How to hire an early childhood teacher with visa sponsorship

The candidates available now

Live counts from candidate profiles on SponsorTalent. Search and filter them at /find/early-childhood-educator; profiles show visa status, location and experience before you unlock contact details.

Where they want to work

Can your business sponsor an early childhood teacher?

Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher, ANZSCO 241111, is on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) and the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). Eligible employer visas in our list data: 482, 494 and 186. The occupation you nominate must match the duties of the job: the ANZSCO title is Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher.

Caveat: none recorded on the Core Skills Occupation List (WIDEN's copy of the Home Affairs list, read 6 November 2026).

The 482 Specialist Skills stream is open to occupations outside ANZSCO major groups 3, 7 and 8 where the salary is at least A$146,576, so it is an option when the salary reaches that level.

Sponsoring from regional Australia opens the 494 as well; see regional sponsorship and DAMA for employers.

What you must pay

The nominated position must pay at least A$79,423 (2026–27 Core Skills Income Threshold for the 482 and 186, and the TSMIT for the 494), and no less than an Australian early childhood teacher in the same role and location is paid. SponsorTalent's occupation data puts the market range for early childhood teachers at roughly A$70,000 to A$100,000, depending on experience and location. Check a specific offer with the sponsorship salary check.

Checks before you make an offer

The Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) has assessed Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher for migration since 7 December 2024, taking over from AITSL. A skills assessment is not needed for every 482: it applies where the Department's instrument lists the occupation for the worker's passport country. Profiles on SponsorTalent show whether a candidate already holds an assessment.

Registration rules for early childhood teachers differ by state. Registration is not required by the National Quality Framework itself, but NSW (where it is called accreditation), Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia require early childhood teachers to be registered or accredited; in Queensland it is not mandatory for early childhood teachers in National Quality Framework services, and in the ACT there is no requirement for those in services not attached to a school. Educators with a certificate or diploma are a different occupation, Child Care Worker (421111): see how to hire childcare educators.

Sources: ACECQA: migration skills assessment · ACECQA: early childhood teacher registration and accreditation · Queensland Government: ECT registration consultation paper

Who sponsors early childhood teachers

Long day care centres, kindergartens, preschools, early learning providers, not-for-profit childcare services are the usual employers of early childhood teachers.

The steps

1. Find the candidate. Search early childhood teacher candidates and unlock the profiles that fit, or post the role so candidates apply to you.
2. Sponsorship. Your business needs Standard Business Sponsorship (or a labour agreement or DAMA) before it can nominate. WIDEN explains the requirements in how to become an approved sponsor.
3. Nomination. You nominate the position as Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher at a salary that meets the threshold and the market rate. Costs are in WIDEN's cost to sponsor a worker and our sponsorship cost calculator.
4. Visa. The worker lodges the visa after the nomination. For the legal steps for your case, use a registered migration agent: book WIDEN Migration Experts.

Frequently asked questions

Can I sponsor an early childhood teacher on a 482 visa?

Yes. Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher, ANZSCO 241111, is on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) and the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). In SponsorTalent's list data it is eligible for the 482, 494 and 186 employer-sponsored visas. Your business needs Standard Business Sponsorship (or a labour agreement) before you nominate.

What is the minimum salary for a sponsored early childhood teacher?

At least A$79,423 for 2026–27, and no less than the market rate an Australian early childhood teacher would be paid for the same job.

How many early childhood teachers are looking for sponsorship on SponsorTalent?

The live count is on this page and on the Early Childhood Teacher candidate search at /find/early-childhood-educator. Profiles are anonymous until you unlock one.

Who handles the sponsorship and nomination?

Your business lodges them, usually through a registered migration agent. WIDEN Migration Experts (MARN 1576536) can prepare the sponsorship, nomination and visa; SponsorTalent itself is a marketplace for finding candidates.