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Australia PR for Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages
Quick facts
Yes — Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages can lead to Australian permanent residency. The occupation is ANZSCO 249311 and sits on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL), so your Australia PR pathway is: Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) or Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491 – state nominated) — subclass 189 is not available for this occupation.
This guide covers what a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages actually needs to plan an Australia PR application (also written as Aus PR, or an Australian permanent residency visa): the requirements, the documents, the real cost, the step-by-step process, what points have genuinely been invited for occupations like yours, and how a registered MARA agent can help. Plain English throughout, with the official sources named so you can check them.
What Does a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages Do, According to ANZSCO?
Under Australia’s skilled occupation classification (ANZSCO), a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages is generally responsible for teaching English to students whose first language is not English — in ELICOS colleges, adult migrant programs, schools and private settings. The skills most in demand for this role include TESOL methodology, language assessment, curriculum planning and teaching multilingual classes.
This matters more than most applicants expect. Assessors compare your actual duties against the official ANZSCO description, not your job title. Two people with the same business card can get different outcomes because one does work that matches 249311 and the other does not.
Is Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages on Australia’s Skilled Occupation List?
Yes. Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages (ANZSCO 249311) is on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List. The list decides which Australia PR visa subclasses you can access — for Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages, that means: Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) or Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491 – state nominated) — subclass 189 is not available for this occupation.
Lists are reviewed periodically and occupations do move between them, which changes visa access. Confirm the current placement before paying for a skills assessment.
Get your Australia PR eligibility assessedAustralia PR Visa Options for a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages
| Visa subclass | Eligible? | What it requires |
|---|---|---|
| Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) | No | Points-tested; no sponsorship or nomination |
| Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated) | Yes | State or territory nomination, worth extra points |
| Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional) | Yes | State or territory nomination only (family sponsorship is limited to MLTSSL occupations), plus regional living and working |
| Subclass 191 (Permanent Residence – Regional) | Yes, after 491 | Held a 491 three years, met its conditions and the income requirement |
No. Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages sits on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL), which is not eligible for the subclass 189 visa. You’ll need to rely on state/territory nomination or a regional pathway instead. Yes. Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages is eligible for the subclass 190 visa with state or territory nomination, which is the main general skilled migration PR route available for this occupation. Yes. Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages is also eligible for the subclass 491 regional visa with state or territory nomination, requiring a period of regional living and work before it can lead to permanent residence.
Australia PR Requirements for a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages
Check every one of these before spending money. Missing one makes the rest pointless.
- Occupation on the right list — Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages is on the STSOL.
- A positive skills assessment from VETASSESS, still valid when you are invited.
- Under 45 at the time of invitation.
- At least Competent English, with higher bands earning more points.
- A competitive points score for your occupation’s queue, not just the legislative minimum.
- An invitation — you cannot lodge a points-tested visa without one.
- Health checks for you and every family member included, whether or not they travel.
- Police clearances from every country you lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16.
- Full disclosure of any previous visa refusal or cancellation anywhere in the world.
Skills Assessment for Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages: Who Assesses It
For Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages, the assessing authority is VETASSESS. You will generally need a degree plus a recognised TESOL qualification, plus evidence of relevant skilled employment where required. VETASSESS assesses both the qualification and the employment: a qualification in a field highly relevant to the occupation, plus recent paid employment that matches the ANZSCO tasks. Note this code goes to VETASSESS, not AITSL, because it is classified outside school teaching.
This is usually the first real expense and the first place applications fail. A negative outcome costs the fee, several months, and sometimes the chance to nominate that occupation again without new evidence.
How Long Your Skills Assessment Stays Valid
Almost no guide covers this, and it quietly causes refusals. Your skills assessment does not last forever, and it must still be valid on the date you are invited — not the date you lodge your EOI.
The rules work like this:
- If your assessment letter shows no validity period, it is generally treated as valid for three years from the date of issue.
- If it shows a period shorter than three years, that shorter period is what counts.
- If it shows a period longer than three years, three years is still the cap for skilled migration.
Authorities genuinely differ — some print two years on the outcome letter, some three, some nothing at all. Read your own letter from VETASSESS rather than assuming the three-year default applies to you.
One more trap: a skills assessment obtained for a Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa is not accepted for points-tested skilled migration. You need a full migration skills assessment, which is a different product from the same authority.
The practical consequence is about sequencing. If you get assessed very early and then spend two years building points, your assessment can expire before your invitation arrives — and you pay for a second one.
