Core Skills Occupation List · ANZSCO 272511 · Home Affairs list read 6 October 2026
Social Worker — on the CSOL for the 482 visa
Short answer: Social Worker (ANZSCO 272511) is on the Core Skills Occupation List, so an approved Australian sponsor can nominate the role on the 482 Skills in Demand visa — and the 186 for permanent residence, or the 494 in regional areas. Salary must meet the CSIT (A$79,423 from 1 July 2026) or the market rate. Assessed by Australian Association of Social Workers. Facts below are read from Home Affairs and the assessing authorities and refreshed monthly.
By Keshab Chapagain, registered migration agent (MARN 1576536) since 2015 · WIDEN, Sydney · Reviewed October 2026
Keshab Chapagain · MARN 1576536 · Registered since 2015 - ANZSCO 2022 / 2013
- 272511 / 272511
- Lists
- MLTSSL · CSOL
- Employer sponsored
- 482 · 186 · 494
- Points-tested
- 189 · 190 · 491
- Assessing authority
- AASW
- CSIT 2026–27
- A$79,423
The migration agent that other migration agents learn from. WIDEN is an OMARA-approved CPD provider — our training is rated ★4.8 by 40+ registered migration agents.
About the CPD →Sponsoring a Social Worker — or hoping to be sponsored?
Thirty minutes with a registered migration agent (MARN 1576536) — your documents reviewed, personal advice, and a written summary of your next steps.
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Which visas list Social Worker
From the Home Affairs skilled occupation list (read 6 October 2026), Social Worker — ANZSCO 272511 — is eligible for:
| Visa | Route |
|---|---|
| 189 Skilled Independent | Points-tested — skills assessment, English and an EOI; no employer needed |
| 190 Skilled Nominated | Points-tested — skills assessment, English and an EOI; no employer needed |
| 407 Training | Employer sponsored — an approved sponsor nominates the position |
| 485 Temporary Graduate | Points-tested — skills assessment, English and an EOI; no employer needed |
| 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional | Employer sponsored — an approved sponsor nominates the position |
| 491 Skilled Work Regional | Points-tested — skills assessment, English and an EOI; no employer needed |
| 482 Skills in Demand (Core Skills stream) | Employer sponsored — an approved sponsor nominates the position |
| 186 Employer Nomination Scheme | Employer sponsored — an approved sponsor nominates the position |
Also on: MLTSSL. Source: Home Affairs skilled occupation list.
Salary floor
For 482 Core Skills nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 the nominated salary must be at least the Core Skills Income Threshold, A$79,423, and at least the annual market salary rate for a Social Worker at that location — whichever is higher. A role paid A$146,576 or more can use the Specialist Skills stream, which has no occupation list. Guaranteed annual earnings only; superannuation and non-monetary benefits are on top. Current and past thresholds.
Skills assessment
| Assessing authority | Standard assessment | Fee | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Association of Social Workers | — | see authority | — |
Fees and turnaround read from each authority's own pages, checked August 2026 — all authorities. A skills assessment is mandatory for the points-tested visas and for many 482/186 nominations, depending on passport and occupation.
No Australian qualification yet? RPL for Social Worker
Experienced workers can have overseas or on-the-job work assessed by a Registered Training Organisation toward the Australian qualification for the occupation (Recognition of Prior Learning) — useful only when it lines up with the skills assessment above and the visa. Fees are set by each RTO; WIDEN is a migration practice, not an RTO, and does not sell or recommend providers.
How RPL works in Australia → · RPL cost & legitimacy · 30-second qualification checker · Free RPL pathway check
Current processing times
Home Affairs, published 29 September 2026: 482 nomination 50% within 64 days, 90% within 9 months; 482 Core Skills visa 4 months / 9 months; 186 Direct Entry 21 months / 25 months. All subclasses, refreshed monthly.
Related occupations (AASW)
Looking to migrate as a Social Worker? The employer side is below — for the candidate side (visas, points, skills assessment, realistic pathways), see migrating to Australia as a Social Worker.
Sponsoring a Social Worker? Get a written first read.
Tell us the role and the business, and you get a fixed-fee quote for the nomination. The pathway, the caveats and the timing are settled in a consultation.
Keshab Chapagain, MARN 1576536. General information only, not migration advice. Occupation lists, thresholds and processing times are set by the Department of Home Affairs and change; this page states the date each figure was read and is refreshed monthly.
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Is Social Worker on the Core Skills Occupation List?
Yes. Social Worker (ANZSCO 272511) appears on the CSOL as published by the Department of Home Affairs (list read 6 October 2026), which means an approved sponsor can nominate the role on the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa, Core Skills stream, and it is also available for the 186 Employer Nomination Scheme.
What visas can a Social Worker apply for?
According to the Home Affairs occupation list, Social Worker is eligible for: 189 Skilled Independent; 190 Skilled Nominated; 407 Training; 485 Temporary Graduate; 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional; 491 Skilled Work Regional; 482 Skills in Demand (Core Skills stream); 186 Employer Nomination Scheme. Which one fits depends on whether you have an employer, your points, and where you will live; the 482 (with the 186 after two years) is the usual employer-sponsored route.
What is the minimum salary to sponsor a Social Worker on a 482?
The Core Skills Income Threshold — A$79,423 for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 — or the annual market salary rate for the role in that location, whichever is higher. A role paid at or above A$146,576 can instead use the Specialist Skills stream, which has no occupation list.
Who assesses Social Worker for skilled migration, and what does it cost?
Australian Association of Social Workers. A skills assessment is required for points-tested visas and for many 482/186 nominations depending on passport and occupation.
How long does a 482 nomination for a Social Worker take right now?
Home Affairs (29 September 2026) reports 50% of 482 nominations decided within 64 days and 90% within 9 months; Core Skills visas 4 months / 9 months. Complete, consistent nominations sit at the fast end.
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