Civil Engineer — 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 Civil Engineer for migration purposes is handled by: EA.
Each occupation has a single designated assessing authority — refer to the occupation page for the body that assesses it.
Civil Engineer × Subclass 186 — pathway overview
Civil Engineers (ANZSCO 233211) may qualify for the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa, a permanent residence pathway via employer sponsorship. Civil Engineering appears on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), making it eligible for both the Direct Entry and Temporary Residence Transition streams of this visa. Skills assessment for Civil Engineers is conducted by Engineers Australia. Internationally qualified engineers typically complete the Competency Demonstration Report (CDR) process. The Subclass 186 is not points-tested. Employers must satisfy labour market testing requirements. The Direct Entry stream has an upper age limit of generally 45, and the Temporary Residence Transition stream requires two years of employment with the nominating sponsor on a Subclass 482 visa. Processing times are typically 6 to 18 months. Government fees are approximately AUD 4,640 for the primary applicant. Civil Engineers are among Australia's most in-demand occupations, sought by infrastructure contractors, local and state government, engineering consultancies, water utilities, and property developers. Specialisations in structural, geotechnical, hydraulics, or transport engineering offer broad employment prospects. 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 Civil Engineer
- 189Details →Skilled Independent visa
Permanent points-tested visa for workers not sponsored by an employer, family member, or state.
- 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.
- 485Details →Temporary Graduate visa
Post-study work visa for recent graduates of Australian qualifications.
- 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 Civil Engineer
States currently nominating this occupation — see the dedicated pages for state-specific criteria.