Enrolled Nurse Migration to Australia: ANMAC and Visa Pathways
Can this occupation migrate to Australia?
Enrolled Nurses (ANZSCO 411411) can migrate to Australia through several pathways, though some conditions apply. The occupation appears on the CSOL , which allows applications for the 482 visa (employer-sponsored) and the 190 and 491 visas (state-nominated). The 189 visa (which requires no sponsorship) is not available to enrolled nurses. The 186 visa (direct permanent residence) usually requires going through the 482 pathway first — specifically, after completing at least 2 years of work on a 482 visa via the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream.
ANZSCO and CSOL: position on the occupation list
Enrolled Nurses carry ANZSCO code 411411 and sit at Skill Level 2. Under the ANZSCO classification, the core duties of an Enrolled Nurse include caring for patients under the supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN) or doctor, performing basic clinical procedures, monitoring patient conditions and supporting treatment. The scope of practice of an EN is narrower than that of an RN, and this affects pay levels and the kinds of positions available.
The occupation appears on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), which means it is eligible for skills-based visas. Being on the CSOL allows an applicant to be sponsored by an Australian employer under the 482 visa (Core Skills stream), or to receive state nomination under the 190/491 visas. However, enrolled nurses are not eligible to enter the independent Expression of Interest (EOI) system through SkillSelect for the 189 visa.
The skills assessing authority: ANMAC
The skills assessing authority for nursing (both EN and RN) is ANMAC (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council). A positive assessment from ANMAC is a mandatory step before lodging any skilled visa application. ANMAC assesses an applicant’s qualifications, work experience and English-language ability, then confirms whether the applicant’s qualifications are equivalent to the Australian standard.
The ANMAC assessment process for an EN involves these main steps: lodging an application online through the ANMAC portal, providing certified nursing qualifications, academic transcripts, evidence of work experience (employer confirmation letters and job descriptions), an English-language result that meets the standard, and a valid passport. ANMAC may request additional documents or an interview in some cases. The assessment fee (the current applicable fee — check on the assessing authority’s official website, as fees change over time) should be verified directly on the ANMAC website. Processing time is typically 3 to 6 months, depending on application volumes.
After receiving a positive assessment from ANMAC, applicants must register to practise with AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) — the body that regulates health practitioner registration in Australia. Without AHPRA registration you cannot work legally in the health sector in Australia, and this is also a mandatory requirement for an employer to be able to sponsor a visa.
Suitable visas: an overview
There are three main visa streams suited to enrolled nurses wanting to migrate to Australia: the 482 visa (Temporary Skill Shortage — employer-sponsored), the 190 visa (Skilled Nominated — state-nominated, leading directly to permanent residence) and the 491 visa (Skilled Work Regional — sponsored by a state or by a relative in a regional area, leading to permanent residence via the 191 visa after 3 years). The 186 visa (Employer Nomination Scheme) is not aimed at new applicants but is generally for those who have already worked for 2 years on a 482 visa.
Visa 482 — employer-sponsored
The 482 Core Skills stream allows an Australian employer to sponsor an enrolled nurse to work temporarily in Australia for up to 4 years (renewable). Nursing is eligible for this visa stream. To sponsor, the employer must be a business approved by the Department of Home Affairs (approved sponsor), must demonstrate that an Australian worker cannot be found for the position (Labour Market Testing — LMT), and must ensure the salary paid to the applicant is no lower than the TSMIT (Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold — current applicable figure; check at homeaffairs.gov.au before applying) and no lower than the market rate for an equivalent position.
Employers in the health sector (public hospitals, private hospitals, aged care facilities, clinics) regularly sponsor nurses under the 482 visa. Applicants need a positive ANMAC result, valid AHPRA registration, relevant work experience, and must meet the English-language requirement. Processing time for the 482 visa is typically 3 to 6 months after the employer completes the sponsorship application.
The pathway from 482 to permanent residence
After working at least 2 continuous years for the same sponsoring employer on a 482 visa, an enrolled nurse may apply for the 186 visa via the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) pathway. Nursing is eligible for the 186 TRT. This is the most common direct permanent-residence pathway in the health sector because the employer already knows the nurse’s capabilities and is willing to sponsor further. Applicants must also meet additional requirements for age (under 45), English and health/character at the time the 186 is lodged.
Visa 190 and 491 — state nomination
Several Australian states include Enrolled Nurse on their nomination occupation lists, including NSW, VIC and QLD. Each state has its own occupation list and requirements, which change from one selection round to another. Typically, to obtain state nomination, an applicant needs an EOI score high enough on SkillSelect (often 65 points or more after adding the 5 points for state nomination), must meet the experience and English requirements of that state, and sometimes must commit to living and working in the nominating state for a certain period.
