482 to 186 Permanent Residence Planning
Track eligible sponsored employment and prepare the employer and applicant evidence for a possible subclass 186 Temporary Residence Transition pathway.
The current TRT employment test
The worker generally needs at least two years of eligible sponsored full-time employment in Australia during the three years immediately before the 186 application.
The exact start and end dates, visa held, occupation, employer, unpaid leave, role changes and any exemptions must be reviewed. Time alone does not guarantee eligibility.
Build the pathway from day one
Record the grant
Keep the 482 grant, nomination, occupation and conditions.
Confirm the start
Document when eligible full-time sponsored employment commenced.
Track changes
Review sponsor, occupation, location, duties, hours and salary changes.
Audit evidence
Reconcile payroll, tax, super, leave and employment records.
Prepare 186
Reassess employer nomination and applicant criteria before lodgement.
Employment evidence
Keep a continuous record that allows the qualifying employment period to be reconstructed.
Employment contractsPayslipsPAYG summariesTax returnsSuperannuationBank statementsLeave recordsRostersPosition descriptionsSponsor changes
Employer readiness for 186
The employer must make a fresh permanent nomination and support the ongoing position.
- Business remains active and lawfully operating.
- Genuine full-time permanent position and consistent duties.
- Current AMSR and Core Skills Income Threshold evidence.
- Sponsorship and employment compliance history.
- Nomination and visa application timing coordinated.
Common pathway risks
- Assuming every period on a 482 counts as eligible sponsored employment.
- Unrecorded unpaid leave, part-time work or breaks in employment.
- Actual duties drifting away from the sponsored occupation.
- Salary or payroll records inconsistent with the nomination.
- Age, English or visa-history issues discovered too late.
Is your 482 to 186 history on track?
Send the visa grants, employers, occupations and employment dates for review.