Employer Nomination Scheme 186: TRT stream explained

The Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa (subclass 186) Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream is a permanent visa for people who already hold a temporary skilled visa and whose employer nominates them for a permanent position. Unlike the Direct Entry stream, the TRT stream does not have its own occupation list: your occupation eligibility is based on the occupation from your most recently held temporary skilled visa. The application process requires your employer to make a nomination first, and you must provide a complete application with identity, health, character, English, and employment evidence to avoid delays. Processing priority is set by government policy under Ministerial Direction 119, which came into effect on 25 July 2026, and depends on both your occupation and whether you are in Australia at the time of application.

What the TRT stream is and who it is for

The subclass 186 TRT stream is one of the permanent residence pathways under the Employer Nomination Scheme. It is designed for people who have already been working in Australia on a temporary skilled visa and whose employer wants to sponsor them for ongoing employment.

A key feature of the TRT stream is that it does not have a separate occupation list. The Department of Home Affairs states that Temporary Residence Transition streams in the subclass 186 and 187 programs do not have an occupation list. Occupation eligibility is based on the occupation from your most recently held temporary skilled visa.

This means that if your occupation was on the relevant list when you held your temporary visa, and your employer nominates you for the same occupation, you may be able to proceed under the TRT stream without needing to check a separate list for the 186 visa itself.

How the TRT stream differs from the Direct Entry stream

The subclass 186 visa has multiple streams, and the Direct Entry stream is the most commonly compared alternative. The main differences are:

Feature	TRT stream	Direct Entry stream
Occupation list	No separate occupation list; based on your most recently held temporary skilled visa	Must be on the combined skilled occupation list
ANZSCO version	Uses the ANZSCO version relevant to your visa program	Uses ANZSCO 2022 for the 186 program
Nomination requirement	Employer must nominate you	Employer must nominate you
Skills assessment	May be required; check the visa subclass page	Typically required

It is important to note that the ANZSCO version used for the subclass 186 visa is the 2022 version. If you have previously held another type of skilled visa, updates to the ANZSCO dictionary may have reclassified your occupation or split it into multiple specialisations. In that case, you must select an occupation code that aligns with the tasks and responsibilities of your position.

The nomination process: what your employer must do

Before you can apply for the visa, your employer must make a nomination application. The Department of Home Affairs will provide a Transaction Reference Number (TRN) once the employer makes the nomination. You should ask your employer for the TRN and enter it correctly in your visa application.

You do not need to wait for the nomination to be approved before you apply for your visa. The Department states that you can, but do not need to, submit your visa application at the same time your employer makes their nomination. Applications made together are often processed at the same time, which can shorten the overall wait time. The guidance is to collect all required documents and apply as soon as possible, without waiting for the nomination outcome.

If you make a complete application, this will help you get a timely outcome. An incomplete application may delay the outcome.

What you need to include in your application

The Department of Home Affairs provides specific guidance on what makes a decision-ready application for a skilled visa. The following items are required or strongly recommended.

Health examinations

Go to the Home Affairs visa subclass webpage and follow the step-by-step guide. You may be eligible for an early health examination. If the visa you want to apply for does not appear in the My Health Declarations form, you will need to apply for the visa before you complete your health examinations.

If you complete the health examination early, include your Health Assessment Program identification number (HAP ID) in your application. Health examination results are generally valid for 12 months.

Police certificates

You must provide police certificates for you and your family members aged over 16 years old. Include certificates for every country where you have lived for 12 months in the past 10 years since turning 16. If a police certificate is not in English, you must also give a certified copy of the translation.

English language evidence

Include evidence of your English language proficiency. The Department points to its English language requirements page for details.

Residential and travel history

Declare your full residential and travel history for the past 10 years.

Identity documents

Provide identity documents for all family members and proof of their relationship with you. Visit your visa subclass webpage and click on the step-by-step tab for help.

Employment history

Give detailed proof of your employment history with your application. This may include three months of bank statements, payslips, and tax statements. A work reference alone is not enough to prove your work history.

Name accuracy

Check the spelling of your name and that it matches the passport you are using for your application. Include all previous names you have used. If you have changed your name, provide evidence such as a marriage or divorce certificate, change of name documents from an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, or the relevant overseas authority, or documents that show other names you have been known by.

Document translation

Translate all non-English documents into English. If translated in Australia, include the translator’s National Accreditation Authority of Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) practitioner number. If translated outside Australia, include the translator’s full name, address, phone number, and qualifications.

Valid passport

Your visa can only be granted if your passport is valid. Your application may be delayed if your passport is expired or near expiry. Provide up to date passport details in your visa application or in your ImmiAccount.

Polio vaccination

Provide evidence of a current polio vaccination certificate if you are travelling from, or have spent time in, a country considered at risk. See the Department’s Threats to public health page for more information.

Missing documents

If you cannot provide requested documents, explain why in your application.

Skills assessment and employer-sponsored requirements

For employer-sponsored skilled visas, the Department may ask you to provide a suitable skills assessment for your nominated occupation. You must provide evidence of this assessment with your visa application. The Department notes that you should see its skills assessments page for details.

Your employer must also ensure they have provided all required information in the nomination. The Department advises checking that you and your employer have provided all required information before submitting.

Processing priorities under Ministerial Direction 119

Skilled visa applications are processed according to government policy priorities set out in Ministerial Direction 119, which came into effect on 25 July 2026. This Direction replaced all processing priorities under Ministerial Direction 105 and applies to all on hand applications, including for the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) program.

Prioritisation is afforded according to both occupation and the location of applicants at the time of application. The order of priority is:

1. Nomination and visa applications that support Australia’s law enforcement or defence interests where the applicant is in Australia at the time of application.
2. Nomination and visa applications that support Australia’s law enforcement or defence interests where the applicant is outside Australia at the time of application.
3. Nomination and visa applications relating to construction, healthcare, and teaching occupations where the applicant is in Australia at the time of application.
4. All other nomination and visa applications where the applicant is in Australia at the time of application.
5. All other nomination and visa applications where the applicant is outside Australia at the time of application.

Ministerial Direction 119 covers the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa, along with several other skilled visa subclasses. If you are in Australia when you apply, your application will generally be processed ahead of an otherwise identical application from someone outside Australia.

What to do next and what to verify

Before you lodge your application, confirm the following on the official Home Affairs pages:

• Check the subclass 186 visa webpage for the specific requirements of the TRT stream, including any skills assessment requirements and the ANZSCO version that applies.
• Confirm with your employer that they have lodged the nomination and obtain the TRN.
• Review the skilled occupation list to understand the ANZSCO code for your occupation, even though the TRT stream does not have its own list.
• Use ImmiAccount to apply, track your application, add documents, and update your contact details.
• If you need help, use a registered migration agent, a practising lawyer, or someone authorised to provide immigration help.

The Department of Home Affairs advises checking your application twice before submitting. A complete application with all required documents will help you get a faster outcome.