Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement (ACILA) Explained for Filipino Applicants

Last reviewed 21 July 2026. Government fees and rules change; figures below are current at review and worth re-checking on the Department of Home Affairs site before you lodge.

An Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement is a deal between an Australian aged care provider and the Department of Home Affairs that lets the provider sponsor overseas direct care workers on the Subclass 482 visa with concessions on standard settings, and a permanent residency pathway through the Subclass 186 visa after about two years. It has been the main gateway for Filipino care workers since 2023.

What exactly is ACILA and why does it exist?

Australia's aged care sector cannot fill direct care roles locally, so the Government created a standing industry labour agreement that approved providers can sign. Once a provider holds the agreement, it can nominate overseas workers for roles like ANZSCO 423111 Aged or Disabled Carer, Personal Care Assistant and Nursing Support Worker, with settings adjusted for the sector rather than the standard skilled visa defaults.

What are the requirements for Filipino applicants?

• A Certificate III in Individual Support or equivalent qualification, or relevant qualifications with acceptable care work experience.
• English at the concessional level set in the provider's agreement, which is lower than standard skilled settings. Confirm the exact IELTS or OET scores with the sponsoring provider before testing.
• A nominating employer that actually holds an agreement. This is the step most applicants get wrong: without a nominating provider, there is nothing to apply for.
• Health, character and genuine position requirements as for any 482 nomination.

What does ACILA pay and what does it cost?

Salaries are tied to the relevant Award and the agreement's settings rather than the general skilled income threshold, and your written offer states the figure. The 482 base application charge is AUD 4,015 from 1 July 2026. Employer costs, including nomination charges and the Skilling Australians Fund levy, are the sponsor's to pay. A provider or recruiter asking you to cover those employer costs is breaching the rules.

How does ACILA lead to permanent residency?

After the qualifying period with your sponsor, typically about two years, the agreement provides access to the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme, the permanent visa. That is the reason ACILA has become the most direct route from a Philippine care qualification to Australian permanent residency, and why choosing a stable, genuine sponsor matters more than choosing the fastest offer.