Updates / Employer-sponsored
The 186 permanent visa now needs two years with your employer, not three
A change in late 2025 cut the Temporary Residence Transition work requirement from three years to two. If you are on a 482, you may be eligible for permanent residency sooner than you planned.
The change
The Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream of the subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa lets a Skills in Demand (subclass 482) holder move to permanent residency through their sponsoring employer. Following a policy change in late 2025, the required period of work with that employer was reduced from three years to two.
What to check
If you are on a 482 and were counting on a three-year wait, recheck your timing - you may already be eligible, or close to it. The other TRT conditions still apply: you generally need to be under 45, meet a higher English standard than the 482 required, and have worked in your nominated occupation for the qualifying period.
The two-year clock is tied to your sponsoring employer. Changing jobs can reset it, so factor that in before any move.
Source: Department of Home Affairs — Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186). Published 20 June 2026. Rules change - confirm the current position before you act.
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