School Principal
A School Principal leads the educational, administrative, and pastoral operations of a school, managing teaching staff, student welfare, and community relationships. Principals are employed by state and territory education departments, Catholic systems, and independent schools.
Full-time AUD, 2025 indicative. Wide bands reflect variation by employer, experience, and location.
Steady demand; principal shortages are reported in regional and remote schools across multiple states.
Occupation list membership
Which Department of Home Affairs skilled lists this occupation currently appears on.
- STSOLShort-Term Skilled Occupation List
Occupations eligible for shorter-term sponsored visas including Subclass 482 (short-term stream).
- CSOLCombined Skilled Occupation List
The merged skilled list that consolidates previous MLTSSL and STSOL eligibility under the Skills in Demand program.
Assessing authority
The body that assesses skills for migration purposes for this occupation.
- VETVETASSESSVisit official site →
Visa pathways
Australian visa subclasses for which this occupation is currently eligible.
- 186Learn more →Employer Nomination Scheme visa
Permanent employer-sponsored visa for workers nominated by an approved sponsor.
- 190Learn more →Skilled Nominated visa
Permanent visa for workers nominated by a state or territory government.
- 482Learn more →Skills in Demand visa
Employer-sponsored temporary visa (formerly TSS) for occupations on the relevant list.
- 491Learn more →Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa
Five-year provisional visa for workers willing to live and work in regional Australia.
- 494Learn more →Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa
Five-year employer-sponsored provisional visa in regional Australia, with a path to PR.
State nominations
States and territories that currently nominate this occupation for skilled migration.
| Code | State / Territory | Details |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | New South Wales | View nomination → |
| WA | Western Australia | View nomination → |
| SA | South Australia | View nomination → |
| TAS | Tasmania | View nomination → |
| NT | Northern Territory | View nomination → |
Key duties
- Provide educational leadership and school improvement direction
- Manage teaching staff performance, development, and welfare
- Oversee school budget, facilities, and administrative operations
- Engage with students, families, and the broader school community
Skills required
- Educational leadership and curriculum oversight
- Staff management and performance development
- School governance and financial management
- Community engagement and communication
Typical qualifications pathway
A teaching qualification plus significant teaching and leadership experience; postgraduate education leadership qualifications are common. VETASSESS assesses qualifications for migration.
Visa & occupation list information
Listed on STSOL and CSOL, supporting subclasses 186, 190, 482, 491, and 494. Teaching registration with AITSL is also required to practise For advice on which pathway suits your circumstances, consult a registered MARA migration agent.
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