Get your Australia PR eligibility assessedHow Many Points Does a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages Actually Need?
Most points advice online is written for the subclass 189, and it does not apply to you. Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages is on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List, so the federal 189 invitation rounds — and the cut-off scores published after them — are not your pathway. Your route is state or territory nomination for the 190 or the 491.
The legal floor is still 65 points, and nomination counts towards it: 5 points for a 190 nomination and 15 for a 491. Beyond that floor there is no published national cut-off for nominated visas. Each state and territory decides whom to nominate against its own criteria — its occupation list, a minimum score of its own where it sets one, residence in the state, local work experience, a job offer, or a ranking system of its own.
That changes what matters. A higher score still helps where a state ranks candidates by points, but meeting a state’s specific criteria often decides the outcome more than five extra points do. Several states also publish which occupations and scores they have recently nominated, which is a far better benchmark for you than any 189 figure.
The practical question for a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages is therefore “which states are nominating my occupation now, and what do they require” — not “what did the last 189 round need”.
State criteria and allocations change every program year and sometimes mid-year, so check each state’s current settings directly before relying on them.
Date of Effect and Your EOI: What Still Matters for a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages
You may read that the date of effect — the moment your EOI reached its current score — decides who gets invited first. That is true in the federal invitation rounds, where it breaks ties at the cut-off score. But those rounds cover the subclass 189 and the 491 Family Sponsored stream, and as a Short-term Skilled Occupation List occupation Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages cannot use either.
State nomination works differently. Each state or territory selects nominees on its own criteria, and some state plainly that the date you lodge or update your EOI does not affect your chances. So there is no reason to delay genuine improvements to protect a queue position, and no advantage in lodging an EOI before your claims are real.
What does matter is accuracy. Whatever you claim in your EOI must be provable on the day you are invited, and once a state invites you, the score in the invitation is the score your visa application must evidence. Over-claiming to look competitive — experience you cannot document, an English result you have not yet sat — is a fast route to refusal.
Two practical facts still apply: an EOI stays in SkillSelect for two years from submission before it is archived, and you should update it promptly when something genuinely changes — a new English result, more experience, a new skills assessment — so states see your current position.
Get your Australia PR eligibility assessedOccupation Ceilings and State Allocations for a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages
You may read that occupation ceilings can shut an occupation out for the year. They apply only to the subclass 189 and the 491 Family Sponsored stream — Home Affairs states that ceilings do not apply to state- and territory-nominated visas. No federal ceiling limits the nominated route that Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages relies on.
The limit you face instead is each state’s nomination allocation: a fixed number of 190 and 491 places for the program year, sometimes with internal quotas per occupation. When a state uses its allocation it closes or tightens its program until the next year, and that can happen well before June. Being ready to apply early in the program year matters for exactly this reason.
Which State Should a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages Target?
Without access to the 189, a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages depends entirely on state or territory nomination, so the state you apply to matters more than your score — each runs its own program, with its own occupation list, criteria and allocation of places.
Some structural differences worth knowing before you choose:
- Not every state offers both visas. Some run a 190 program but not a 491, so the regional route is not available everywhere.
- Occupation lists differ sharply. New South Wales and Victoria run the largest programs but the tightest lists; smaller states and territories are often more accessible for occupations that are crowded federally.
- Criteria beyond the points test are common — a commitment to live in the state, a minimum score of the state’s own, evidence of a job offer, local work experience, or a study or family connection.
- Nomination fees vary, and several states and territories have charged nothing at all.
- Allocations are set per program year, so a state that was open in one year can be far more selective the next.
One nuance that catches people out: the commitment to live in your nominating state for a period after a subclass 190 grant is an undertaking you give the state, not an enforceable condition on the visa itself. Breaking it does not cancel your PR, but it is on record with that state and can affect later dealings — including a relative’s nomination.
Because state lists for Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages change between rounds, check each state’s current list directly rather than relying on a summary.
Get your Australia PR eligibility assessedAustralia PR Process for a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages: Step by Step
- Confirm your ANZSCO match against the official description for 249311.
- Get your skills assessment from VETASSESS — and note its expiry date immediately.
- Sit an English test and aim for the highest band you can reach.
- Work out your real score and compare it to recent cut-offs for your occupation.
- Lodge your EOI as soon as your points are provable, to protect your date of effect.
- Apply for state nomination if targeting the 190 or 491.
- Wait for an invitation, ranked by score then date of effect.
- Lodge within 60 days with complete documents.
- Complete health and police checks for everyone on the application.
