482 to PR: The Subclass 186 Temporary Residence Transition Pathway

For most sponsored workers, the subclass 482 visa is a bridge, not a destination. The far shore is permanent residency. The most travelled route there is the Temporary Residence Transition stream of the subclass 186 visa, known as the TRT stream. It converts time with your sponsoring employer into a permanent visa.

This guide explains how the pathway works in 2026-27, what it costs, and where applicants stumble. For the temporary stage itself, see our Skills in Demand visa guide.

What the TRT stream is

The subclass 186 visa is the Employer Nomination Scheme, a permanent employer-sponsored visa. The TRT stream is designed for workers already sponsored in Australia. Instead of proving everything from scratch, you leverage your track record with your employer. As a result, the TRT stream is usually the smoothest road from a 482 visa to permanent residency.

With the grant comes permanence. You can live, work and study in Australia indefinitely. In addition, you can sponsor eligible family members and, in time, apply for citizenship if eligible.

The core eligibility requirements

Your current visa

You must hold a subclass 482 visa, a legacy subclass 457 visa, or an eligible bridging visa. Because the stream builds on sponsorship, your visa history with the employer is the foundation of the application.

Two years of sponsored work

You must usually have worked for your sponsoring employer for at least two years full time while holding your 457 or 482 visa. The work must be in the eligible sponsored role. Therefore, career moves during the qualifying period need careful advice, because changing employers can reset the clock.

A fresh nomination

Your employer must nominate you for the permanent role. The application must follow within six months of the nomination approval. The nomination must also meet the salary rules, including the Core Skills Income Threshold of AUD 79,423 for 2026-27, and the annual market salary rate.

Age and personal criteria

The standard rule requires applicants to be under 45 when they apply, with limited exemptions. Health, character and English requirements also apply. Because the age rule catches people by surprise, plan the timing of your two years early. Waiting too long can close the pathway.

What it costs

The visa application charge for the subclass 186 visa starts from AUD 6,140 for 2026-27. From 1 July 2026, a concession applies for eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens. Additional applicant charges apply for family members, and the usual extras such as health checks and police certificates sit on top. Employers also carry nomination costs, including training contributions.

How the process runs

The sequence has two linked halves. First, the employer lodges the nomination for the permanent position. The business must be genuine, the role ongoing, and the salary compliant. Our guide to becoming a sponsoring employer covers the sponsor’s side. Second, you lodge the visa application within six months of nomination approval, with your work history, health, character and English evidence complete.

Preparation on both halves should run in parallel. A strong nomination paired with a thin visa application still fails. Our 482 requirements checklist shows the discipline that carries into the permanent stage.

Common traps on the 482 to PR road

First, unplanned job changes can break the qualifying period. Get advice before resigning. Second, part-time periods and long unpaid leave complicate the two-year count. Keep records of your hours. Third, salary drift matters. The permanent role must meet the threshold in force at nomination, so a package that was compliant in 2024 may fall short today. Finally, the six-month window after nomination approval is fixed. Missing it means starting again.

Bringing your family with you

Permanent residency is usually a family decision, not an individual one. Partners and dependent children can be included in the subclass 186 application. Each additional applicant attracts their own charge, and each must meet health and character requirements. Therefore, gather everyone’s documents early, including passports, police certificates and relationship evidence. Family members who already hold dependent 482 visas transition alongside you, which keeps the household on one migration timeline.

Timing your permanent residency plan

The strongest TRT applications are planned years in advance, not months. Start counting your qualifying employment from day one on the 482 visa. Keep payslips, contracts and leave records as you go, because you will need them later. In addition, talk to your employer early about the permanent role. A sponsor who budgets for the nomination in advance moves faster when the two-year mark arrives.

Watch three dates in particular. First, the date your two years of eligible work completes. Second, your 45th birthday, because the age rule bites at application time. Third, your visa expiry, so you never fall out of status while preparing. When the three dates sit close together, get advice immediately. Sequencing them well can preserve a pathway that careless timing would lose.

Frequently asked questions

How long must I work on my 482 visa before applying for the 186 TRT?

You must usually have worked for your sponsoring employer for at least two years full time while holding a 457 or 482 visa, in the eligible sponsored role.

How much does the 186 visa cost in 2026-27?

The application charge starts from AUD 6,140, with extra charges for family members. From 1 July 2026, a lower cost applies for eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens. Health, police and other practical costs sit on top.

Is there an age limit for the 186 TRT stream?

The standard rule is under 45 at the time of application, with limited exemptions. Because the two-year work requirement takes time, workers approaching 45 should plan the pathway early.

Does the permanent role need to meet a salary threshold?

Yes. The nomination must meet the Core Skills Income Threshold, which is AUD 79,423 for nominations lodged in 2026-27, and pay at least the annual market salary rate for the role.

Can I change employers during the two years?

Changing employers can reset the qualifying period, because the work must be with your nominating sponsor. Seek advice before moving jobs if permanent residency is your goal.

By Sam Kanjo, Migration Lawyer, Skyline Migration Lawyers, Melbourne.