Resources · International teachers
Indian teachers can get teaching jobs in Australia with visa sponsorship, but four things have to line up first: a qualification the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) accepts as equivalent, IELTS Academic at 8 in speaking and listening and 7 in reading and writing, a Police Clearance Certificate from India, and a school willing to sponsor you, usually on a 482 visa.
Each Australian state registers its own teachers. This guide covers Victoria, where we place teachers in government, Catholic and independent schools. Everything below was checked against VIT and the Department of Home Affairs on 20 October 2026.
How to become a teacher in Australia from India: the requirements
| Requirement | What it means for an Indian-trained teacher |
|---|---|
| Qualification pre-assessment | Everyone who trained outside Australia must have VIT pre-assess their qualification before applying for registration. |
| Four years of higher education | VIT asks for four years of full-time (or equivalent) higher education, including an initial teacher education qualification of at least one year. VIT counts the total, so a bachelor’s degree followed by a B.Ed can meet it. |
| 45 days of supervised teaching practice | In real primary or secondary school classes, supervised by a qualified teacher and assessed by your university. |
| English test | Required. Teacher education completed in India is not on VIT’s exempt list, even if you studied in English. |
| Translations | Documents already in English need no translation. Anything in another language needs a NAATI-certified translation. |
| Police checks | A Police Clearance Certificate from India if, as an adult, you lived there for 12 consecutive months in the last 10 years, plus Australia’s national criminal history check through VIT. |
| Visa | Usually the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482), sponsored by your employer. |
Is a B.Ed valid in Australia?
VIT does not accept or reject a degree by its name. It pre-assesses each qualification against five tests: it is recognised for entry to teaching in India; it includes at least one year of initial teacher education, including pedagogy; it includes at least 45 days of supervised teaching practice; it prepares you to teach the curriculum in a primary or secondary school; and you have completed at least four years of higher education in total. A B.Ed that came after a three-year BA, BSc or BCom is assessed together with that first degree, so send transcripts and completion evidence for both.
Your teaching practice must be documented
VIT needs a transcript or an official letter from your university confirming the number of practice days (at least 45), the type of school, the age range of the students, and that a qualified teacher supervised you. VIT does not count practice with fellow students or university staff, so micro-teaching sessions do not add to the 45 days, and nor does teaching you did as a paid or volunteer teacher outside your B.Ed. Ask your college for the letter early.
Primary or secondary
For primary, most of your practice should have been in primary schools. For secondary, your teaching subject must sit within an Australian curriculum, such as a Years 7–10 subject or a VCE subject.
The English test: what score you need
VIT accepts two tests:
- IELTS Academic: Speaking 8.0, Listening 8.0, Reading 7.0, Writing 7.0, with every band meeting its score. It must be sat at a test centre; IELTS Online is not accepted. A One Skill Retake counts if booked within 60 days of the original test and taken on computer.
- ISLPR (teacher registration module): Level 4 in all four skills.
Results are valid for three years. PTE and TOEFL are not on VIT’s list. For the 482 visa, Home Affairs sets a much lower bar (IELTS 5.0 in each band, test taken within three years), and exempts you from the visa test altogether if you completed at least five years of full-time study at secondary level or above mostly in English, or if your registration required you to prove equal or higher English.
Police Clearance Certificate from India
Home Affairs lists the Police Clearance Certificate as the accepted check for India, and VIT accepts only checks listed by Home Affairs or run by AIS International. Indian citizens living in India apply online or in person through Passport Seva and attend their Regional Passport Office at the appointment given. If you are already in Australia, you apply through VFS Global; in another country, at the nearest Indian mission. Non-citizens resident in India apply to their state’s Foreigners Registration Office or through the e-FRRO portal. A fee applies. VIT also sets rules on when the certificate must be issued, so time it close to your registration application.
Teaching jobs in Australia for Indian teachers with visa sponsorship
The usual visa is the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482). A school or employer sponsors you for up to four years; Home Affairs asks for at least one year of relevant work experience; the visa costs from AUD 4,015 for the main applicant; family can be included; and it can lead to permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186). Home Affairs is currently prioritising teaching applications under Ministerial Direction 121. Teachers with less than a year of experience may fit the Training visa (subclass 407) instead. See 482 or 407 and teacher visa sponsorship in Australia.