- Respond promptly to any case officer request, then receive your decision.
Documents Required for Australia PR as a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages
Build the file before you are invited — 60 days is tight once health checks and police clearances are in the queue.
Identity: current and previous passports, birth certificate, national ID, any name-change evidence, marriage or relationship documents, and recent photographs.
Skills and qualifications: your VETASSESS outcome letter, degree or trade certificates with transcripts, and professional registration or licence documents where your occupation needs them.
Employment: detailed reference letters on company letterhead for every period you claim points for, contracts and promotion letters, payslips, bank statements showing salary, tax records, and superannuation or provident fund records.
English: your test result within its validity period, plus functional English evidence for your partner or payment of the second instalment charge.
Health and character: medicals through an approved panel physician for every applicant, and police clearances from each qualifying country.
Every non-English document needs an accredited translation, and certified copies must be certified by someone authorised in your country. An uncertified scan is commonly rejected.
Get your Australia PR eligibility assessedGetting Your Employment Reference Letters Right
Weak employment evidence is the most common reason a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages assessment comes back negative or with years deducted — and it is almost entirely preventable. The assessor is checking whether your duties match ANZSCO 249311. A letter confirming only your title and dates does not let them do that.
A strong letter is on company letterhead and states your exact title, employment dates, full-time or part-time status with hours per week, your salary, and a detailed list of the duties you personally performed, in language that maps onto the official ANZSCO task list. It should be signed and dated by someone senior with their position and direct contact details.
If an employer no longer exists or refuses, a statutory declaration from a colleague backed by payment records is a recognised fallback — weaker, so use it only where you must. Gather this while you still have good relationships with former managers.
Australia PR Cost for a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages
The visa application charge is the biggest single cost but far from the only one. Charges are indexed on 1 July each year. As at the 1 July 2026 schedule:
| Visa subclass | Primary applicant | Additional adult | Additional child |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subclass 190 | AUD 6,140 | AUD 3,070 | AUD 1,535 |
| Subclass 491 | AUD 6,140 | AUD 3,070 | AUD 1,535 |
| Subclass 191 | AUD 630 | – | – |
Confirm the current figures before budgeting. A couple with two children pays the primary charge plus one adult and two child charges, which adds up quickly.
Also budget for:
- Skills assessment fee to VETASSESS, plus any appeal or reassessment
- English test fees, multiplied by the attempts you need
- State nomination fee where one applies
- Health examinations and police clearances — per person, per country
- Translations, certified copies and transcripts
- Professional registration or licensing, including exams and bridging where required
- Migration advice, and settlement funds for flights, accommodation and living costs
A realistic plan treats the visa charge as roughly half the total cost of getting to Australia.
Get your Australia PR eligibility assessedWorking as a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages in Australia: Licensing and Registration
A skills assessment is not a licence to work. For some occupations the gap between the two is months of extra process.
Teaching in ELICOS colleges that enrol international students must meet the ELICOS Standards, which set minimum teacher qualifications — generally a degree plus a recognised TESOL qualification. Teaching English in schools requires teacher registration, and a Working With Children Check is mandatory in every state and territory for work with children.
Research the licensing pathway at the same time as the visa pathway, not after you arrive.
English Requirements for Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages Applicants
English does two jobs: it sets a minimum eligibility threshold and it contributes points. Accepted tests include IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1 Advanced and, for some health occupations, OET.
Results group into Competent, Proficient and Superior bands. Moving up one band is often the single most achievable way to lift your score, especially when age and experience points are already fixed.
Watch the trap: your assessing authority and your registration body may each set their own English requirement, and for regulated health and education occupations the registration standard is often higher than the visa standard. Check all three before booking, so one sitting can satisfy as many as possible.
Get your Australia PR eligibility assessedTeacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages vs Related ANZSCO Codes
Nominating the wrong code is one of the costliest mistakes available — a negative assessment, a lost fee and months gone. Know your neighbours before you commit.
Secondary School Teacher (241411) is MLTSSL and Primary School Teacher (241213) is STSOL — registered school teachers usually have a stronger pathway through those codes. Vocational Education Teacher (242211) is ROL.
Your documented evidence decides it. Assessors read your reference letters against the official task list; if they describe duties under a different code, that is the code to nominate.
Regional Pathways: How the 491 Leads to PR
The subclass 491 is provisional, typically five years, requiring you to live, work and study in a designated regional area. For Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages it matters because regional nomination is often less competitive and carries more points than state nomination.
