Visa position
Eligible visa history
The applicant must hold a subclass 457, subclass 482 or an eligible related bridging visa when the applicable requirement is assessed.
482 to 186 Permanent Residence Pathway
Map the subclass 186 Temporary Residence Transition requirements against your actual 482 visa, sponsor, occupation, salary and employment history before the dates become urgent.
MARN 2519006 No automatic PR promise Reviewed 22 July 2026
Start with the correct assumption
A 482 visa can support a later 186 application, but it does not convert automatically
Subclass 482 is temporary. Subclass 186 is a separate permanent visa application supported by a fresh employer nomination. Both the employer and the worker must satisfy the requirements that apply when the applications are lodged.
Time alone is not eligibility. Two years since a 482 grant is not the same as two years of eligible sponsored employment. Visa held, nomination dates, occupation, duties, hours, leave, location, employer and salary records can all matter.
Current 186 TRT gateway
The Home Affairs Temporary Residence Transition page should be checked against the complete employment and visa record. Current general settings include the following.
Employment period
Two years within three
Usually at least two years of eligible sponsored full-time employment in Australia during the three years immediately before application.
Employer action
Fresh 186 nomination
The employer that last sponsored the worker generally needs to nominate a genuine full-time permanent position under subclass 186.
Applicant criteria
Age, English and skills
The usual age setting is under 45, subject to specified exemptions. English, occupational skills, licensing and other visa criteria also need review.
Build the 482 to 186 timeline from evidence
A practical pathway review reconstructs the history rather than estimating from memory.
1. Map visa grants
Record every 457, 482 and related bridging visa, stream, occupation and condition.
2. Map nominations
Record sponsor, nomination lodgement and approval dates, occupation and work location.
3. Reconcile employment
Match contracts, payroll, tax, superannuation, leave, travel and actual duties.
4. Test the employer
Check the current business, permanent position, salary, market rate and compliance history.
5. Prepare both files
Coordinate the nomination and visa evidence while documents and test results remain current.
Employment evidence to retain
The file should show what work was performed, for whom, under which approval, for how long and on what terms.
- Signed employment contracts, position descriptions and written variations.
- Payslips, PAYG summaries, tax returns, bank deposits and superannuation records.
- Leave reports, rosters, hours, travel, unpaid leave and any employment gaps.
- 482 grants and nominations, sponsor-change records and occupation approvals.
- CV, qualifications, licences, registrations, English evidence and identity history.
The employer and worker files are separate but connected
A strong worker history cannot fix an ineligible nomination, and an approvable nomination cannot fix unmet visa criteria.
| Employer nomination | Worker visa application |
|---|---|
| Active and lawfully operating business | Correct current visa and application position |
| Genuine full-time position available for the required period | Eligible sponsored employment history |
| Occupation, duties, salary and annual market salary rate evidence | Age, English, skills, licensing and registration |
| Compliance, adverse-information and workforce records | Identity, health, character and immigration history |
Common pathway risks
- Counting from the visa grant rather than the eligible full-time employment start.
- Role duties or work location drifting away from the approved nomination.
- Payroll, tax or superannuation records not matching the nominated salary and hours.
- Employer, occupation or visa changes not assessed before they occur.
- Age, English, licensing or prior refusal issues discovered shortly before lodgement.
482 to 186 questions
Does two years on a 482 guarantee a 186 visa?
No. Eligible sponsored employment is only one requirement. The nomination and all applicant criteria must be met.
Can employment with more than one sponsor count?
Some employment across multiple 457 or 482 visas can count under current settings. Review the nomination, occupation, employer, visa and employment dates before relying on a period.
Can I apply if I am 45 or older?
The usual age requirement is under 45 at application, but specified exemptions exist. An exemption should be evidenced, not assumed.
Should I wait until the two-year point to prepare?
No. Early preparation can identify nomination, duty, salary, English, licensing, age or document problems while there is still time to address them lawfully.
Is your 482 to 186 pathway on track?
Send the visa grants, nomination history, employers, occupations, salary and employment dates for a structured review.