Migrate to Australia as a
Nurse

Apply to Emigrate to Australia as a Nurse in 2025

 

Nursing continues to be an occupation in demand, and with the introduction of the Skills in Demand Visa, there has never been a better time for internationally qualified nurses to explore opportunities in Australia. This visa simplifies and fast-tracks the immigration process, allowing healthcare professionals to quickly fill key roles in the Australian health system.

 

Nursing remains on Australia’s Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), highlighting the ongoing high demand for nurses across all IEN specializations.

 

ANZSCO Codes for Nurse Specializations in Australia

 

  • Nurse Practitioner (ANZSCO Code: 254411)
  • Midwife (254111)
  • Registered Nurse (Aged Care) (254412)
  • Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health) (254413)
  • Registered Nurse (Community Health) (254414)
  • Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) (254415)
  • Registered Nurse (Development Disability) (254416)
  • Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation) (254417)
  • Registered Nurse (Medical) (254418)
  • Registered Nurse (Medical Practice) (254421)
  • Registered Nurse (Mental Health) (254422)
  • Registered Nurse (Perioperative) (254423)
  • Registered Nurse (Surgical) (254424)
  • Registered Nurse (Paediatrics) (254425)
  • Enrolled Nurse (411411)
  • Nursing Clinical Director (134212)

 

Pathways to Permanent Residence for Nurses

 

In addition to the well-known 189 and 190 visas, the new Skills in Demand Visa now offers a fast-track option for qualified nurses. This visa is specifically designed to prioritize sectors like healthcare, making it easier and quicker for nurses to start working in Australia.

 

If you are a degree qualified Nurse aged under 45, then you are also eligible to emigrate to Australia via the Skilled Migration pathway, provided you can score 65 points and have a positive Skills Assessment from ANMAC.

Skilled Migration Criteria for Nurses in 2025

 

  • Be aged under 45
  • Score 65 Australian Immigration Points
  • Have a Positive Skills Assessment from ANMAC
  • Lodge an Expression of Interest
  • Receive an Invitation to Apply
  • Pay the Visa Fees
  • Pass Health and Character Checks
  • Register with AHPRA

Criteria for Nurses to Migrate to Australia

 

You must meet the following criteria:

 

Score 65 Points

 

Nurses moving to Australia need to score at least 65 Immigration points.

 

Points are awarded for age, experience, qualifications, education, English language skills and time spent in Australia.

 

Take this Free Visa Points Calculator for your score.

 

Nursing Skills Assessment

 

Qualified Nurses must complete a nursing skills assessment prior to making an application for Australian Migration.

 

The Nursing Skills Assessment is completed with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) before lodging a visa application.

 

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC)

 

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) conducts Skill Assessments on Internationally qualified Nurses and Midwives moving to Australia.

 

ANMAC is tasked by the Australian Government to check that you are who you say you are, that you have the rights skills, qualifications and experience at an equivalent level to nurses and midwives who have studied and trained in Australia.

 

To secure a successful ANMAC skill assessment an applicant is required to provide

 

  • Passport
  • Evidence of name change (if applicable)
  • Letter of Good Standing for migration purposes
  • Detailed and migration specific references from every employer
  • English Test Results
  • Degree Certificate
  • Degree Transcripts
  • Confirmation of Theory and Practice hours

 

Educational equivalence

 

Applicants must provide a graduation certificate and transcript from their University. The transcript must show the number of theory and practice hours completed during the course.

 

This is one of the most important elements of the application and an ANMAC skill assessment cannot pass without these details being supplied.

 

Professional practice

 

ANMAC requires an electronic Letter of Good Standing  and Confirmation of registration to be sent by the Nursing Registration body in your home country directly to ANMAC.

 

Professional references

 

References must be:

 

  • On an Hospital letterhead
  • Be written by a direct supervisor who is a nurse or a midwife
  • Include exact dates
  • Contain an original signature
  • Include contact information for each referee

 

English proficiency

 

ANMAC requires all its applicants to meet an English language proficiency requirement, regardless of your country of origin, even if that country of origin is an English speaking country such as the United Kingdom or the United States.

