How to Get Australia PR as a Teacher
If you are a qualified teacher, Australia is one of the easier countries to get permanent residency in right now, because schools across the country are short of staff and the government keeps inviting teachers to apply. To get PR as a teacher, you first need to pick the right teaching occupation code that matches your job, then get your qualifications checked by AITSL (or ACECQA if you teach early childhood), pass an English test with a high score, and then submit an Expression of Interest through SkillSelect for the 189, 190 or 491 visa. Most teachers who do this properly and are open to working in a regional area get an invitation within 12 to 18 months, often with fewer points needed compared to crowded occupations like IT or accounting. The rest of this guide walks you through every step in plain language, including costs, timelines and common mistakes to avoid.
Why Teachers Have a Strong Chance at Australia PR
Australia is short of teachers almost everywhere. An ageing teaching workforce is retiring, student enrolments keep growing, and there simply aren’t enough new graduates to fill the gap, especially in STEM subjects, special education and regional schools. Because of this, teaching occupations stay on Australia’s official skilled occupation list year after year, and state governments regularly pick teachers for state nomination. Unlike some in-demand jobs where invitation scores have climbed to 90 points or higher, teachers are generally invited at more moderate scores, which makes this one of the more realistic Australia PR pathways for teachers available today.
Why Teachers Have a Strong Chance at Australia PR
Your first step is matching your real job to the correct ANZSCO occupation code, because this decides which visa pathway and which skills assessment authority applies to you.
Teaching Role | ANZSCO Code | Assessing Body |
Early Childhood (Pre-Primary) Teacher | 241111 | ACECQA |
Primary School Teacher | 241213 | AITSL |
Middle School Teacher | 241311 | AITSL |
Secondary School Teacher | 241411 | AITSL |
Special Needs Teacher | 241511 | AITSL |
Teacher of the Hearing Impaired | 241512 | AITSL |
Teacher of the Sight Impaired | 241513 | AITSL |
University Lecturer | 242111 | VETASSESS |
Most classroom teaching roles are assessed by AITSL (the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership). Early childhood teachers are now assessed by ACECQA instead. If you teach adults, vocational subjects, or English as a second language, VETASSESS or Trades Recognition Australia may be the correct body instead, so it is worth double-checking before you apply.
Step 1: Get Your AITSL Skills Assessment
A positive skills assessment is the single most important document in your Australia teacher visa application. It proves your teaching qualification and training match Australian standards, and without it you cannot lodge a points-tested visa. To qualify, you generally need at least four years of full-time tertiary study, including a recognised initial teacher education qualification with supervised teaching practice.
- Confirm your ANZSCO code and download the matching AITSL document checklist
- Gather your degree certificates, transcripts and proof of supervised teaching practice
- Submit your application online and pay the assessment fee
- Most complete applications are processed within 4 to 10 weeks
Step 2: Meet the English Language Requirement
Teaching has one of the highest English requirements of any skilled occupation in Australia. AITSL generally asks for an IELTS score of 7.5 overall, with at least 8.0 in speaking and listening and 7.0 in reading and writing, or the equivalent on PTE Academic. This is noticeably higher than most other occupations, so it is worth booking your test early and leaving room for a re-sit if needed.
Step 3: Choose Your Visa Pathway
Once your skills assessment and English test are sorted, you can choose which visa to aim for:
- Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) — no state or employer sponsorship needed, and you can live anywhere in Australia. Best for teachers with strong points and in-demand specialisations.
- Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated) — a state or territory nominates you, adding 5 points, in exchange for a commitment to live and work there for at least two years.
- Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional) — adds 15 points and is currently the most accessible pathway, especially for teachers willing to work in regional schools where shortages are worst.
Step 4: Understand the Points Test
Australia’s points test scores you on age, English ability, skilled work experience, qualifications and other factors like state nomination or regional commitment. For a subclass 190 or 491 visa, teachers generally need at least 65 points to lodge an Expression of Interest, though actual invitation rounds may ask for more depending on demand that month. Because teaching is a genuinely short-staffed occupation, invitation thresholds for teachers tend to stay more reasonable than in oversubscribed fields.
Step 5: Submit Your Expression of Interest (EOI)
Once you have your skills assessment, English test result and points calculated, you submit an EOI through the government’s SkillSelect system. From here, your file sits in the pool until you are invited to apply for your chosen visa, or until a state or territory picks you for nomination.
Typical Costs and Timeline
Every case is different, but most teachers moving through the AITSL assessment, English test, and visa application process can expect the full journey to take somewhere between 12 and 18 months from start to finish, assuming documents are in order and there are no delays. Costs vary by visa subclass, family size and whether you need document translations, so it is best to get a personalised estimate rather than relying on a general figure.
Common Mistakes That Slow Teachers Down
- Choosing the wrong ANZSCO code for the actual subjects or age group taught
- Underestimating the English score needed and not leaving time to re-sit
- Assuming home-country teacher registration is enough — AITSL still requires independent verification
- Not considering regional visa options, which often move faster and need fewer points
- Submitting an EOI before the skills assessment is finalised
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, a positive skills assessment and qualifying English score are the core requirements. Work experience adds extra points but is not always mandatory for every subclass.
No. Early childhood (pre-primary) teaching is now assessed by ACECQA rather than AITSL, so make sure you apply to the correct authority.
Yes. Regional shortages are more severe, and the subclass 491 visa adds 15 points plus a strong shot at faster state nomination for teachers willing to relocate.
Most complete applications are processed within 4 to 10 weeks, though incomplete files can take longer.
Yes. Many teachers move from a temporary visa, such as a sponsored or graduate visa, into PR once they have a positive skills assessment and enough points. Local Australian teaching experience can also add extra points and make you more attractive for state nomination.
No. For the subclass 189, 190 and 491 visas, a job offer is not compulsory. These are points-tested visas based on your skills assessment, English score, age and experience, not on employer sponsorship.
This changes from year to year based on local shortages. Regional and remote areas in states like Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia often have stronger demand for teachers than capital cities, so it is worth checking each state’s current occupation list before choosing where to apply.