You may also hear about the AITSL skills assessment. AITSL says it is for skilled migration only and is separate from registration; Home Affairs decides whether your visa needs one. See AITSL skills assessment for teachers.
Step by step: from India to a Victorian classroom
- Book IELTS Academic at a test centre. VIT warns that wait times for tests can be long, and you need the result for registration.
- Collect your documents: transcripts and completion certificates for every degree, and a university letter confirming your teaching practice days, school type, age range and supervision.
- Apply for VIT pre-assessment through a MyVIT account.
- Apply for roles and interview. See writing an Australian teacher resume and teacher interview questions in Victoria.
- Accept an offer and lodge the visa. The school nominates you and the 482 is lodged; we work with migration lawyers on this step.
- Get your Police Clearance Certificate and apply for VIT registration. With an offer from a Victorian school or teaching agency, you can apply from India up to three months before you arrive.
- Move. Book flights once the visa is granted. See moving to Victoria to teach and where to live.
What it costs
| Item | Cost | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| VIT pre-assessment of overseas qualifications | $292.84 | VIT |
| VIT initial registration (overseas qualifications) | $203.00 | VIT |
| National criminal history check | $77.40 | VIT |
| IELTS Academic or ISLPR | Set by the test provider | Test provider |
| Police Clearance Certificate | Fee applies | Passport Seva / Indian mission |
| NAATI translations, if any | Set by the translator | Translator |
| Skills in Demand visa (482), main applicant | From AUD 4,015 | Home Affairs |
| AITSL skills assessment, only if your visa needs one | AUD 1,198 | AITSL |
| TeachVic | $0 to teachers: schools pay our fee | — |
VIT fees are for 2026–27; full details are in How to register with VIT. Visa amounts are base application charges.
How long it takes
| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| IELTS booking and result | Depends on test dates near you; results stay valid for three years |
| VIT pre-assessment | VIT does not publish a turnaround, so start early |
| VIT registration | Four to six weeks once every document is in |
| AITSL skills assessment, if needed | Most complete within four weeks, some up to six, according to AITSL |
| Sponsored visa and placement | Most four-year contracts we arrange are approved by the Department, immigration and VIT within 60 days |
Common questions
Is a B.Ed valid in Australia?
It can be. VIT pre-assesses it with your earlier degree: together they need to add up to four years of higher education, include at least one year of teacher education and at least 45 days of supervised teaching practice in schools.
Do I need IELTS if I studied in English in India?
Yes, for VIT. The exemption depends on the country where you completed your teacher education, not the language of instruction, and India is not on the list.
What IELTS score do I need to teach in Victoria?
IELTS Academic with 8.0 in speaking and listening and 7.0 in reading and writing, each band on its own. ISLPR Level 4 in all four skills is the alternative.
Is PTE accepted for teacher registration?
Not by VIT, which accepts IELTS Academic and ISLPR. Home Affairs does accept PTE Academic for the 482 visa itself.
How do I get a police clearance certificate from India for Australia?
Through Passport Seva if you live in India, through VFS Global if you are in Australia, or through the nearest Indian mission elsewhere. VIT accepts the Police Clearance Certificate because Home Affairs lists it for India.
Can I get a teaching job in Australia with visa sponsorship from India?
Yes. Victorian schools sponsor overseas teachers, most often on the 482. We match you with a school, then manage VIT registration and the visa with migration lawyers.
Does TeachVic charge teachers?
No. Schools pay our fee; you pay nothing to us.
Ready to start?
We place teachers from India in contract and permanent roles across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. Also see our guides for teachers from the Philippines and South Africa. See how we support international teachers, browse current teaching jobs or ask us to call you.
Checked on 20 October 2026 against the Victorian Institute of Teaching (pre-assessment of overseas qualifications, qualifications and prerequisites, English language competency, interstate or overseas teachers, fees), the Department of Home Affairs (police checks by country, Skills in Demand visa, Core Skills stream, 482 English proficiency) and AITSL (fees, application FAQs). This is general information, not migration or legal advice.