Visa 186 TRT Offshore: Eligibility and Processing

TRT offshore: when does it happen?

The Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream of visa 186 is usually pictured as someone working in Australia on a visa 482 and lodging the 186 there (onshore). However, there is a less talked-about group of applicants: people who completed part or all of their work period on a 457/482 visa in Australia, then returned home or went overseas for various reasons, and still want to lodge a visa 186 TRT.

Common real-world situations include:

• Travelling home to visit family and the visa 482 expiring during that time.
• Being transferred overseas by the same company that sponsored them.
• Leaving Australia temporarily for personal reasons and not lodging the 186 before the old visa expired.
• Having completed 2 years of work on a 457/482 but not yet lodged the 186, while now being overseas.

Do the TRT conditions apply offshore?

As a matter of legal principle: visa 186 TRT does not require the applicant to be in Australia at the time of lodgement. An applicant who is overseas can still lodge a visa 186 TRT application, provided they meet the standard TRT requirements:

1. Has held a 457 or 482 visa: The applicant must have a history of holding one of these two visa types (they do not necessarily need to be holding it at the time of lodgement).

2. Has worked at least 2 years on a 457/482 visa: The total actual work period for the same sponsoring employer (or a related one) must reach 2 years. This time can include the period worked before returning home.

3. In the same occupation and with the same employer: The 2 years of work must be in the same occupation/position with the employer that is nominating for the 186.

4. Meets the age requirement: The applicant must be under 45 years old at the time of nomination, except for certain special exemptions.

Proving the 2 years of work while overseas

This is the most complex point for offshore TRT applicants. When DHA assesses the case, they need specific evidence such as:

• Tax records (tax returns, group certificates): Proof of income during the period of work in Australia.
• Letter from the employer: Detailing the period of work, position, and salary.
• Travel history: DHA can verify entries to and exits from Australia through their migration data systems.
• Copies of payslips or bank statements: Showing wages paid during the relevant period.

If you have already returned home, gathering these documents remotely can take extra time, so it is worth preparing before you begin lodging.

English requirement for offshore TRT applicants

The English standard for the TRT stream is “vocational English” — equivalent to IELTS 5.0 (with a minimum of 4.5 in each band). This requirement applies to both onshore and offshore applicants. The applicant needs a valid English test result at the time of lodgement.

Some cases are exempt from the English requirement — for example, holders of passports from the UK, Ireland, the United States, Canada or New Zealand — and the same exemptions apply to offshore applicants.

How the assessment works in practice

The nomination and visa application process for offshore TRT is similar to onshore:

1. The employer lodges the nomination before or at the same time as the visa application.
2. The applicant lodges the visa application — this can be done from overseas through ImmiAccount.
3. DHA processes the nomination — checking the employer and the position.
4. DHA processes the visa application — checking the applicant (English, skills, health, character).
5. Health examination: Carried out at DHA-approved medical centres overseas — in Vietnam there are centres in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
6. Visa grant: The visa is granted and the applicant can enter Australia.

Processing time for offshore TRT

The processing time for an offshore visa 186 TRT is broadly similar to onshore: around 10–22 months for 75% of applications based on historical data. There is no significant priority difference between onshore and offshore within the same TRT stream.

One important thing to remember: while waiting, an offshore applicant does not hold a valid Australian visa to stay or work in Australia. If they want to return to Australia during the wait, they need to obtain a suitable temporary visa (such as a visitor visa) to visit — but they cannot work on it.

Note on moving from offshore to onshore during processing

If the applicant enters Australia on a temporary visa while the 186 TRT application is being processed, the status of the application does not change — it remains an offshore application. However, a bridging visa is generally not granted to offshore applicants, so when the temporary visa expires, the applicant needs to leave Australia until the visa 186 is formally granted.