How to hire an occupational therapist with visa sponsorship

The candidates available now

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

Where they want to work

Can your business sponsor an occupational therapist?

Occupational Therapist, ANZSCO 252411, 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 Occupational Therapist.

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 occupational therapist in the same role and location is paid. Check a specific offer with the sponsorship salary check.

Checks before you make an offer

The Occupational Therapy Council of Australia (OTC) is the assessing authority for Occupational Therapist (252411). 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.

To work as an occupational therapist in Australia you must be registered with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia. Qualifications from a country whose regulator the Board recognises as comparable have their own pathway; other qualifications are assessed first, and where an applicant is not directly qualified they complete a competence assessment, managed by the Occupational Therapy Council, during supervised practice under limited registration. Registration and the migration skills assessment are separate decisions. Occupational Therapist was in the Tasmanian top six 482 occupations in the 2025-26 program year to 31 December 2025.

Sources: Occupational Therapy Board: internationally qualified occupational therapists · Occupational Therapy Board: FAQ on qualification assessment and registration · Home Affairs: temporary resident (skilled) report, 31 December 2025 (table 1.18)

Who sponsors occupational therapists

Public and private hospitals, NDIS and disability providers, aged care providers, community health services, private practices are the usual employers of occupational therapists.

The steps

1. Find the candidate. Search occupational therapist 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 Occupational Therapist 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 occupational therapist on a 482 visa?

Yes. Occupational Therapist, ANZSCO 252411, 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 occupational therapist?

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

How many occupational therapists are looking for sponsorship on SponsorTalent?

The live count is on this page and on the Occupational Therapist candidate search at /find/occupational-therapist. 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.