Sponsor Aged Care Workers — 2026 Guide for Approved Providers
How Australian aged care providers sponsor overseas personal care workers, nursing support workers, and registered nurses (aged care) under the 482 Skills in Demand visa, the 186 Employer Nomination Scheme, the 494 Regional visa, and the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement (ACILA).
MARN 1576536 · Verifiable at mara.gov.au
General information only. Specific eligibility, occupation lists, and processing rules change. Verify current requirements at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. This page does not constitute migration advice (s 23, Migration Agents Code of Conduct 2022).
Aged care occupations commonly sponsored
- Aged or Disabled Carer (ANZSCO 423111) — the broad personal-care occupation. Typically sponsored under the 482 Core Skills stream or under ACILA.
- Nursing Support Worker (ANZSCO 423314) — workers performing nursing-adjacent duties under registered nurse supervision.
- Personal Care Assistant — practically synonymous with Aged or Disabled Carer for sponsorship purposes; sits under ANZSCO 423111.
- Registered Nurse (Aged Care) (ANZSCO 254418) — clinical role requiring AHPRA registration through the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.
- Enrolled Nurse (ANZSCO 411411) — Diploma-level nursing, also AHPRA-registered.
Each occupation's eligibility for the 482, 186, and 494 depends on the current Core Skills List, Specialist Skills threshold, and state nomination lists in force at the date of nomination. Confirm before relying on prior practice.
The four visa pathways for aged care sponsorship
1. 482 Skills in Demand — Core Skills stream
The default pathway for personal care workers and nursing support workers. Up to four years' duration. Standard Labour Market Testing applies unless exempt. Salary must meet TSMIT and the Annual Market Salary Rate. After typically 2–3 years on the 482, the worker can apply for permanent residency via the 186 TRT stream if they continue with the same sponsor.
2. Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement (ACILA)
An industry-wide labour agreement introduced in 2023 to address the sector's chronic workforce shortage. ACILA gives endorsed providers concessions on English language requirements (lower thresholds), age (up to 50), and certain skills assessment requirements compared to standard 482 nominations. Endorsement is at the provider level — the business must apply to be endorsed under ACILA before nominating workers under it. Once endorsed, the provider can nominate eligible occupations under ACILA's streamlined process.
3. 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional)
For aged care providers operating in designated regional areas (most of Australia outside Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane). The 494 has a broader occupation list and is the preferred pathway for regional facilities. Provides a five-year provisional visa with pathway to PR via the 191 visa after three years.
4. 186 Employer Nomination Scheme — Direct Entry
Permanent residence at lodgement. Available where the occupation is on the 186 list and the worker meets the direct-entry skills assessment, English, and age requirements. Higher upfront commitment but lower long-term sponsorship obligations than a 482 → 186 TRT pathway.
Specific compliance points for aged care
- Industry awards. Aged care wages are governed by the Aged Care Award 2010 and related instruments. Salary offered must meet the higher of TSMIT, the AMSR, and the award rate. Underpaying is both a Fair Work Act issue and a sponsorship breach.
- Police checks and NDIS Worker Screening. Aged care workers must clear background checks before commencing work. These are regulatory requirements separate from the visa but must be planned for in the lodgement timeline.
- Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) oversight. Approved providers operate under the Commission's quality framework. Sponsorship monitoring and ACQSC compliance interact — issues with workforce capacity, training, or worker welfare can surface in both.
- Cost recovery prohibition (Regulation 2.87). Cannot recover the SAF levy, SBS fee, nomination fee, or sponsorship-related migration agent fees from the worker. Aged care has been a focus area for sponsorship monitoring — providers are expected to demonstrate compliance.
- AHPRA registration timing. For RN and EN roles, the worker must be AHPRA-registered before commencing practice. This step takes 3–6 months and runs in parallel with the visa lodgement. The visa can be granted before AHPRA registration is complete but the worker cannot work until both are in place.
Indicative costs and timing
Government charges vary by visa subclass, business size, and nomination length. For typical aged care 482 sponsorship (Core Skills, 2-year nomination, business turnover over $10m):
- SBS application: $420 (one-off, valid 5 years)
- Nomination: $330
- SAF levy: $1,800 × 2 years = $3,600 (other business) or $1,200 × 2 = $2,400 (small business)
- Visa application charge (482 Core Skills): $3,035 (paid by worker)
- Professional fees: $5,000–$12,000 indicative for full SBS + nomination + visa support
Run the cost calculator for your specific scenario, or request a written fee quote below.
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Frequently asked questions
Which aged care occupations can be sponsored under the 482 visa?