 

English tests accepted by ANMAC and minimum scores

 

IELTS Academic

 

  • Minimum overall score of 7 across all components and a minimum score in each component of 7.
  • Combining scores from 2 tests taken within a 6 month period:
    • A minimum overall score of 7 in both test
    • No score in any component in either test is below 6.5

 

 OET for Nurses

 

  • Minimum score of B in each component
  • Combining scores from 2 tests taken within a 6 month period:
    • All the 4 components must have been tested in both tests
    • No score in any component in either test is below C

 

PTE Academic

 

  • Minimum overall score of 65 across all components and a minimum score in each component of 65.
  • Combining scores from 2 tests taken within a 6 month period:
    • Minimum overall score in both tests of 65
    • No score in any component in either test is below 58.

 

Take this Free Visa Points Calculator for your score.

 

ANMAC vs AHPRA

 

  • ANMAC is the skills assessment authority and a nursing applicant must always have an ANMAC skills assessement

 

  • AHPRA is the overall nursing registration body for Australia

 

  • ANMAC do not register nurses, they check the qualifications of nurses moving to Australia

 

  • All nurses and healthcare professionals require AHPRA registration.

Migration skills assessment fees for Nurses

 

Skills assessmentAs of 1 January 2024
Modified skills assessment$395.00
Modified PLUS skills assessment$395.00
Full skills assessment$595.00
Direct Care skills assessment$545.00

What Australia Visa Can I Get as a Foreign Nurse?

Overseas qualified Nurses from the following countries are Wanted in Australia

  • UK
  • USA
  • Canada
  • Hong Kong
  • Ireland

Qualified Nurses under the age of 45 with a suitable Skills Assessment apply for the following Australia Visas:

  • 189 Permanent Residency
  • Live & Work
  • 190 Skilled Migration
  • Working Holiday Visa
  • Skills in Demand Visa

Press here for a full Eligibility Check

What Countries does Australia want Nurses from?

Overseas qualified Nurses from the following countries are Wanted in Australia

  • UK
  • USA
  • Canada
  • Hong Kong
  • Ireland

Qualified Nurses under the age of 45 with a suitable Skills Assessment apply for the following Australia Visas:

  • 189 Permanent Residency
  • Live & Work
  • 190 Skilled Migration
  • Working Holiday Visa
  • Skills in Demand Visa

Press here for a full Eligibility Check

Which ANMAC Skills assessment do I need?

MODIFIED SKILLS ASSESSMENT APPLICANTS

Qualified Nurses applying for a Modified Skills Assessment you do not need to provide English language test results. To qualify for a Modified Skills Assessment a nurse will already be already registered with:

 

MODIFIED PLUS SKILLS ASSESSMENT

Nurses applying for a Modified PLUS Skills Assessment do not need to provide English language test results. To qualify for the Modified PLUS assessment you must already have a ‘Notice of in principle approval of registration subject to proof of identity’ letter from:

 

FULL SKILLS ASSESSMENT APPLICATIONS

All internationally qualified nurses and midwives without Australian or New Zealand registration (regardless of country of birth) must provide English language test results.

Australia’s official language is English and it is important that healthcare professionals working here are proficient in reading, speaking, writing and listening.

Can a Nurse with a Diploma not Degree Move to Australia?

 

Nurse and Midwife applicants that do not hold an undergraduate degree will not pass ANMAC or AHPRA witha  direct application.

The solution for Diploma nurses moving to Australia is to first register with the New Zealand Nursing Council via this application form.

The New Zealand Nursing Council will accept a Diploma Qualified Nurse for Registration. The applicant then takes their New Zealand registration and applies for AHPRA via the Trans Tasmanian Mutual Recognition Agreement.

AHPRA are duty bound to accept the registration and issue a Letter of Determination. This letter of Determination is then used to secure an ANMAC skill assessment for migration via the Modified Plus route.

What is the Processing Time for an ANMAC Skills Assessment?

 

  • 12 weeks for Nurses
  • 15 weeks for Midwives
 

What is AHPRA?

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) works with the National Boards to regulate Australia's health practitioners.

AHPRA supports the 15 National Health Practitioner Boards that are responsible for regulating the medical professions.

