Urban and Regional Planner — Subclass 186 Pathway
Employer Nomination Scheme visa · Permanent
At a glance
- Visa
- Subclass 186 — Employer Nomination Scheme visa
- Points test
- Not points-tested
- Sponsor
- Employer sponsor required
- Eligibility list
- MLTSSLSTSOLROLCSOL
- Base fee
- from $4,770 (check immi.gov.au for current fee)
- Processing time
- ~6-15 months (median)
Skills assessment for this occupation
Assessing Urban and Regional Planner for migration purposes is handled by: VETASSESS.
Each occupation has a single designated assessing authority — refer to the occupation page for the body that assesses it.
Urban and Regional Planner × Subclass 186 — pathway overview
Urban and Regional Planners (ANZSCO 232611) may qualify for the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa, a permanent residence pathway requiring sponsorship from an approved Australian employer. This occupation appears on the Skilled Occupation List, making it eligible for both the Direct Entry and Temporary Residence Transition streams of the Subclass 186. The Temporary Residence Transition stream requires at least two years of employment with the nominating employer on a qualifying temporary visa. The Direct Entry stream is available to applicants who have not previously held a qualifying temporary visa. Skills assessment for Urban and Regional Planners is conducted by the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA). This visa is not points-tested. Employers must satisfy labour market testing unless an exemption applies, and applicants must meet age, English language, and skills requirements. The Direct Entry stream has an upper age limit of generally 45. Government fees are approximately AUD 4,640 for the primary applicant. Processing times are typically 6 to 18 months. Urban and Regional Planners are in demand across local councils, state planning authorities, private planning consultancies, and infrastructure development agencies. For advice tailored to your individual circumstances, always consult a registered MARA migration agent.
Content last generated: 2026-06-26
Key requirements
High-level criteria for Subclass 186. Verify every requirement on immi.gov.au before applying.
- Under 45 years of age at application (with limited exemptions)
- Competent English (IELTS 6 or equivalent)
- Nominated by an approved Australian employer
- Positive skills assessment in the nominated occupation (Direct Entry stream)
- At least three years of relevant work experience (Direct Entry stream)
- Health and character requirements
Other visa pathways for Urban and Regional Planner
- 190Details →Skilled Nominated visa
Permanent visa for workers nominated by a state or territory government.
- 482Details →Skills in Demand visa
Employer-sponsored temporary visa (formerly TSS) for occupations on the relevant list.
- 491Details →Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa
Five-year provisional visa for workers willing to live and work in regional Australia.
- 494Details →Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa
Five-year employer-sponsored provisional visa in regional Australia, with a path to PR.
State nominations for Urban and Regional Planner
States currently nominating this occupation — see the dedicated pages for state-specific criteria.