The most commonly sponsored aged care occupations are Aged or Disabled Carer (ANZSCO 423111), Nursing Support Worker (ANZSCO 423314), Personal Care Assistant (also under 423111), and Registered Nurse (Aged Care) (ANZSCO 254418). The Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement (ACILA), introduced in 2023, expanded sponsorship eligibility for the personal care worker stream — confirm the specific occupation is on the current Core Skills List or covered under ACILA before lodging.
What is the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement (ACILA)?
ACILA is an industry-wide labour agreement administered by the Department of Home Affairs in cooperation with the aged care sector. It allows approved aged care providers to sponsor personal care workers and nursing support workers under a streamlined arrangement with concessions on English, age, and salary that don't apply to standard 482 nominations. ACILA approval is at the provider level — your business must be endorsed under the agreement before nominating workers under it. The Department reviews provider standing, compliance posture, and capacity.
What qualifications does a personal care worker need to be sponsored?
The Department typically expects evidence the worker has a Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) or equivalent overseas qualification, plus relevant work experience. Some pathways under ACILA accept on-the-job training in lieu of formal qualification at lodgement, with a commitment to obtain the Certificate III within a set period. Police checks and NDIS Worker Screening (where applicable) are independent regulatory requirements not directly part of the visa application but practically necessary for the worker to start work.
What's the minimum salary for an aged care worker sponsored under the 482?
The worker's salary must meet (a) the TSMIT — Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold — which is set in regulation and adjusted periodically, and (b) the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) for the specific role in the specific region. The AMSR is determined by reference to what a comparable Australian worker would be paid. Under-paying is a sponsorship breach (Regulation 2.87) and also a Fair Work Act issue under aged care industry awards. Confirm current TSMIT on homeaffairs.gov.au and the relevant award rate on fairwork.gov.au.
Can my aged care facility recover the SAF levy or other sponsorship costs from the worker?
No. Migration Regulation 2.87 prohibits a sponsor from recovering the SAF levy, the SBS application fee, the nomination application fee, and migration agent fees relating to sponsorship and nomination from the worker. Aged care is a heavily monitored sector for sponsorship compliance — the Department refers suspected breaches to monitoring. Breach can result in sponsorship cancellation, monetary penalties, and bars on future sponsorship.
How long does sponsorship take for an aged care worker?
Indicative timing: SBS approval 1–4 months (faster if already approved), ACILA endorsement assessment 4–8 weeks if not yet endorsed, 482 nomination 1–3 months, 482 visa application 2–6 months. End-to-end for a worker not yet in Australia, expect 6–12 months. For ACILA-endorsed providers nominating personal care workers already in Australia on another visa, the timeline can be significantly shorter.
What about Registered Nurses for aged care — different rules?
Yes. Registered Nurse (Aged Care) (ANZSCO 254418) is a regulated occupation requiring AHPRA registration. The worker must be (or become) registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) before they can practise. Skills assessment is by ANMAC (Australian Nursing & Midwifery Accreditation Council). English requirements are higher than for personal care workers — typically IELTS 7.0 / OET B with specific band requirements. The 482 nomination is straightforward once AHPRA registration and ANMAC assessment are in place, but those two regulatory steps add 3–6 months.
Do aged care providers need to do Labour Market Testing (LMT)?
Yes, in most cases. Standard 482 nominations require LMT unless the position is in an exempt class. Aged care occupations are generally not exempt — you must advertise the role through two prescribed channels for at least 28 days before lodging the nomination. ACILA-endorsed providers may have LMT concessions for specific occupations under the agreement. Confirm the applicable rules for your specific nomination before relying on any exemption.
Can a regional aged care facility access additional pathways?
Yes. Regional aged care providers can access (a) the 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa, which has a more generous occupation list than standard 482, (b) state-nominated visas under regional schemes, and (c) Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs) which are in place for several regions. Each pathway has different terms — regional sponsorship can be the right answer for facilities outside major capitals.
Related
- Sponsor a worker — full service (SBS, nomination, visa application)
- Sponsorship cost calculator
- How to find the right worker to sponsor
- Sponsor healthcare workers
- RPL for aged care workers — for workers who need an Australian qualification
General information only. This page describes the typical aged care sponsorship landscape. It does not constitute migration advice (s 23). Migration advice is provided by Keshab Chapagain (MARN 1576536) only after a paid initial consultation under section 43 of the Migration Agents Code of Conduct 2022, with a written service agreement issued before further work commences (section 42). The OMARA Consumer Guide is provided to all clients before the consultation begins.
Sponsorship cost recovery prohibition. Under Migration Regulation 2.87, sponsors cannot recover the SAF levy, SBS application fee, nomination application fee, or migration agent fees relating to sponsorship and nomination from the worker.
Outcomes cannot be guaranteed by any registered migration agent (s 15). Fees are fair and reasonable, quoted in writing after initial review (s 46). PI insurance held under Migration Agents Regulations 1998. Complaints via our Complaints Policy or OMARA.