# Australia 186 Employer Nomination Visa for Indians: 2026 Rules > The subclass 186 Direct Entry stream gives permanent residence through an Australian employer. The 2026 salary threshold, age limit, fees and waiting times for Indian applicants. _Published: 2026-11-05 · Reading time: 4 min · Words: 1019_ ## TL;DR The Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) Direct Entry stream is a permanent visa for workers nominated by an Australian employer. For nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 you need a Core Skills Occupation List job paying at least AUD 79,423, usually be under 45 with 3 years' experience and a skills assessment, and the main applicant pays AUD 6,140. ## Key takeaways - The 186 Direct Entry stream is a permanent visa that starts with an employer nomination. - Nominations lodged 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 must meet the Core Skills Income Threshold of AUD 79,423 and the market salary rate. - Applicants must usually be under 45, with at least 3 years of relevant experience and a positive skills assessment. - The main applicant pays AUD 6,140; adult family members AUD 3,070 and children AUD 1,535. - Home Affairs' global guide shows 50% of Direct Entry applications decided in 21 months and 90% in 25 months. **The Australia 186 Direct Entry visa is a permanent visa for workers nominated by an Australian employer. According to the Department of Home Affairs, you must usually be under 45, nominated for a Core Skills Occupation List job paying at least AUD 79,423, and hold 3 years' relevant experience and a positive skills assessment. The main applicant fee is AUD 6,140.** ## Article The thresholds and charges below are as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-15. Home Affairs publishes charges in AUD only; there is no official INR figure. ### What is the 186 Direct Entry stream? The Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) is a permanent visa for skilled workers nominated by an Australian employer. In the Direct Entry stream, you meet the age, skills and experience rules yourself, and the employer's nomination ties the visa to a specific Core Skills Occupation List position. Two parties do the work. The employer lodges a nomination for a specific position. You then lodge the visa application, and the employer must be actively and lawfully operating in Australia. Applications are lodged online; there is no state-wise consulate or VFS centre involved for Indian applicants. ### What are the 2026 requirements? RequirementRule published by Home AffairsAgeUnder 45 years old when you apply, unless exemptOccupationOn the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)EmployerActively and lawfully operating Australian business that nominates youSalaryAt least the annual market salary rate and the Core Skills Income Threshold of AUD 79,423 (nominations lodged 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027)ExperienceAt least 3 years of relevant work experience, unless exemptSkills assessmentPositive skills assessment before you apply, unless exemptHome Affairs indexed the salary threshold on 1 July 2026. For nominations lodged between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026 the Core Skills Income Threshold was AUD 76,515. The figure that applies depends on when the nomination is lodged, so check the date on your employer's nomination. Exemptions to the age, experience and skills-assessment rules exist, but our dataset does not list them. Read them on the Home Affairs 186 Direct Entry page before assuming you qualify for one. ### How much does a 186 cost for an Indian family? ApplicantVisa application chargeMain applicantAUD 6,140Each family member aged 18 or overAUD 3,070Each family member under 18AUD 1,535A couple with one child would therefore pay the three charges above. These are Home Affairs' visa charges only. Skills assessment, English tests, health checks and police certificates are separate costs, and the employer's nomination fees are paid by the employer and not shown here. ### How long is the wait for a 186 Direct Entry visa? Long. The Home Affairs global processing-time guide, checked on 15 October 2026, shows 50% of Direct Entry applications decided in 21 months and 90% in 25 months. These figures cover all nationalities and recently decided applications; they are not India-specific. Compare that with the temporary Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) Specialist Skills stream: 50% in 37 days and 90% in 78 days. The Core Skills stream of the 482 takes 50% in 4 months and 90% in 9 months. ### Is the 482 the usual path to a 186? It is a common one. Home Affairs says a Skills in Demand (subclass 482) holder's employer may later sponsor them for permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186). The 482 is employer-sponsored for up to 4 years and costs AUD 4,015 for the main applicant. Indian citizens were the largest citizenship group among primary 482 grants in the second half of 2025. Home Affairs' temporary resident (skilled) report shows 6,220 primary 482 visas granted to Indian citizens from 1 July to 31 December 2025, or 18.1% of all primary grants. That is a count of grants, not a grant rate. The two visas share the same salary floor. The Core Skills Income Threshold of AUD 79,423 applies to both the 482 Core Skills stream and the 186 for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026. The 482, however, asks for only 1 year of relevant experience in the last 5 years, while the 186 Direct Entry stream asks for 3 years. ### What happens after the 186 is granted? You become a permanent resident. Home Affairs' citizenship by conferral rules then apply: - Live in Australia on a valid visa for 4 years immediately before applying. - Hold a permanent visa for the last 12 months of that period. - Be absent for no more than 12 months in total in the 4 years, and no more than 90 days in the final 12 months. - Pay AUD 285 if you are 18 to 59 and sit the citizenship test. ### Mistakes to avoid on a 186 file - Turning 45 while waiting for the nomination. The age rule is tested when you apply, unless you are exempt. - Using last year's threshold. A nomination lodged after 1 July 2026 must meet AUD 79,423, not AUD 76,515. - Applying before the skills assessment. Home Affairs wants a positive assessment before you apply, unless exempt. - Counting unrelated experience. The 3 years must be relevant to the nominated occupation. For other Australian work and study routes, see our Australia visa guide for Indians. For Australian visitor visa files, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or use our contact page. ### Frequently asked questions #### Does Home Affairs publish the 186 fee in Indian rupees? No. The Department of Home Affairs charges and publishes visa fees in AUD only. The 186 Direct Entry main applicant charge is AUD 6,140. #### Is the 186 visa permanent or temporary? Permanent. The Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) is listed by Home Affairs among skilled permanent visas, and it leads to citizenship eligibility once you meet the residence requirement. #### Can my spouse and children be included in a 186 application? Yes. Home Affairs lists a charge of AUD 3,070 for each family member aged 18 or over and AUD 1,535 for each one under 18, in addition to the main applicant's AUD 6,140. #### Which salary threshold applies if my employer nominated me in June 2026? For nominations lodged from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026, the Core Skills Income Threshold was AUD 76,515. Nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 must meet AUD 79,423. ## FAQ ### Does Home Affairs publish the 186 fee in Indian rupees? No. The Department of Home Affairs charges and publishes visa fees in AUD only. The 186 Direct Entry main applicant charge is AUD 6,140. ### Is the 186 visa permanent or temporary? Permanent. The Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) is listed by Home Affairs among skilled permanent visas, and it leads to citizenship eligibility once you meet the residence requirement. ### Can my spouse and children be included in a 186 application? Yes. Home Affairs lists a charge of AUD 3,070 for each family member aged 18 or over and AUD 1,535 for each one under 18, in addition to the main applicant's AUD 6,140. ### Which salary threshold applies if my employer nominated me in June 2026? For nominations lodged from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026, the Core Skills Income Threshold was AUD 76,515. Nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 must meet AUD 79,423. ## Sources 1. [Department of Home Affairs - Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) Direct Entry stream](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/employer-nomination-scheme-186/direct-entry-stream) — Department of Home Affairs, Australia 2. [Department of Home Affairs - Salary requirements (CSIT, SSIT, TSMIT)](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/employing-and-sponsoring-someone/sponsoring-workers/nominating-a-position/salary-requirements) — Department of Home Affairs, Australia 3. [Department of Home Affairs - Global visa processing times guide](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-processing-times/global-visa-processing-times) — Department of Home Affairs, Australia