Cardiothoracic Surgeon — 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 Cardiothoracic Surgeon for migration purposes is handled by: MedBA.
Each occupation has a single designated assessing authority — refer to the occupation page for the body that assesses it.
Cardiothoracic Surgeon × Subclass 186 — pathway overview
Cardiothoracic Surgeons (ANZSCO 253512) are eligible for the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa, appearing on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) and Consolidated Sponsored Occupation List (CSOL). This permanent employer-sponsored visa enables Australian businesses to nominate skilled overseas specialists for positions that cannot be filled locally. Cardiothoracic Surgeons (ANZSCO 253512) work in cardiac and thoracic surgery and are in strong demand across Australian health facilities. Skills assessment by the Medical Board of Australia (MedBA) with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) is required, verifying that overseas qualifications and clinical training meet Australian specialist equivalence standards. Sponsoring employers must be Department of Home Affairs approved and demonstrate labour market testing before nominating. Government application charges, skills assessment fees, and health and character checks apply. Processing times range from several months to over a year depending on stream and caseload. Upon grant, the Subclass 186 confers permanent residence with a pathway to Australian citizenship after the required residence period. 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 Cardiothoracic Surgeon
- 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 Cardiothoracic Surgeon
States currently nominating this occupation — see the dedicated pages for state-specific criteria.