NMBA Streamlined Registration for IQRNs: Pathway 1 and 2

What changed

Health Ministers approved the Registration standard: General registration for internationally qualified registered nurses in September 2024, and it took effect in April 2025. It adds two pathways for eligible internationally qualified registered nurses (IQRNs). Nurses who do not meet the standard continue through the existing IQNM process.

Approved comparable jurisdictions

The NMBA publishes the official list. Reported jurisdictions include the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, Canada (British Columbia and Ontario), Singapore and Spain. Always check the current list on the NMBA website, because it can change.

The two pathways

	Pathway 1	Pathway 2
Where you qualified	In an approved comparable jurisdiction	Outside the comparable jurisdictions
Registration	General registration as an RN in a comparable jurisdiction	Registered in a comparable jurisdiction after completing its regulatory examination process
Practice	At least 1,800 hours as an RN in a comparable jurisdiction since 1 January 2017	At least 1,800 hours as an RN in a comparable jurisdiction since 1 January 2017
Mandatory standards	Must meet all NMBA registration standards	Must meet all NMBA registration standards

Pathway 2 is significant for nurses who trained in countries such as India, the Philippines or Nigeria and then registered and worked in the UK, Ireland or the US. The deciding factor is your registration and practice history, not your passport.

1,800 hours is roughly one year of full-time work. The NMBA defines full-time equivalent in its guidance; check how your hours will be counted and what evidence your employer letters need to show.

How long it takes

When announcing the standard, the NMBA indicated eligible applicants could complete the process in one to six months, compared with the nine to twelve months standard assessments typically took. Actual times depend on your documents and current demand.

Supervised practice

Registration under the standard can come with requirements such as a period of supervised practice when you start in Australia. Read the standard and fact sheet so you understand any conditions before you accept a job.

Frequently asked questions

I am a UK citizen but trained in India. Which pathway?

Possibly Pathway 2, if you hold or held RN registration in the UK after completing its regulatory process and have at least 1,800 hours of practice there since 1 January 2017. Citizenship itself is not the test.

Is New Zealand on the list?

Nurses registered in New Zealand usually use trans-Tasman mutual recognition instead. Check the NMBA website for the current arrangement.

Do I still need an English test?

You must meet the NMBA English language standard. Depending on where you were educated, you may meet it without a test. Check the standard.

Official sources to check

Last checked 10 November 2026. If a rule here conflicts with the official page, the official page is correct. Report an error.

The streamlined registration pathway for internationally qualified RNs