Visa 482 to PR: the 186 TRT pathway and what it requires
Most visa 482 holders eventually ask the same question: how do I stay in Australia for the long term? The common route is to move from a 482 to permanent residence through the visa 186 — specifically the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream. It is not the only path, but it is the one designed for someone who has worked steadily for an Australian sponsoring employer.
What the TRT stream is
Visa 186 has several streams; TRT is the stream for someone currently holding an employer-sponsored work visa (such as the 482) who wants that same employer to nominate them for permanent residence. The logic is simple: you have worked for the business long enough, the business already knows your capability, so the step up to permanent residence runs through that same employment relationship rather than starting again from scratch.
The key precondition still follows the spirit of the 482: the business must nominate you. Without the employer’s nomination, the TRT stream does not open — this is a major difference from independent skilled categories (such as the 189), which do not require a sponsor.
The work-period requirement
The central requirement of the TRT stream is the period worked for the nominating employer. The current reference point is 2 years working in the nominated position, on a visa 482 (or the earlier TSS). This figure was once three years and was shortened in a recent reform — so if you read older information that says three years, check it against the current settings.
One important note: “period worked” here counts actual work in the right occupation with the right nominating employer, not simply the time spent holding the visa. Interruptions — changing employer, long breaks, working in the wrong position — can affect the calculation. This is exactly the kind of detail worth reviewing carefully before you lodge.
Age, occupation and other requirements
Beyond the work period, the TRT stream also considers some of the general requirements of the visa 186. On age, the reference point is 45 years old at the time of lodgement — but some groups are exempt from this limit (for example, people earning above a set income threshold, or certain academic categories). If you are near the age mark, the timing of your application may be a factor to weigh up.
There are also English-language, health and police-record requirements — the standard requirements of a permanent-residence application. Each requirement has its own exceptions and ways of demonstrating it, so do not rush to conclude that you “qualify” or “do not qualify” from a single summary line.
Cost and processing time
The main application charge for the visa 186 is currently 6,140 AUD for the primary applicant — not including charges for accompanying dependants and the costs of health examinations, translation and assessment where they apply. On timing, processing for a 186 application varies by period and by the complexity of the file — check the Home Affairs Global visa processing times tool; a more complex file can take considerably longer.
These figures change year to year and with each adjustment by the Department of Home Affairs. On this page they are shown with a status label and a source so you always know whether a figure is a reference point or has been verified.
When to see a migration agent
The 482 to 186 TRT pathway is clear in principle, but the real outcome lies in the detail of each person’s file: whether you have worked enough time in the right occupation, whether the employer is willing to nominate, whether there are any interruptions, and where you stand against the age mark. Those factors decide when you should lodge — or whether a different stream suits you better.
Your specific situation should be looked at by a registered migration agent (MARA) rather than guessed from general information. This article helps you understand the overall picture and ask the right questions when you seek advice.