AHPRA's responsibilities include:

  • Registration of Health Practitioners:
  • Renewal of Registrations
  • Accreditation
  • Complaints and Conduct Issues

AHPRA or ANMAC?

 

ANMAC and AHPRA have different roles in Australia's healthcare system

ANMAC (Australian Nursing & Midwifery Accreditation Council) focuses on the assessment of nurses and midwives for skilled migration to Australia. Nurses or midwives planning to live and work in Australia need a skills assessment from ANMAC first.

AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) regulates health practitioners in Australia. Once you're in Australia AHPRA ensures that you maintain the professional standards required.

ANMAC is your gateway for migrating to Australia as a nurse or midwife and AHPRA as the body that oversees your practice once you're in Australia.

How Can a Nurse Emigrating to Australia Avoid Taking the IELTS English Test?

The easiest way to move to Australia as a Nurse is to take your IELTS test as part of the ANMAC Full Skills Assessment.

To avoid taking the IELTs test as part of your ANMAC Skills Assessment a foreign qualified Nurse will have to first get a 'Notice of In Princial Registration' from AHPRA.

This is because AHPRA regulates Nurses and all ANMAC is responsible for is checking Skills, Experience and Qualifications.

However, the AHPRA process is long with lots of pitfalls, waiting time and delays.

For the sake of speed and ease, it is often easier to take your IELTS or other suitable English Test.

Nursing jobs in Australia

Australia welcomes nursing professionals with a wide range of experience and qualifications.

The country's vast geography, diverse climate, great work life balance and and spread-out population create a massive array of job opportunities for suitable qualified foreign Nurses.

Nurses are particularly welcomed from UK, USA, Ireland, Canada and Hong Kong. The similarities in healthcare structures between these countries and Australia makes the transition easier.

As of January 2024, 339,677 nurses work in Australia with two-thirds in the public sector.

Shift lengths are similar to those in the UK, ranging from 8 to 12 hours and annual leave ranges from 4 to 5 weeks.

Nurse-to-patient ratios in Australia are between 4:1 to 7:1.

Australian employers have varying requirements for nursing positions, including specific experience, qualifications, and skills.

As of January 2024, the average nurse salary in Australia is $89,833 per year. Entry-level positions start at $72,364 per year, while most experienced workers earn up to $131,955 per year.

How to Register as a Nurse in Australia

Australian Nursing Registration

To work in Australia as a Nurse you must be registered with the Australia Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

There is only one National Register which means once you have registered you can practice in any State in Australia.

The registration process is a separate process which you can complete prior to applying for a visa or once your visa has been approved. This will depend on your personal circumstances and the type of visa you are applying for.

Holders of Bachelor of Nursing will not be expected to sit exams any further exams. 

To read more on registration requirements and how to apply, visit AHPRA: https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/

Do you need a Visa for Nursing Jobs in Australia?

 

To work in Australia as a Nurse you are required to have:

1. Valid visa with work right

2. Valid registration with the Australian Nursing Board (AHPRA).

There are lots of Australian Visas for Nursing Jobs in Australia.

Most foreign nurses with non-Australian Qualifications must have a degree in nursing.

Press to take a Free Visa Assessment to get all the options

Highest Paying Cities in Australia for Registered Nurses

  1. Ryde NSW
    $57.36 per hour
  2. Cairns QLD
    $52.32 per hour
  3. Murdoch WA
    $47.92 per hour
  4. Canberra ACT
    $47.58 per hour
  5. Kingswood NSW
    $46.71 per hour
  6. Perth WA
    $44.98 per hour
  7. Brisbane QLD
    $44.76 per hour
  8. Sydney NSW
    $43.40 per hour
  9. Townsville QLD
    $43.14 per hour

Can I work as a Nurse on a Working Holiday Visa

To be employed as a Nurse on a Working Holiday Visa you must be registered with AHPRA. If you are a UK Citizen you can work for three years in Australia as a Nurse on a Working Holiday Visa. It is unlikely that you'll get a relocation package, yet in terms of work you will definitely find it easy to get short, medium or long term contracts.

Nursing Jobs Eligibility Check