Permanent residence then comes through the subclass 191: hold the 491 at least three years, comply with its conditions, and meet a minimum taxable income requirement. The threshold is indexed, so check the current figure.
Designated regional Australia is defined by postcode and is broader than most expect — it includes Adelaide, Perth, the Gold Coast, Newcastle, Wollongong, Geelong, Canberra and Hobart, not only small towns.
Get your Australia PR eligibility assessedBringing Your Family
You can include your spouse or de facto partner and dependent children in the same application, and they get the same status you do — permanent residence from the same date on the 190, or the same provisional 491 and then permanent residence together through the 191.
Everyone included needs health and character clearance, which is a frequent cause of delay, and each adds to the visa charge at the rates above.
Plan two things early: your partner’s skills and English may add points, so check whether a partner skills assessment is worth it before lodging; and if a child is approaching 18, their dependency status can change mid-process.
Benefits of Australian Permanent Residency
As a permanent resident, a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages can:
- Live and work anywhere in Australia indefinitely, in any job — you are not tied to working as a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages
- Enrol in Medicare
- Study as a domestic student in most cases, at far lower fees
- Sponsor eligible family members
- Apply for citizenship once you meet the residence requirements
- Buy property without the surcharges applying to foreign buyers in several states
- Travel in and out freely while the travel facility is valid
Two things surprise new residents: the travel facility generally lasts five years from grant, after which you need a Resident Return Visa to re-enter as a permanent resident; and PR is not citizenship, which generally needs four years’ lawful residence including twelve months as a permanent resident.
Get your Australia PR eligibility assessedWhy Australia PR Applications Get Refused
Most refusals are not bad luck. They cluster around a short list of avoidable problems Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages applicants hit repeatedly:
- ANZSCO mismatch — nominating 249311 when your documented duties sit elsewhere.
- Unevidenced points claims — claiming experience you cannot document. Treated seriously, with consequences beyond refusal.
- An expired skills assessment or English test at the date of invitation.
- Missing the 60-day window after an invitation.
- Undisclosed history — previous refusals anywhere in the world must be declared.
- Incomplete police clearances — forgetting a country you lived in years ago.
- Untranslated or improperly certified documents.
If you have already been refused, review rights have strict deadlines — act quickly rather than lodging again blindly.
How GIEC Global Can Help You Get Australia PR
GIEC Global has worked in education and migration since 2015, with offices across Australia including Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Darwin, Gold Coast and Hobart, alongside our India operations. Our Australian migration work is led by registered migration agent Suman Prem, MARN 2418548 — verify that number yourself on the OMARA register before engaging any Australia PR consultant, including us.
For a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages, the practical help usually looks like this:
- ANZSCO review — whether your duties support 249311, or whether a neighbouring code gives better access, before you pay for an assessment.
- An honest points read — your real score against recent cut-offs for your occupation, and which factors you can still move.
- Skills assessment preparation — structuring evidence for VETASSESS so reference letters map onto the official task list.
- Timing strategy — protecting your date of effect and sequencing your assessment so it does not expire before invitation.
- State nomination — matching you to states currently nominating your occupation and meeting their separate criteria.
- Full lodgement — a complete application inside the 60-day window.
- Refusals and reviews — what went wrong and whether review rights remain.
What we will not do is promise an outcome — no registered agent lawfully can. What we can do is make sure the application is accurate, properly evidenced and lodged on the strongest pathway available, and tell you honestly if the numbers do not work yet.
Get your Australia PR eligibility assessedAlternative Pathways If Points-Tested Migration Does Not Work
If your score is not competitive, or your occupation’s list placement limits you, a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages still has options:
- Employer-sponsored temporary work visas, often with a later transition to permanent residence
- Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) — permanent, employer-sponsored
- Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (subclass 494) — regional sponsorship with concessions
- Study in Australia first — adds points, improves English, builds local experience
- Global Talent pathways for an internationally recognised record
- Partner visas, entirely separate from your occupation
Each has its own requirements, costs and risks. The right choice depends on your age, qualifications, English, family and timeline.
Related Australia PR Guides
If you are weighing up more than one occupation, or a family member is considering a different pathway, these Australia PR guides cover the occupations most often compared with Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages:
- Australia PR for Private Tutors and Teachers (NEC)
- Australia PR for Translator
- Australia PR for School Principal
- Australia PR for Dance Teacher (Private Tuition)
- Australia PR for Teacher of the Hearing Impaired
- Australia PR for early childhood educators
- Australia PR for university lecturers
You can also browse every occupation guide and have your eligibility checked by a registered MARA agent at GIEC Global.
