Teacher Migration to Australia: AITSL, ACECQA and Which Visa (2026)
Which visas secondary, primary and early childhood teachers can reach, who assesses them (AITSL or ACECQA), the AITSL fee and English test, and why registration is separate. General information, not migration advice. Figures as at October 2026.
Read the full guide, with official sources →
Watch
Chapters
- 0:00 Teacher migration to Australia
- 0:15 Which teachers reach the 189
- 0:33 Primary teachers: no subclass 189
- 0:50 AITSL or ACECQA
- 1:01 AITSL fee and timing
- 1:15 One assessment, valid 2 years
- 1:27 AITSL English requirement
- 1:41 Teacher registration
- 1:55 State nomination for teachers
- 2:15 Where to read more
Transcript
Migration agent for teachers in Australia: which visa and which assessment? Secondary and early childhood teachers reach the subclass 189. Primary teachers don't.
Secondary school teachers, ANZSCO 241411, and early childhood teachers, 241111, are on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List. That reaches the subclass 189, 190 and 491.
Primary school teachers, ANZSCO 241213, are on the Short-term list and the Core Skills list. So they reach the subclass 190, 491, 482 and 186, but not the 189.
The skills assessment depends on the teaching level. Primary and secondary teachers go to AITSL. Early childhood teachers are assessed by ACECQA instead.
As at September 2026 the AITSL fee is $1,198, and an appeal is $938. AITSL says most complete applications are assessed within 4 to 6 weeks.
AITSL assesses qualifications, not work experience. There's one assessment, with no provisional pathway. Outcomes are valid for 2 years.
English is Academic IELTS only for AITSL. That's 7.0 in Reading and Writing, and 8.0 in Speaking and Listening. PTE, OET and TOEFL are not accepted.
A skills assessment isn't teacher registration. To teach in a school you also need registration with the regulator in your state, such as VIT, NESA or the QCT, and each sets its own requirements.
State nomination for the 190 and 491 is set by each state, with its own lists and opening dates. The 491 adds 15 points and has a regional requirement. Migratio's median consultation quote is $220, from 686 quotes by 57 agents.
The full guide, with the official sources, is on migratio.com.au. The link is in the description. And if you'd like to talk it through, you can compare registered migration agents there, and see their fees before you book anything.
Short versions
- Primary teachers and the 189 visa (0:37)
- AITSL or ACECQA: which assesses you? (0:31)
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