The 190 visa confers permanent residence immediately on grant. The 491 visa is a 5-year temporary regional visa; after 3 years living and working in a regional area in line with the visa conditions, the applicant can apply for the 191 visa to become a permanent resident. For nurses wanting to settle outside the major cities, the 491 is worth considering because the points requirement is often lower than the 190 and the number of nominations is often higher.
English-language requirements
English is a mandatory requirement and is often the biggest hurdle for applicants. ANMAC requires IELTS Academic with a minimum of 7.0 in each band (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) in one sitting, or OET (Occupational English Test) with a B grade across all skills — a fairly high standard compared with many other fields. ANMAC’s English requirement is generally stricter than the visa requirement, so meeting the ANMAC standard usually satisfies the related visa requirements as well.
For the 482 and 186 visas, the minimum English requirement is “Competent English” (IELTS 6.0 in each band or equivalent). For the 190 and 491 visas, the requirement is usually “Competent English” or higher, depending on the state. Some states require “Proficient English” (IELTS 7.0) to nominate health occupations. Applicants should check each state’s English requirement carefully at the time of applying, as these figures can change.
Indicative salary
The figures below are reference points, not guaranteed salaries. Actual pay depends on the city/region, seniority and experience, type of employer, full-time/part-time/casual status, award classification level, penalty rates, compulsory superannuation (super), and the visa/sponsorship context.
Labour-market benchmark (official): According to the Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profile (data from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours), the median weekly earnings for the Enrolled and Mothercraft Nurses occupation group (ANZSCO 4114) is 1,777 AUD/week — roughly 7,700 AUD/month or 92,400 AUD/year on a simple conversion of 52 weeks/year (before tax, a reference point only, not a guaranteed salary). This is the median for full-time, non-managerial, adult, pre-tax workers — neither the minimum nor the maximum, and it covers the whole occupation group rather than a single position.
Salary range from job ads (market): Sites such as SEEK Salary Insights publish salary ranges based on job advertisements. At the time of this update, AustraliaHub has not been able to verify the SEEK range; you should look it up directly and compare it with the median benchmark above.
Legal minimum floor (legal floor): Enrolled nurses in the private sector are covered by the Nurses Award (MA000034); the public sector follows the relevant state enterprise agreement. This is the legal minimum floor, which differs from the market rate; the specific level depends on classification, type of work, allowances and overtime. Check using the Fair Work Pay and Conditions Tool (https://calculate.fairwork.gov.au/).
Official sources (checked 12/06/2026):
- Jobs and Skills Australia — occupation profile for Enrolled and Mothercraft Nurses (ANZSCO 4114): https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/occupation-and-industry-profiles/occupations/4114-enrolled-and-mothercraft-nurses
- Fair Work Ombudsman: https://www.fairwork.gov.au/
Pathway to permanent residence: summary
The most common pathway for enrolled nurses migrating to Australia is: complete the ANMAC assessment → register with AHPRA → be sponsored on a 482 visa by an employer (usually a hospital or aged care facility) → work at least 2 years → apply for the 186 TRT visa to become a permanent resident. Alongside this, applicants with a high enough EOI score who obtain state nomination may choose the 190 visa (permanent residence immediately) or the 491 visa (permanent residence after 3 years via the 191). Some ENs in Australia also choose to take a bridging course to upgrade to RN, broadening employment opportunities and increasing their EOI score.
Common mistakes
- Confusing EN and RN: Many applicants do not clearly distinguish between Enrolled Nurse (ANZSCO 411411) and Registered Nurse (ANZSCO 254422). These two occupations differ in qualifications, scope of practice, pay and some visa conditions. Declaring the wrong occupation type in an application leads to refusal.
- Not checking the salary against TSMIT: Many applicants find an interested employer who is not yet prepared to pay the TSMIT (current figure — check homeaffairs.gov.au), while the market rate for ENs is lower. Clarify the salary issue before starting the sponsorship process.
- Skipping AHPRA registration: Having a positive ANMAC result but not completing AHPRA registration still means you are not permitted to practise in Australia, and the employer cannot finalise the sponsorship application.
- Waiting too late for the ANMAC result: The ANMAC process can take 3–6 months. Many applicants begin looking for work or contacting employers before they have a result, which can cost opportunities or delay the visa application.
- Not tracking state nomination lists: Each state’s occupation list and nomination conditions change frequently from year to year. Applicants relying on outdated information may prepare an EOI in a direction that is no longer suitable.