Get your Australia PR eligibility assessedFrequently Asked Questions
Is Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages eligible for Australia PR?
Yes — Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages is included on Australia's skilled occupation list under ANZSCO code 249311 (Short-term Skilled Occupation List), which means it can be used to apply for a skilled migration visa, subject to meeting the points test, a positive skills assessment, and other visa requirements.
Which ANZSCO code applies to Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages?
Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages is classified under ANZSCO code 249311. Your skills assessment and visa application will be assessed against the official duties and tasks listed for this unit group, not just your job title, so it's worth checking your actual role matches before applying.
Can Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages apply for the subclass 189 visa?
No. Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages sits on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL), which is not eligible for the subclass 189 visa. You'll need to rely on state/territory nomination or a regional pathway instead.
Can Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages apply for the subclass 190 visa?
Yes. Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages is eligible for the subclass 190 visa with state or territory nomination, which is the main general skilled migration PR route available for this occupation.
Can Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages apply for the subclass 491 visa?
Yes. Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages is also eligible for the subclass 491 regional visa with state or territory nomination, requiring a period of regional living and work before it can lead to permanent residence.
Who assesses the skills of a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages for Australian migration?
VETASSESS is the relevant skills assessing authority for this occupation. You'll need a positive skills assessment from VETASSESS before you can be invited to apply for most skilled visas.
What does a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages skills assessment check?
A skills assessment generally checks that your qualification is comparable to an Australian equivalent and, in many cases, that you have enough relevant skilled employment. VETASSESS assesses both the qualification and the employment: a qualification in a field highly relevant to the occupation, plus recent paid employment that matches the ANZSCO tasks. Note this code goes to VETASSESS, not AITSL, because it is classified outside school teaching.
How many points do I need to apply for PR as a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages?
There's no fixed points total guaranteed to succeed — the points test score needed changes with each SkillSelect invitation round. It's best to check the current points test settings on the Department of Home Affairs website and aim to maximise your score across age, English ability, skilled employment, education and other factors.
Do I need a job offer to apply as a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages?
Not necessarily. The subclass 189 visa (where available) doesn't require a job offer or sponsorship, while the subclass 190 and 491 visas require nomination by a state/territory government instead of an employer. A job offer can still help your case for state nomination or through separate employer-sponsored visa options.
How long does the Australia PR process take for a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages?
Processing times vary depending on the visa subclass, your state of application, and current department workloads. Rather than relying on a fixed number, check the Department of Home Affairs' current visa processing times page before planning around a specific timeframe.
What documents do I need for a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages PR application?
You'll typically need your educational qualifications, proof of relevant work experience (payslips, reference letters, tax records), English test results, identity documents, and your skills assessment outcome. Exact requirements vary by visa subclass, so always check the official checklist for the visa you're applying for.
Does my English test score affect my Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages application?
Yes. Your English language test result (IELTS, PTE, TOEFL or an accepted equivalent) contributes points to your points test score, and a minimum level is required just to be eligible to apply for most skilled visas.
Can my spouse or partner include their skills if I apply as a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages?
In some cases, a partner's skills, qualifications or English ability can add points to a combined application, depending on the visa subclass and current rules. This is worth discussing with a registered migration agent given how often these settings change.
What's the difference between the 189, 190 and 491 visas for a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages?
The subclass 189 is a points-tested visa that doesn't need state or employer sponsorship (only available if the occupation is on the MLTSSL). The subclass 190 requires nomination by a state or territory government. The subclass 491 is a regional visa, usually also state/territory nominated, that requires living and working in a designated regional area for a set period before it can lead to permanent residence.
Which state or territory is more likely to nominate a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages?
This changes regularly based on each state and territory's skilled occupation lists and current workforce needs. Check the individual state nomination pages on their immigration websites, as some may prioritise this occupation over others at different times.
Do I need work experience to qualify as a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages for Australia PR?
Requirements vary by assessing authority and visa subclass. VETASSESS may require a minimum period of relevant skilled employment in addition to your qualification — check their specific guidelines for Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages before applying.
Can I apply for Australia PR as a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages from outside Australia?
Yes, most skilled visa pathways, including the subclass 189, 190 and 491, can be applied for from outside Australia, as long as you meet the skills assessment, points test and other eligibility requirements.
What happens after I get a positive skills assessment as a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages?
Once you have a positive skills assessment, you can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect. From there, you may receive an invitation to apply for a relevant visa subclass, depending on your points score and, where relevant, any state nomination you receive.
