Sponsored visa,
two years,
then residency.

Sponsored visa (482)

An aged care employer sponsors you on a four-year visa.

You need

• An employer holding the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement to nominate you. Most aged care employers do not hold it. The employer pays every cost; charging you is a criminal offence.
• An Australian Certificate III in Individual Support, or one year of relevant experience plus a skills assessment.
• IELTS 5.0 overall, 5.0 in listening and speaking, 4.5 in reading and writing. Or 4.5 overall with no component minimum, where the employer serves a community that speaks your language.
• Pay of at least $51,222, and never below the award rate for the job.
• Lodge before your current visa ends. You keep full work rights while it is processed.

Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement — template (PDF)Skills in Demand visa (482) — Core Skills stream

Two years with the sponsor

Work for the employer that sponsored you.

You need

• Full-time in the nominated occupation. Part-time counts pro rata. Keep every visa condition: time in breach does not count.
• If the job ends, you have 180 days to have another agreement employer nominate you (365 across the whole visa).
• Sit IELTS 5.5 during these years, not at the end.

Skills in Demand visa (482) — change in situation

Permanent residency (186)

The same employer nominates you again. It is not granted for time served.

You need

• Two years of full-time sponsored work in the last three, in the same occupation.
• Your sponsor nominates you for a full-time, ongoing position of at least two more years.
• Under 45 on the day you apply. The agreement gives no age concession.
• IELTS 5.5 overall, no component minimum.
• Health and character: medical checks, and police certificates for every country you have lived in for a year in the last ten.

Employer Nomination Scheme (186) — Temporary Residence Transition streamAged Care Industry Labour Agreement — template (PDF)