Australia currently faces a shortage of Nurses and the demand for this skilled occupation is only projected to grow. As of 2022, the Registered Nurses occupations are on the Medium & Long Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) and more importantly has been listed on the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) which implies that Registered Nurses from various categories are considered critical skills needed to support Australia’s economic recovery from COVID-19.
Available visa options for Registered Nurses
Subclass 189 & 190 visa – Skilled Independent visa
The subclass 189 and 190 visas are a permanent visa which is for a point-tested skilled individual who is nominated by an Australian State or Territory. Essentially the individual needs to obtain a minimum of 65 points to be eligible for this visa via the points test. The points test is a system where a certain number of points are awarded for a person’s age, English, qualifications and paid work experience in relation to their nominated occupation.
To meet the eligibility requirements, the individual must have all of the following:
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Must have specialist AHPRA registration
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Must meet the minimum points test. However, the highest ranked individuals by point scores are invited to apply for the relevant visa.
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Age limit of 45
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No employer sponsorship or SAF levy
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Receive unrestricted permanent residence visa
Subclass 491 visa – Skilled Work Regional
This subclass 491 visa is a temporary visa with an option to apply for a Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191) after 3 years from the time the subclass 491 is granted. As above, the individual needs to obtain a minimum of 65 points to be eligible for this visa via the points test. Individuals will only be eligible for this visa, if they are either nominated by an Australian State or Territory or an eligible relative.
To meet the eligibility requirements, the individual must have all of the following:
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Replaced the 489 visa from November 2019
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Must have general (not provisional, limited, or supervised) or specialist AHPRA registration
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Must be nominated by a State/Territory government to live and work in a regional area
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Must meet the minimum points test. However, the highest ranked individuals by point scores are invited to apply for the relevant visa.
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Age limit of 45
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No employer sponsorship or SAF levy
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Receive 5-year provisional visa with a condition to only live, work and study in a regional area
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Option to apply for permanent residence after 3 years
Subclass 482 visa – Medium & Long Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)
This subclass 482 (MLTSSL) visa is for skilled individuals who want to work in Australia temporarily.
To be eligible for this visa, there are three stages that are required:
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The Employer must be an approved Standard Business Sponsor
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The Employer must be willing to nominate the individual in the skilled occupation
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To meet the eligibility requirements for the visa, the individual must have all of the following:
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Be 18 years of age or older
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Must have at least functional English
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Must have at least 2 years full-time work experience in the nominated occupation
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Must have relevant skills and qualifications
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Be a genuine temporary entrant
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Receive up to 4-year provisional visa
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Option to apply for permanent residence after 3 years
Subclass 186 visa – Employer Nomination Scheme (Direct Entry Stream)
The subclass 186 Direct Entry stream provides employers with the opportunity to employ individuals who are untested in the Australian Labour Market and who may be outside of Australia. This stream also accommodates individuals within Australia who are ineligible for the Temporary Residence Transition stream.
To meet the eligibility requirements, the individual must have all of the following:
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Must have limited, general or specialist AHPRA registration
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Suitable skills assessment for the nominated occupation
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Must be nominated by employer
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SAF levy
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No Labour Market Testing
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Age limit of 45, exemptions apply (see below)
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Receive unrestricted permanent residence visa
Subclass 186 visa – Employer Nomination Scheme (Temporary Residence Transition Stream)
The subclass 186 Temporary Residence Transition Stream provides a transition pathway for individuals who hold a primary subclass 457 or subclass 482 visa who have working on such a visa with the company that wishes to nominate them for a total of 3 years (in the overall 4 year period immediately before lodging the nomination application). This is subject to any ‘transitional arrangement’ that are in place:
To meet the eligibility requirements, the individual must have all of the following:
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Must have limited, general or specialist AHPRA registration
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Must be nominated by employer
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Have at least 3 years relevant work experience with the same employers who nominated the Applicant for the subclass 482 visa
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SAF levy
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No Labour Market Testing
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Age limit of 45, exemptions apply (see below)
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Receive unrestricted permanent residence visa
Subclass 494 visa – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa
This subclass 494 visa is a temporary visa with an option to apply for a Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191) after 3 years from the time the subclass 494 is granted. A sponsoring business (employer) must be located in a regional location in Australia.
To meet the eligibility requirements, the individual must have all of the following:
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Must have general or specialist registration. Not clear whether limited registration will be acceptable
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Must be sponsored by employer
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Labour Market Testing for all occupations
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Age limit of 45
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SAF levy
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Receive 5-year provisional visa with a condition to only live, work for the sponsor and in the nominated occupation and study in a regional area
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Option to apply for permanent residence after 3 years
Australian registration for Nurses
As a requirement to work in Australia and apply for the Migration Skills Assessment as a ‘Nurse’, the Applicant must be registered through Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (APHRA). AHPRA is an agency that registers and regulates all healthcare practitioners in Australia. In addition to this, AHPRA works with and supports 14 separate boards, that are specific to each individual healthcare profession. In regard to Nurses, APHRA partners with the Nursing and Midwifery Board Australia (NMBA), who are in charge of regulating all working Australian nurses and midwives.
This registration requires specific standards which can be found here
Skills Assessment
Applicants are required to obtain a positive skills assessment when applying for general skilled migration or for the subclass 186 (Direct Entry). For registered Nurses the skills assessing authority is Australian Nursing & Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) which has 3 main eligible pathways dependant on the Applicant’s circumstance and can be found here
