding an Eligible Visa — At Least 2 Years

From 7 December 2024, applicants must have held a Subclass 457, 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage), or 482 (Skills in Demand) visa — or an associated bridging visa — for a total of at least 2 years in the 3 years before application. The same visa need not be held throughout. Time on a bridging visa between two 457 or 482 visas (where the second was subsequently granted) can count. Time on a bridging visa between a 457 or 482 visa and a different visa type does not count, and the period on that other visa also does not count.

Employment in the Nominated Occupation — At Least 2 Years

From 7 December 2024, applicants must have been employed full-time (excluding unpaid leave) in the occupation for which their visa was granted for a total of at least 2 years in the 3 years before application, undertaken in Australia. Full-time is generally 38 hours per week, or 32–45 hours under an applicable industry award. Employment with any employer counts as long as it was full-time sponsored employment.

Paid parental leave counts on a 1:1 basis if the applicant had a full-time contract and the leave was at half-pay as agreed with the employer. Unpaid parental leave does not count.

Employment between nomination lodgement and approval can now count from 7 December 2024 — applicants no longer need to have worked with the same employer for the full 2 years.

Employment affected by nominator's sponsorship breach: Work experience with a previous employer whose sponsorship was cancelled or sanctioned can still count — but only if the new nominating employer has a satisfactory sponsorship history (no history of cancellations, bars or sanctions). If the new nominator has an unsatisfactory history, work experience with the previous employer cannot be counted.

Occupation changes: Where the applicant changed occupation within the 3-year period, time can still count if the employment was sponsored and a visa was granted in relation to the change.

Bridging visa during merits or judicial review: Work experience on a bridging visa while awaiting review can count if the last substantive visa was a 457 or 482, the application is for a 457, 482, 186 or 187 visa, and the nomination was subsequently approved.

Nominations made on or before 6 December 2024 with visa applications made on or after 7 December 2024: Officers can consider clause 186.227 met on the basis that regulations 5.19(5)(e), (f) and (g) — which were in force before 7 December 2024 — were satisfied.