From 482 to PR via the 186 TRT — the 2-year pathway in detail, and the age-45 exemptions

For anyone holding a 482 visa, the biggest question is always: when do I get PR, and how? The most common answer is the 186 TRT — Temporary Residence Transition stream: work two years for your sponsor on the 482, in the nominated occupation, and the sponsor then nominates you for permanent residence.

Sounds simple — and at the framework level, it is. But around that framework sit the questions that decide success or failure: does changing sponsors reset the clock? What if you’re over 45? What happens if the company is sold mid-way? This post answers each one.

The 186 TRT — core criteria

• Two years working for your sponsor on the 482, in the nominated occupation — the heart of the stream.
• Under 45 at the time of application — subject to the exemptions covered below.
• Competent English.
• The sponsor agrees to nominate you — your PR needs the business’s signature; this is both a legal requirement and a relationship variable.
• Visa fee from AUD 6,140 (2026–27 level, adjusted periodically), plus the employer-side nomination costs.

Question one: does changing sponsors reset the clock?

The core principle: the 2-year clock counts time worked for the employer who will nominate you. Work 18 months for company A, then move to company B — if B wants to nominate you for the 186 TRT, your time with A generally does not carry across; you start accruing again with B.

That makes a sponsor change at month 18 far more expensive than at month 3 — run the numbers before jumping. Specific transition scenarios (corporate restructures, intra-group transfers…) have their own technical rules — check against your actual file rather than applying a general formula. If you are facing job loss on a 482, see our post on losing your job or your employer changing hands on a 482.

The age-45 exemptions — narrow doors, but real

Being over 45 does not automatically close the 186 TRT. The main exemptions:

Each exemption carries detailed conditions — if you might fall into one of these four boxes, it is worth a proper professional check before concluding “I’m too old”.

How TRT differs from Direct Entry (DE)

The 186 has a second stream — Direct Entry — and picking the wrong one is a common mistake:

TRT is the “through the 482” road; DE is the “straight in” road for those with deep experience and a skills assessment. 482 holders usually take TRT because it skips a fresh skills assessment — but if your 2-year clock breaks mid-way, DE can be a plan B worth costing.

Risks during the 2-year wait — and how to manage them

The company changes hands or becomes insolvent

Your clock attaches to the entity nominating you. A buy-out, restructure or insolvency mid-way can all affect the pathway — the outcome depends on how the transaction is structured, and this is squarely case-specific advice territory. What you can do: keep every contract, payslip and your employer’s ABN on record through each phase, and seek advice early the moment you hear the company is “in play”.

Being asked to “pay for the PR nomination”

Let’s be direct: an employer demanding money to nominate you — whether badged as an “application fee”, “cost sharing” or monthly salary kickbacks — is unlawful for both sides under the prohibition on charging for migration outcomes. The person paying is not a legally innocent bystander — both the PR application and your current visa can collapse. If it happens: decline, and consider reporting to Border Watch.

The full timeline: from day one of the 482 to PR

1. Day 0: start working for your sponsor on the 482, in the nominated occupation. The clock starts.
2. During the 2 years: work in the nominated occupation, keep clean payroll and tax records, maintain competent English (sit the test early if you don’t hold a valid result).
3. Approaching the 2-year mark: open the nomination conversation with your employer — months in advance, because the business side also needs time and budget.
4. At 2 years: the employer lodges the nomination + you lodge the 186 TRT application (fee from AUD 6,140).
5. Processing → PR. Processing times shift over time — check the Global processing times page.

The realistic total from day one of the 482 to holding PR is two years plus preparation and processing time — provided the clock never breaks.

Summary

The 186 TRT is PR “paid in instalments of time”: two disciplined years with one sponsor, in exchange for permanent residence with no points invitation round. Three things decide the outcome: keep the 2-year clock unbroken (think hard before changing jobs), prepare English and paperwork early, and keep the employer relationship transparent — and lawful. Over 45? Check the four exemptions before giving up.

On a 482 and want to check where your TRT clock stands and what could break it? Book a free assessment with VisaAffairs.

References

• Department of Home Affairs — Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) — TRT and Direct Entry criteria.
• Fair Work Commission — High income threshold — the current FWHIT (indexed annually).
• Australian Border Force — Border Watch — reporting channel for sponsorship-selling conduct.

This article is general information current at publication. Australian migration rules change regularly — check the date and contact VisaAffairs before relying on it for your own case. Book a consultation for advice on your specific circumstances.