Resources · International teachers
You can teach in Australia from South Africa with a teaching qualification that adds up to four years of higher education, but unlike UK-trained teachers you will need an English test: South Africa is not on the Victorian Institute of Teaching’s (VIT) exempt list. Add a SAPS Police Clearance Certificate and a sponsoring school, and you have the full picture.
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.
Teach in Australia from South Africa: the requirements
| Requirement | What it means for a South African-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 at least one year of initial teacher education. A four-year B.Ed, or a three-year degree followed by a one-year PGCE, adds up to four. |
| 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. South Africa is not on VIT’s exempt list (Australia, New Zealand, the UK, the US, Canada and the Republic of Ireland), even if you studied in English. |
| Police checks | A SAPS Police Clearance Certificate if, as an adult, you lived in South Africa 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. |
Do South African teachers need IELTS?
For VIT registration, yes. VIT requires an English test if any of your teacher education was completed outside Australia, New Zealand, the UK, the US, Canada or the Republic of Ireland. It accepts two:
- IELTS Academic: Speaking 8.0, Listening 8.0, Reading 7.0, Writing 7.0, each band on its own. It must be sat at a test centre; IELTS Online is not accepted.
- ISLPR (teacher registration module): Level 4 in all four skills.
Results are valid for three years. The 482 visa has a separate, lower English requirement. Home Affairs exempts you from that visa test 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. A South African passport alone does not exempt you.
Is SACE registration recognised in Australia?
SACE registration does not carry across. VIT’s mutual recognition only covers teachers already registered in another Australian state or territory, or in New Zealand. South African teachers go through the overseas route: VIT pre-assesses your qualification documents, then you apply for registration, usually starting with provisional registration. Keep your SACE certificate for your resume; it shows an employer you are registered at home.
Which qualifications pass pre-assessment
VIT tests each qualification against five points: it is recognised for entry to teaching in South Africa; 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 in a primary or secondary school; and you have at least four years of higher education in total. A four-year B.Ed is assessed on its own. A PGCE is assessed together with the degree before it, so send transcripts and completion evidence for both.
VIT also needs a transcript or an official letter from your university confirming the number of teaching practice days (at least 45), the type of school, the age range of the students and that a qualified teacher supervised you. Practice with fellow students or university staff does not count, and nor does teaching outside your qualification. For primary, most of your practice should be in primary schools; for secondary, your subject must sit within an Australian curriculum, such as a Years 7–10 or VCE subject. If you studied through distance learning, make sure your placement days are documented in the same way.
SAPS Police Clearance Certificate
Home Affairs lists the Police Clearance Certificate issued by the South African Police Service (SAPS) Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management division, and VIT accepts only checks listed by Home Affairs or run by AIS International. If you live in South Africa, have a full set of fingerprints taken on form SAPS 91(a) at a police station, then apply through your nearest police station, or by post, courier or in person directly to Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management, with your identity document and the application form (plus proof of payment if you use a courier). If you already live outside South Africa, apply at the nearest South African embassy. Non-citizens also need a passport copy and evidence of their immigration status. A fee applies. Time it close to your VIT application, because VIT sets rules on when the certificate must be issued.
Visa sponsorship for South African teachers
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; it 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). See 482 or 407 and teacher visa sponsorship in Australia. On the AITSL skills assessment, AITSL says it is for skilled migration only and Home Affairs decides whether you need one: see AITSL skills assessment for teachers.
Step by step: from South Africa to a Victorian classroom
- Book IELTS Academic at a test centre. VIT warns that wait times for tests can be long.
- Collect your documents: transcripts and completion certificates for every qualification, 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 SAPS clearance and apply for VIT registration. With an offer from a Victorian school or teaching agency, you can apply from South Africa 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 |
| SAPS Police Clearance Certificate | Fee applies | SAPS |
| 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; 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
Do South African teachers need IELTS to teach in Australia?
Yes, for registration in Victoria. South Africa is not one of the countries VIT exempts, so you need IELTS Academic at 8.0 speaking and listening and 7.0 reading and writing, or ISLPR Level 4.
Is SACE recognised in Australia?
Not as registration. VIT’s mutual recognition covers Australian and New Zealand registration only, so South African teachers have their qualification pre-assessed and apply as overseas-trained teachers.
Is a South African PGCE accepted in Australia?
It can be. VIT assesses the PGCE with your first degree: together they need to make four years of higher education, with at least one year of teacher education and 45 days of supervised practice in schools.
How do I get a police clearance certificate in South Africa for Australia?
Have your fingerprints taken on form SAPS 91(a) at a police station and apply to SAPS Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management. If you live outside South Africa, apply at the nearest South African embassy.
Can South African teachers get visa sponsorship in Australia?
Yes. Victorian schools sponsor overseas teachers, most often on the 482. We match you with a school and 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 South African teachers in contract and permanent roles across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. Also see our guides for teachers from the UK and India. 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.