Moving to Australia
Moving to Australia to teach
For UK, Irish, New Zealand, South African, Canadian, American and Indian teachers: AITSL skills assessment, visas, state registration and what you'll earn.
Australia actively recruits teachers from overseas, and pay is a big draw: government school teachers earn up to about $137,000 at the top of the classroom scale, plus 12% or more in super. But the route has several separate steps, and the order matters.
If you need a skilled visa, you'll usually start with an AITSL skills assessment, which checks your qualification and English (IELTS Academic with at least 7 in reading and writing and 8 in speaking and listening). Separately, each state's teacher regulator assesses you for registration, and employers decide which pay step your experience earns.
Start with the guide for your country, then use the UK to Australia pay converter or the move planner for your personal route.
Registration for overseas teachers by state
Guides
Skills assessment
AITSL skills assessment for teachers: fee, English scores, documents and timing (2026)
What AITSL checks, what it costs from 7 September 2026, the English scores you need and the documents that trip people up.
Read the guide →UK teachers
Moving to Australia as a UK teacher: qualifications, visas, registration and pay
How a PGCE, BEd or PGDE is assessed, which visa UK teachers use, how your years of service set your salary step, and what you'll earn.
Read the guide →Visas
Teacher visas for Australia: which visa fits you in 2026
The visa routes overseas teachers actually use, what each one needs, and the checks to make before you pay a cent.
Read the guide →Canadian teachers
Canadian teachers moving to Australia: B.Ed recognition, visas, registration and pay
How Canadian degrees and B.Eds are assessed, the visa routes Canadians use, registration and how your service sets your Australian pay.
Read the guide →English requirements
IELTS for teachers moving to Australia: the scores, the exemptions and how to pass
Exactly which IELTS scores AITSL and each teacher regulator want, who is exempt, which tests count and how to plan your sitting.
Read the guide →Irish teachers
Irish teachers moving to Australia: qualifications, visas, registration and pay
How Irish BEd and PME qualifications are assessed, the visas Irish teachers use, registration, and what you'll earn from October 2026.
Read the guide →NZ teachers
New Zealand teachers working in Australia: mutual recognition, visas and pay
How NZ-registered teachers get Australian registration under the TTMRA, what it costs, and how your NZ service affects your starting salary.
Read the guide →Registration
Overseas-trained teacher registration in every Australian state (2026)
The eight teacher regulators compared for overseas-trained teachers: qualification rules, English, fees, police checks and timing.
Read the guide →South African teachers
South African teachers moving to Australia: IELTS, AITSL, visas and pay
Why South African teachers usually need IELTS, how BEd, PGCE and older diplomas are assessed, the visa routes and what you'll earn.
Read the guide →US teachers
Teaching in Australia as an American: what counts, which visa, and what you'll earn
How US teacher preparation and student teaching are assessed, why your state licence isn't enough, visa routes and Australian pay.
Read the guide →Indian teachers
Teaching jobs in Australia for Indian teachers: B.Ed recognition, IELTS, visas and pay
How Indian degrees and B.Eds are assessed, the IELTS profile you need, visa routes, registration and what teaching jobs pay.
Read the guide →Choosing a state
The best state to teach in Australia in 2026: pay, incentives and how your experience counts
All eight states and territories compared for incoming teachers: pay now and next, take-home, incentives and how prior experience is credited.
Read the guide →Pay comparison
UK vs Australia teacher pay in 2026: scale by scale, step by step
England's STRB 2026 scale set beside Australian state scales, with take-home pay, super and the traps in currency conversion.
Read the guide →