Visa processing times / Subclass 186 · 中文

186 Employer Nomination Visa processing time

Name: 186 Employer Nomination Visa processing times (Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186))
Creator: AusVisaClock

As of 2 November 2026, Home Affairs reports that 90% of recently decided Employer Nomination Scheme (Direct Entry Pathway) applications were finalised within 24 months, and half within 22 months.

Half decided within

22 months

9 in 10 decided within

24 months

Estimate my decision date

Direct Entry PathwayUpdated 2 November 2026

24 months

for 90% of applications

Applications decided in the period ending 30 September 2026

25% decided within16 months
50% decided within22 months
75% decided within23 months
90% decided within24 months

Source: Department of Home Affairs, global visa processing times.

Key facts

As of 2 November 2026, Home Affairs reports that 90% of Employer Nomination Scheme (Direct Entry Pathway) applications were decided within 24 months, 75% within 23 months, 50% within 22 months and 25% within 16 months.
The figures cover applications decided in the period ending 30 September 2026 and are measured from lodgement to decision.
Across the 3 186 streams, Agreement Pathway was quickest (90% within 13 months) and Direct Entry Pathway slowest (90% within 24 months).
Home Affairs revises these processing times about once a month.

Checked against Home Affairs every day. Last checked 11 November 2026.

Cite this page

AusVisaClock. “186 visa processing time.” Updated 2 November 2026. https://ausvisaclock.com/186-visa-processing-time/

The figures come from the Department of Home Affairs. You may quote them with a link to this page.

186 processing times by stream

Agreement Pathway is the quickest stream (90% within 13 months); Direct Entry Pathway is the slowest (90% within 24 months).

Stream	25%	50%	75%	90%
Direct Entry Pathway	16 months	22 months	23 months	24 months
Agreement Pathway	20 days	44 days	12 months	13 months
Transition Pathway	17 months	22 months	23 months	24 months

Updated 2 November 2026 for applications decided in the period ending 30 September 2026.

When could my 186 be decided?

Enter the date you lodged. We add the department’s published percentiles to it and show where today falls: how many applications like yours were decided in the time you have already waited.

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Stream

Date you lodged your application

Share of applications decided	By

Your dates will move.

Home Affairs revises these figures about once a month, so your 50% and 90% dates change with them. Pro checks every morning and emails you the new dates the day the 186 figures move.

Or save it free

How the 186 wait has moved

The gap between the median and the 90th percentile is about 2 months, so a minority of applications take far longer than most.

Trend starts with the next release.

AusVisaClock records every release the department publishes from November 2026. Once the next one is out, this chart shows how the 90% time for Direct Entry Pathway has moved, and Pro members get an email the day it changes.

186 visa processing time questions

How long does the 186 visa take?

In the department’s latest figures (published 2 November 2026, for applications decided in the period ending 30 September 2026), 50% of Employer Nomination Scheme (Direct Entry Pathway) applications were decided within 22 months, 75% within 23 months and 90% within 24 months. Times differ by stream: see the table above.

What do the 25%, 50%, 75% and 90% figures mean?

They are percentiles of recently decided applications. “90% within 24 months” means nine in ten applications decided in the reporting period took 24 months or less from lodgement to decision. They describe applications that have already been decided, so they lag behind changes in the queue and do not guarantee a time for any single application.

My 186 application is past the 90% time. What now?

Some applications take longer, for example when the department asks for more information, health or character checks are still open, or the application was incomplete when lodged. The department says it is usually not useful to contact it before the processing time has passed. After that, you can check your ImmiAccount and use the department’s enquiry form. For advice about your own application, speak to a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner.

How often are these processing times updated?

The Department of Home Affairs revises its global processing times about once a month, a few weeks after the end of each reporting period. AusVisaClock checks the department’s figures every day, updates this page when they change, and keeps each release so you can see the trend.