The 2026 Roadmap: How Childcare Workers Can Secure Australian PR in Just 2 Years

Childcare is steady, hands-on work, and Australia’s demand for educators remains high. For migrants, that demand can translate into a direct employer pathway to permanent residency.

“PR in two years” really means this: after two years in eligible sponsored employment, many childcare workers can lodge a permanent employer-sponsored visa. The visa decision may take longer, and you still have to meet the criteria.

What’s new heading into 2026

Employer sponsorship now runs through the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) and the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). The CSOL includes “Child Care Worker” (ANZSCO 421111), which keeps sponsorship open for many educators.

Salary settings are also front and centre. Home Affairs publishes the Core Skills Income Threshold and indexes it, with 2025–26 figures set out on its guidance pages and news updates.

The two-year PR pathway, step by step

1) Choose the right occupation and evidence

Start with the occupation code your employer will nominate. In childcare, the code matters because it shapes eligibility and the documents you’ll need.

ACECQA is the assessing authority for several children’s education and care occupations. Its migration skills assessment guidelines set out accepted qualification levels and supporting evidence, including Certificate III level or higher for Child Care Worker.

2) Secure a sponsor who can nominate properly

People often talk about employer sponsorship in childcare, but the practical test is whether the business can lodge a nomination that matches your day-to-day duties and meets salary rules. Check the CSOL code, the contract, and whether the pay meets the relevant income threshold or market salary rate.

If you’re offered a childcare sponsorship visa with vague duties or an unclear position description, fix that early. It’s harder to untangle after the visa is granted.

 

3) Start the two-year clock and keep it clean

The “two-year” claim usually points to the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) Temporary Residence Transition stream. Home Affairs says applicants must hold a subclass 457 or 482 (or an eligible bridging visa) and usually have worked in eligible sponsored employment for at least two years.

Treat those two years like a record-keeping exercise. Keep payslips, rosters, and updated position descriptions. If you change employers, assume the two-year count will relate to the new sponsor for the transition pathway.

4) Lodge the permanent step at the right time

Once you meet the two-year requirement, the employer lodges a nomination and you lodge the 186 visa application. You still need to satisfy health, character and English settings for the stream.

Where childcare worker sponsorship works well, the centre and the worker plan the paperwork well before the intended lodgement date.

Costs and conditions people often miss

Child Care Subsidy depends on residence rules that usually require citizenship, permanent residence, a Special Category visa, or specific temporary visa categories. Many employer-sponsored visa holders won’t qualify unless an exception applies or a partner meets the rule.

Also watch 1 July indexation: if a salary offer sits close to the threshold, a new financial year can change what the employer needs to pay for a fresh nomination.

Getting advice without giving up control

If you speak with a visa agent in Sydney like Pace Migration, ask who prepares the nomination documents and who checks the occupation code and duties. When comparing a visa agency in Sydney with smaller practices, prioritise registration and childcare-specific experience over brand size.

Frequently Asked Questions

1) Can childcare workers really get PR in two years?

Many can lodge an employer-sponsored permanent visa after two years in eligible sponsored employment. Grant times vary, and you still need to meet the criteria. It’s not automatic. Talk to Pace Migration to know more about childcare sponsorship.

2) Is Child Care Worker (421111) eligible for employer sponsorship?

Yes. Home Affairs’ CSOL lists “Child Care Worker” (ANZSCO 421111), supporting sponsorship through the Skills in Demand 482 Core Skills stream when other rules are met.

3) Do I need an ACECQA skills assessment?

ACECQA sets standards for several childcare occupations. Whether you need an assessment depends on the visa stream and Home Affairs’ requirements at the time you apply. Check early, as assessments take time.

4) Is there a 482 visa child care subsidy available to families?

The 482 doesn’t bring extra subsidies. Child Care Subsidy depends on residence rules, so many temporary visa holders won’t qualify unless they meet an eligible category or exception.

5) What permanent visa is used after two years of sponsorship?

Often it’s the ENS 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream, lodged after two years with your current sponsoring employer and the same nominated occupation.

Tags: childcare sponsorship, childcare worker sponsorship, visa agent in Sydney

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