How much does Australia PR cost for a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages?
As at the 1 July 2026 fee schedule, the primary applicant visa application charge was AUD 6,135 for the subclass 189 and AUD 6,140 for the subclass 190 and 491, with additional adult applicants charged around AUD 3,070 and children around AUD 1,535-1,540. On top of that you should budget for your skills assessment, English test, state nomination fee where one applies, health examinations, police clearances, document translations and any professional registration costs. Visa charges are indexed every 1 July, so confirm the current figure with the Department of Home Affairs before budgeting.
Do I need a MARA agent to apply for Australia PR as a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages?
No — you can lodge your own application. But if you do pay someone for immigration assistance in Australia, the law requires them to be either a registered migration agent with a MARN listed on the OMARA public register, or an Australian legal practitioner with a current practising certificate. Using an unregistered Australia PR consultant carries real risk, because they are not bound by the Code of Conduct and you have limited recourse if something goes wrong.
How do I check whether an Australia PR consultant is a registered MARA agent?
Ask for the MARN of the individual who will actually handle your file, then search that number or name on the OMARA register of migration agents at mara.gov.au. Confirm the status reads Registered and that the name matches the person advising you, and check OMARA's published disciplinary decisions. Australian lawyers are the exception: they can provide immigration assistance without a MARN and do not appear on the register, so verify them through the relevant state law society instead.
Can a MARA agent guarantee my Australia PR visa will be approved?
No. No migration agent, lawyer or consultant can guarantee a visa outcome, and making that kind of guarantee breaches the Code of Conduct that registered agents work under. A good agent improves the accuracy, evidence and strategy behind your application; the decision still rests with the Department of Home Affairs.
Can a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages apply for Australia PR from India?
Yes. The subclass 189, 190 and 491 can all be applied for from outside Australia, and India is consistently one of the largest source countries for Australian skilled migration. The requirements are the same wherever you apply from: a positive skills assessment, an English test result, a competitive points score and an invitation. Allow extra time for document collection, police clearances and translations when applying from overseas.
Is Aus PR the same as Australia PR?
Yes. Aus PR is simply shorthand for Australia PR — an Australian permanent residency visa. You will see the terms used interchangeably by applicants, forums and Australia PR consultants. The formal names are the visa subclasses themselves, such as the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491).
Is Australia PR the same as Australian citizenship?
No. Permanent residence lets you live and work in Australia indefinitely and access Medicare, but it is not citizenship — you cannot hold an Australian passport or vote in federal elections. Your PR visa also carries a travel facility that generally lasts five years, after which you need a Resident Return Visa to re-enter as a permanent resident. Citizenship generally requires four years of lawful residence including at least twelve months as a permanent resident, plus a citizenship test.
What points score do I need as a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages?
At least 65, including your nomination points — 5 for a 190 and 15 for a 491. Because Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages cannot use the subclass 189, the federal round cut-offs do not apply to you. Each state or territory nominates against its own criteria and, where it ranks candidates by score, its own threshold, so check the current settings of the states that list Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages.
Does the date of effect matter for a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages?
Much less than for MLTSSL occupations. The date of effect is the tie-break in the federal 189 and 491 Family Sponsored rounds, which Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages cannot use. States select nominees on their own criteria, and some say the date you lodge or update your EOI does not affect your chances. What matters is that every claim in your EOI is accurate and provable on the day you are invited.
Do occupation ceilings affect a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages?
No. Home Affairs applies occupation ceilings only to the subclass 189 and the 491 Family Sponsored stream, not to state- or territory-nominated visas. The limit you face instead is each state's nomination allocation for the program year, which can run out before June.
Does updating my EOI hurt my position?
It depends what you change. Increasing your points claim, changing your nominated occupation or adding new skills assessment details resets your date of effect. Correcting a typo, updating contact details or adding a renewed passport does not. Gaining points usually outweighs losing queue position, but pointless edits can cost you.
How long does a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages skills assessment stay valid?
If your assessment shows no validity period it is generally treated as valid for three years from issue. If it shows a shorter period, that shorter period applies. If it shows longer than three years, three years is the cap for skilled migration. Your assessment must still be valid at the date of invitation, so an assessment obtained too early can expire before you are invited.
Can I use a subclass 485 skills assessment for PR?
No. A skills assessment obtained for a Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa is not accepted for points-tested skilled migration. You need a full skills assessment for migration purposes from the authority that covers Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages.
