Aged Care Visa Sponsorship: The 482 Under the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement

Aged care visa sponsorship on a 482 runs through the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement, which lets an aged care provider sponsor overseas direct care workers (aged or disabled carers, nursing support workers and personal care assistants) at a salary of at least $51,222, or the market rate if that is higher. The provider needs a labour agreement on the industry’s fixed terms, and streamlined access comes from signing and keeping a memorandum of understanding with the relevant unions, which also counts as labour market testing (Home Affairs, industry labour agreements page, updated 23 June 2026). The worker then applies in the Labour Agreement stream of the 482 with English of IELTS 5.0 (5.0 in speaking and listening, 4.5 in reading and writing) at a standard provider, a Certificate III or 12 months of relevant experience, and a later path to the 186 after 2 years of direct care work in Australia.

The salary floor of $51,222 sits below the standard Core Skills threshold of $79,423; that difference is the agreement’s salary concession.

Who can use the aged care agreement?

Four conditions from the Home Affairs industry labour agreements page decide who can use it:

1. The employer is an aged care provider sponsoring direct care workers in the aged care sector.
2. The terms are fixed and non-negotiable.
3. Streamlined access goes to providers that enter into, and keep, a memorandum of understanding with the relevant unions: the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, the Health Services Union and the United Workers Union.
4. Employers of the same occupations in the disability sector cannot use it, and Home Affairs points them to a DAMA if one covers their location.

Because this industry labour agreement already covers aged care, a company-specific labour agreement is not an alternative for the same need (Home Affairs company specific labour agreements page).

Which occupations does it cover?

The agreement covers three direct care occupations:

1. Nursing Support Worker (ANZSCO 423312): provides limited patient care under the direction of nursing staff.
2. Personal Care Assistant (ANZSCO 423313): provides routine personal care services in health care facilities or in a person’s home.
3. Aged or Disabled Carer (ANZSCO 423111): provides general household assistance, emotional support, care and companionship for aged or disabled people in their own homes.

None of the three is on the Core Skills Occupation List of 456 occupations in LIN 24/089 on the Federal Register of Legislation, so they are sponsored through the agreement, not the Core Skills stream.

What concessions does it give?

Against the standard 482, the agreement gives five concessions:

1. Occupations outside the Core Skills Occupation List.
2. Lower English: IELTS 5.0 (5.0 in speaking and listening, 4.5 in reading and writing), or IELTS 4.5 with no component minimum at a culturally and linguistically diverse provider, against the standard IELTS 5.0 in each component.
3. No minimum post-qualification work experience for the 482.
4. A salary floor of $51,222, against the Core Skills threshold of $79,423.
5. Labour market testing met by the union memorandum of understanding (Home Affairs labour market testing page).

The 482 has no age limit in any stream, so age is not a concession here; the rule is explained under the 482 visa age limit.

Which visa do aged care workers hold?

Aged care workers hold the 482 in its Labour Agreement stream, on these terms:

1. A stay of up to 4 years, within the agreement’s terms.
2. Work only for the nominating provider, under condition 8607.
3. The $4,015 visa charge for the main applicant.
4. The provider pays the $330 nomination fee.
5. The provider pays the levy of $1,200 or $1,800 a year, because labour agreement sponsors pay it too (Home Affairs cost of sponsoring page).

The worker’s criteria for that stream are set out under Labour Agreement stream 482 rules.

An immigration lawyer makes approval more likely here because the provider has to hold both the union memorandum of understanding and the labour agreement before it can nominate, and each worker’s English, Certificate III or experience and skills assessment must fit the agreement’s own terms rather than the standard 482 rules. No adviser can promise an approval.

Does the agreement cover nurses?

No. The agreement covers only the three direct care occupations. Registered nurses, including Registered Nurse (Aged Care) 254412, and Enrolled Nurse 411411 are on the Core Skills Occupation List. A standard business sponsor nominates them in the Core Skills stream, or in the Specialist Skills stream where the nurse earns at least $146,576. The required registration must be held within 90 days of arrival or grant, the same window condition 8607 sets for starting work. The nurse route is set out under 482 visa sponsorship for nurses.

Does it lead to PR?

Yes, through the 186 under the agreement, on four conditions:

1. 2 years of work experience in Australia in a relevant direct care occupation, not tied to one employer or visa.
2. English of IELTS 5.5 with no component minimum.
3. The 186 age limit the Home Affairs page states: under 45.
4. The 186 nomination fee of $540 (nil for a labour agreement position in regional Australia) and a one-off levy of $3,000 or $5,000.

A DAMA is not endorsed where an industry labour agreement covers the industry, according to the Home Affairs DAMA page, so aged care providers use this agreement rather than a DAMA. Home Affairs publishes the list of current labour agreements on its website; this guide does not list providers.