186 Employer Nomination Scheme
186 ENS LA Stream
The Labour Agreement stream provides a pathway to permanent residence for skilled workers nominated by employers who hold a formal labour agreement with the Australian Government. The terms of the agreement govern the eligible occupations and applicable criteria, allowing access to occupations not available through standard visa pathways.
What a labour agreement is
A labour agreement is a negotiated arrangement between the Australian Government and an employer or industry body. It authorises the employer to sponsor overseas workers in specified occupations, often with concessions to standard visa criteria such as age, English language level, or skills assessment requirements.
Types of agreements that may support 186 Labour Agreement stream nominations include industry-wide labour agreements, company-specific agreements, and Designated Area Migration Agreements for regional employers.
The nominating employer must be a party to a current labour agreement that includes provision for permanent residence nominations. Standard occupation list requirements do not apply under this stream to the extent that the agreement provides otherwise.
No standard occupation list required
The eligible occupations are specified in the labour agreement itself, not by the standard skilled occupation lists. This allows access to roles that cannot be nominated through the Direct Entry or Transition streams.
Concessions available
Depending on the agreement, concessions may apply to age, English language, skills assessment, or salary requirements. The concessions are negotiated as part of the agreement and specified in its terms.
Fastest processing stream
The Labour Agreement stream typically processes faster than the Direct Entry and Transition streams. Fifty percent of applications are decided within five months and ninety percent within nine months.
Permanent residence outcome
The 186 visa grants immediate permanent residence on approval. There is no provisional stage. Holders may live and work anywhere in Australia and apply for citizenship after meeting residence requirements.
Permanent
Immediate on grant
5 months
50% processed within
9 months
90% processed within
Agreement
Governs all criteria
Why instruct Visa Plan for your 186 LA application?
Agreement interpretation
Labour agreements contain specific and technical provisions. We interpret the terms of your employer's agreement to confirm which occupations and concessions apply before any nomination is lodged.
Nomination preparation
The nomination must be prepared in accordance with the specific terms of the agreement. We prepare nominations that satisfy both the agreement's requirements and the Department's standard nomination criteria.
End-to-end management
We manage the nomination and visa application stages concurrently where appropriate, minimising overall processing time and ensuring consistency across both applications.
186 ENS LA stream information is sourced from the Department of Home Affairs and is current as at April 2026. Agreement terms and processing times are subject to change. This page provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice.