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Nurse migration to Australia, step by step

Moving to Australia as a nurse means passing four separate checks run by four different organisations. Most delays happen when people treat them as one.

Smiling registered nurse in teal scrubs in a hospital corridor overlooking Sydney Harbour

The four checks, and who runs each one

Australia does not have a single “nurse visa” that covers everything. Instead, an internationally qualified nurse usually needs four different outcomes. They overlap in time, but they are decided by different bodies, use different forms and cost different fees.

CheckWho decidesWhat it provesDo you always need it?
Professional registrationNursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), administered by AhpraYou are allowed to practise and use the title registered nurseYes, to work as a nurse
Skills assessmentANMACYour qualification and registration meet the standard for a migration occupationOnly for visas that require one
VisaDepartment of Home AffairsYou may enter, live and work in AustraliaYes, unless you are a citizen or permanent resident
EmploymentAn employer (public health service, private hospital, aged care provider)You have a role, and for sponsored visas, a sponsorRequired for employer-sponsored visas

Getting one of these does not give you another. Ahpra registration is not a visa. A positive ANMAC assessment does not register you. An employer offer does not replace either. Keep a separate folder, timeline and receipt list for each.

Which route applies to you

Your route depends first on where you qualified and where you are registered today.

Qualified or practising in a comparable jurisdiction

Since April 2025 the NMBA has run a streamlined registration standard for experienced registered nurses from approved comparable jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Ontario, Singapore and Spain. Applicants generally need at least 1,800 hours of practice in one of those jurisdictions since 1 January 2017. Read the streamlined pathway guide.

Qualified elsewhere

If you trained in Pakistan, India, the Philippines, Nigeria, Nepal or most other countries and are not registered in a comparable jurisdiction, you usually go through the standard internationally qualified nurse (IQNM) process. That starts with the Self-check, which places you in a stream. Many applicants are then directed to the outcomes-based assessment: the NCLEX-RN followed by an OSCE in Australia.

Already registered in New Zealand

Nurses registered in New Zealand can usually apply under trans-Tasman mutual recognition arrangements. That route is outside the scope of most of this site; check the NMBA website.

A realistic order of steps

  1. Check your English evidence. Book IELTS Academic, OET, PTE Academic or TOEFL iBT early if you need a test. Results expire. See English tests for nurses.
  2. Complete the NMBA Self-check. It tells you which stream you are in and what comes next.
  3. Finish your registration steps. Portfolio, exams, or the streamlined application, depending on your stream.
  4. Choose a visa route. Points-tested (189, 190, 491) or employer-sponsored (482, 186, 494). See the visa overview.
  5. Get an ANMAC skills assessment if your visa needs one. Pick the assessment type that matches your registration status.
  6. Apply for jobs and the visa. For sponsored routes the employer nominates you first.
  7. Plan the move. Budget, health insurance, family visas and first weeks. See moving to Australia.
Important: we explain how the system works. We cannot tell you which visa you will be granted. Only the Department of Home Affairs decides visas, and only a registered migration agent or Australian lawyer can give you advice on your own case.

How long it takes

Timelines vary widely. NMBA has said the streamlined pathway can take one to six months for eligible applicants, compared with nine to twelve months that standard assessments have typically taken. The exam route can take longer once you add NCLEX booking, OSCE availability and travel. ANMAC and visa processing then add their own time. Plan around official processing pages, not social media posts.

AustraliaNurseMigration.com guide covering AHPRA registration, ANMAC assessment, visas, nursing jobs, relocation and PR for nurses
The six areas this site covers. Each links to its own section below.

Guides by topic

AHPRA registrationSelf-check, streams, documents, fees ANMAC skills assessmentAssessment types and when you need one Visa options189, 190, 491, 482, 186, 494 NCLEX and OSCEThe outcomes-based assessment Country guidesTen source countries compared Total costEvery fee category to budget for

Frequently asked questions

Is there a special visa only for nurses?

No. Nurses use the general skilled and employer-sponsored visa programs. Several registered nurse occupations appear on skilled occupation lists, which is what makes those visas available to nurses.

Do I need Ahpra registration before I apply for a visa?

It depends on the visa. Some employer-sponsored routes expect registration or eligibility for registration before nomination, and ANMAC assessment types differ depending on whether you are already registered. Check the requirements of the specific visa and assessment you plan to use.

Can I work as a nurse while my registration is being processed?

Not as a registered nurse. Practising as an RN requires current NMBA registration. Some people work in non-registered support roles in the meantime, if their visa allows it.

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.