Skills Assessment

Mandatory skill assessments for Subclass 186 Direct Entry Stream

Posted on by Ozlinks Education
mandatory skill assessments for subclass 186
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Last Updated on January 14, 2026 by Ozlinks Education

If you are seeking to apply for a Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Direct Entry Stream visa, a positive skills assessment from the relevant authority for your nominated occupation listed on the Core Skills Occupation List is required.

The skills assessment for the Subclass 186 Direct Entry Stream is a mandatory requirement for the majority of visa applicants. Most applicants must obtain a skills assessment that demonstrates their capability to perform the duties required for the nominated position. This assessment typically evaluates qualifications, work experience, and skills relevant to the nominated occupation.

Skills Assessment Exemption for Subclass 186 Direct Entry Stream

You are exempt from the mandatory skills assessment requirement for a subclass 186 Direct Entry Stream visa if you satisfy any of the following criteria:

  • You have been nominated as an academic university lecturer or faculty head by a university in Australia, or
  • You have been nominated as a scientist, researcher, or technical specialist by an Australian government scientific agency, or
  • You currently hold either a Subclass 444 Special Category Visa or a Subclass 461 New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship Visa, and you have worked for the employer who nominated you in the specified position for a minimum of 2 years.

Learn more about the Core Skills Occupation List for Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS)

Skills Assessment Support

About Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme Visa

The Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa provides permanent residency to skilled workers who are nominated by an employer to address critical skill shortages. This visa consists of three streams through which applicants can seek permanent residency, allowing them to live, work, and study in Australia indefinitely.

The Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme requires nomination, skills, health, and character checks, with different eligibility for each stream. The 3 streams are:

  • Temporary Residence Transition Stream is for individuals transitioning from a Subclass 457 or Subclass 482 visa. This stream enables skilled workers on temporary visas to secure Australian permanent residency through a nomination by their current employer.
  • Direct Entry Stream: is designed for skilled workers nominated by an Australian employer. This stream enables them to live and work in Australia indefinitely, without the requirement of prior temporary work experience in the country.
  • Labour Agreement Stream: is a permanent residency visa designed for skilled workers whose employers hold a specific agreement with the Australian government.

Learn more about the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme Visa

When is a skills assessment required for the Subclass 186 Direct Entry Stream?

If you are applying for the Subclass 186 Direct Entry Stream, it is essential to obtain a positive skills assessment prior to submitting your subclass 186 visa application. A positive skills assessment is required at the time of your visa application, unless you qualify for an exemption from the mandatory skills assessment requirement.

Who is the authority responsible for conducting skills assessments?

The assessing authority for skills assessment varies depending on your ANZSCO occupation, with various assessing authorities designated for different occupations, such as:

  • Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) for most of trade occupations, or
  • Australian Computer Society (ACS) for IT occupations, or
  • Engineers Australia for Engineering occupations, or
  • Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) for nursing occupation, or
  • VETASSESS assesses a vast range of professional and non-trade occupations, covering fields like Management, Education, Business & Finance, Community Services, Arts, Science, Health, Hospitality, and Retail.

Learn about the assessing authority for each specific ANZSCO occupation related to the subclass 186 Direct Entry Stream, check the list below!

Occupation List for Subclass 186 Visa

The following table includes 456 occupations from the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), which features roles that are currently in high demand in Australia. This allows skilled workers to apply directly for permanent residency under the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa in the Direct Entry stream.

To search for an occupation, enter the ANZSCO code or the name of the occupation in the search box below.

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What documents are required for a skills assessment?

Each occupation has its own specific skills assessment requirements. It is important to consult the relevant ANZSCO occupation for detailed information regarding qualifications and work experience. Some occupations may require an English proficiency test, while certain trade occupations might need licensing registration.

You will generally be required to provide the following documents:

Identification documents:

  • Passport
  • Passport Photo
  • Other IDs: Driver’s license, birth certificate, national ID card.

Qualification Document:

  • Certificates/Diploma/Bachelor/master’s degree/PhD
  • Academic transcripts/Record of Results
  • Syllabus/Course Outline: Often required to map your studies to Australian standards.

Employment Evidence documents:

One of the employment requirements for the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Direct Entry Stream visa is that the applicant must have worked full-time, which is defined as a minimum of 38 hours per week, for at least 3 years or the equivalent part-time work in a relevant occupation.

When applying for the skills assessment for the Subclass 186 Direct Entry Stream, it is essential to include the necessary employment documents to support your application.

  • Resume/CV detailing your work history
  • Income statement
  • Tax return/notice of assessment
  • Superannuation statement
  • Payslips
  • Employment contracts
  • Employment reference letter

For help with skills assessments, please reach out to our team.  We specialise in a wide range of occupational skills assessments for migration purposes.

How long is a skills assessment outcome valid?

For most assessing authorities, including Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) and VETASSESS, a positive skills assessment outcome is generally valid for three years from the date it is issued.

However, some assessing authorities may impose a validity period shorter than three years. This validity period will be indicated by an expiry date on the skills assessment letter.

Skills Assessment Support

Fill out the form for a free application review.

Why is skills assessment support necessary?

Skills assessment support for the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme Visa, Direct Entry Stream, is mandatory unless an exemption applies. The requirements for skills assessment can differ based on your nominated occupation and the relevant assessing authority. This support is vital for increasing the chances of a successful application and achieving a positive outcome in a timely manner. 

What do we offer?

Our expertise will assist you in the following areas:

  • Preliminary Consultation: We will help you select the appropriate ANZSCO occupation based on your qualifications and background.
  • Preparation: We will assist you in gathering all the necessary documents for your skills assessment application.
  • Submission: We will ensure your application is submitted within the required timeframe.
  • Monitoring the Process: We will track the progress of your application until it is completed.

Disclaimer: 

Information under ANZSCO Occupations (Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations) section is published in accordance with a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia licence guideline. ANZSCO Version 1.3 updated on 25 March 2021 and original source can be accessed on Australian Bureau of Statistics website.

This section does not intend to provide immigration assistance pursuant to section 276 of Migration Act (Cth) 1994 as described in the Migration laws. It is based on public guidelines available at Department of Home Affairs’ Website. It is your responsibility to verify accuracy and status of provided information with your Registered Migration Agent (RMA) who is bound by the MARA code of conduct before submitting any visa applications.

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