How to hire overseas teachers with visa sponsorship

Which teachers a school can sponsor

List status is from the Department of Home Affairs skilled occupation lists as held in SponsorTalent's occupation data. School Principal (134311) is also on the Core Skills Occupation List. Teachers' aides and education assistants are not on the lists, so they cannot be sponsored on a standard 482; see can I sponsor a teacher aide?

The nominated occupation must match the duties of the job. A role teaching children below school age in a long day care or kindergarten setting is a different occupation from a primary school teacher, and Child Care Worker (421111) is different again. For early childhood teachers, read how to hire an early childhood teacher; for centre educator roles, how to hire childcare educators.

The skills assessment: AITSL or ACECQA

The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) assesses Primary, Middle School, Secondary and Special Needs teachers for migration. Since 7 December 2024, Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher has been assessed by the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) instead of AITSL. ACECQA aims to finish an assessment within 60 days of receiving everything it needs.

AITSL's English requirement for the assessment is well above the visa's own English level, and it is where many overseas teachers stall. Ask a candidate early whether they already hold an assessment, or which test results they have; SponsorTalent profiles show whether a candidate already holds a skills assessment.

Sources: AITSL: skills assessment for migration (school teacher occupations) · ACECQA: migration skills assessment (early childhood teacher, from 7 December 2024)

Registration comes before the first lesson

Under the national Framework for Teacher Registration, only registered teachers may be employed to teach in schools. Registration is a separate decision by the state or territory regulator: NESA in NSW (where it is called accreditation), the Victorian Institute of Teaching, the Queensland College of Teachers, the Teacher Registration Board of WA, the Teachers Registration Board of SA, the Teacher Registration Board of the NT, the Teachers Registration Board of Tasmania and the ACT Teacher Quality Institute. Each regulator sets its own evidence, English and working with children requirements, and most grant provisional registration first.

For early childhood teachers the rules differ by state. Registration is not required by the National Quality Framework itself, but NSW, 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 registration requirement for early childhood teachers in services not attached to a school.

Sources: Teachers Registration Board of SA: early childhood teacher registration · ACECQA: early childhood teacher registration and accreditation · Queensland Government: early childhood teacher registration consultation paper

What you must pay

The nominated position must pay at least the Core Skills Income Threshold of A$79,423 (nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027), and no less than an Australian teacher in the same role and location is paid. For teachers that market rate is usually set by the enterprise agreement or award that already covers your staff; in non-government schools and many early learning services the Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020 is the minimum. Check a specific offer with the sponsorship salary check.

Source: Fair Work Commission: Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020

Processing priority

Since 19 September 2026, Ministerial Directions 121 and 122 set the order in which the Department processes skilled and employer-sponsored applications. Specified teaching occupations are in the highest-priority group, alongside healthcare and construction. Priority affects the order of processing, not the outcome.

Source: Home Affairs: skilled visa processing priorities

Who sponsors teachers

SponsorTalent's directory, built from the Department of Home Affairs approved-sponsor data (April 2026 snapshot), tags 277 businesses as education: see education companies that sponsor visas. State education departments, Catholic and independent school systems and early learning providers are among them. Industry tags are incomplete for many listings, so the true number is higher.

The steps for a school

1. Find the teacher. Post the role on SponsorTalent with a sponsored job ad, or search candidates by occupation. Labour market testing rules for the 482 are in labour market testing for the 482.
2. Check assessment and registration. Confirm the candidate has, or can get, the AITSL or ACECQA assessment and is eligible for registration in your state before you make an offer conditional on the visa.
3. Sponsorship. Your school or service needs Standard Business Sponsorship before it can nominate. Many state education departments and Catholic and independent school systems already hold it.
4. Nomination and visa. Nominate the position at a salary that meets the threshold and the market rate; the teacher then lodges the visa. Costs are in the cost to sponsor a worker and the sponsorship cost calculator.

For the legal steps in your case, use a registered migration agent: WIDEN Migration Experts (MARN 1576536).

Frequently asked questions

Can a school sponsor an overseas teacher?

Yes. Primary, middle, secondary, special needs and early childhood teachers are on the Core Skills Occupation List and eligible for the 482, 494 and 186. The school or its employing body needs Standard Business Sponsorship before it nominates.

Who assesses teachers for migration?

AITSL assesses primary, middle school, secondary and special needs teachers. ACECQA has assessed early childhood (pre-primary school) teachers since 7 December 2024.

Does a sponsored teacher need registration?

Yes, to teach in a school. Only registered teachers may be employed to teach in schools, and registration is decided by the state or territory regulator, separately from the visa. Early childhood teacher registration rules differ by state.

What is the minimum salary for a sponsored teacher?

At least A$79,423 for nominations lodged in 2026–27, and no less than the market rate, which for teachers is usually set by the applicable enterprise agreement or award.

Can I sponsor a teacher aide?

Not on a standard 482. Teachers' aides and education assistants are not on the skilled occupation lists.