Registered Nurse Migration to Australia: CSOL, ANMAC, Visa Pathways
Can this occupation migrate to Australia?
Registered Nurse (ANZSCO 254499) is one of the occupations with the widest range of migration options in Australia. It appears on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) and is eligible for points-tested visas (the 189, 190 and 491) as well as employer-sponsored visas (the 482 and 186). To apply through any stream, candidates must complete a skills assessment through ANMAC and then register to practise with AHPRA — these are two mandatory steps before most skilled work visas become accessible.
ANZSCO and CSOL: position on the occupation list
Registered Nurse is classified under ANZSCO code 254499, at Skill Level 1 — the highest level in Australia’s occupation classification system. This code covers nurses working across many areas, including medical, surgical, aged care, community and critical care nursing.
The occupation is on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) , which means candidates are eligible to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect to be invited to apply for a points-tested visa (189, 190 or 491). CSOL status is also a condition for the 482 Core Skills stream, allowing employers to sponsor nurses from overseas without a separate Labour Agreement (apart from some special cases in the aged care sector).
The skills-assessing authority: ANMAC (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council)
ANMAC (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council) is the sole body appointed to carry out skills assessments for Registered Nurses and Midwives in Australia. There are four main assessment types: the Full Skills Assessment (for most international applicants), the Modified Assessment (for those already registered to practise in certain countries with agreements in place), the Direct Care Assessment (for candidates wishing to work directly in care settings), and the GradReady Assessment (for recent graduates). Most internationally trained applicants follow the Full Skills Assessment route.
To be eligible for a Full Skills Assessment, candidates need to have graduated from a recognised nursing program (usually a 3–4 year university degree), have qualifying clinical experience, and meet ANMAC’s English threshold (IELTS minimum 7.0 in all skills, or equivalent OET/PTE). ANMAC application fees (current fee — check on the assessing authority’s official site) vary by assessment type. Processing usually takes 8 to 16 weeks from the date the file is considered complete. An assessment outcome is valid for 3 years. After a positive ANMAC outcome, candidates must then register with AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) to be licensed to practise in Australia — a step entirely separate from the visa process.
One important note: ANMAC assesses skills for migration purposes only; being approved by ANMAC does not automatically mean you are registered to practise in Australia. AHPRA reviews the registration application separately and may require additional competency evidence or completion of a bridging program before granting full registration.
Suitable visas: an overview
Registered nurses are eligible for four main visa streams: the 482 (temporary employer-sponsored, Core Skills stream), the 186 (employer-sponsored permanent residence, through both the TRT and Direct Entry pathways), the 189 (independent points-tested, no employer required), and the 190/491 (points-tested with state or regional nomination). Each stream has different conditions and PR pathways; the right choice depends on individual circumstances, points achieved, and ability to find a sponsoring employer.
Visa 482 — employer sponsorship
The 482 Core Skills stream allows an Australian employer to sponsor an eligible registered nurse to work for up to 4 years (renewable). The employer must be a Standard Business Sponsor approved by the Department of Home Affairs, demonstrate that local recruitment has not met the need, and commit to paying no less than the minimum income threshold for the 482 (the Core Skills Income Threshold, previously called the TSMIT — check the current figure at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au) or the local market salary rate for the same position, whichever is higher. The actual earnings of registered nurses are typically above this threshold under the award (see the reference salary section below), so most cases meet the salary condition.
A 482 applicant needs a positive ANMAC skills assessment, must meet the English requirement (IELTS minimum 5.0 in each skill, or 6.0 as many employers require in practice), and must have relevant work experience as required in the 5 years before applying. Notably, the aged care sector has a Labour Agreement Exemption (LAE) — some service providers may sponsor nurses through this mechanism under conditions different from the standard ones.
Visa 186 — employer-sponsored permanent residence
The most common route to permanent residence through employer sponsorship is the TRT (Temporary Residence Transition) pathway. Candidates holding a 482 who have been sponsored by the same employer for at least 2 years, working in the nominated occupation, and meeting the English competency conditions (IELTS 6.0 in each skill or equivalent), can apply for the 186 TRT without a new skills assessment. This is the most realistic pathway for nurses who already have stable employment in Australia.
The Direct Entry (DE) pathway of the 186 applies to those who have never held a 482, or where an employer wants to sponsor directly for permanent residence. This pathway requires an ANMAC skills assessment and typically applies to nurses already working in Australia on another temporary visa, or in some cases from overseas. Candidates must meet the age requirement (under 45) and an English standard equivalent to the TRT.
Visa 189 — independent points, no employer required
The 189 is an independent permanent residence visa that requires no employer sponsorship or state nomination. The process starts with an EOI through SkillSelect, after which you wait to be invited by the Department of Home Affairs to apply (Invitation to Apply — ITA) based on your points score. The minimum to submit an EOI is 65 points, but the actual points needed to receive an ITA for nursing vary from round to round — in recent years, nurses have received ITAs at between 65 and 85 points depending on the round.
A typical candidate aged 28, with a nursing degree (15 points for education), a recognised ANMAC outcome (0 additional points from the assessment), relevant qualifying work experience (0 points), and IELTS 8.0 in each skill (20 points for Proficient English) might reach around 70–75 points before counting age points and other factors. The English requirement for the 189 is a minimum of Proficient English (IELTS 7.0 in each skill or equivalent PTE 65 in each component). Candidates should plan realistically: the chance of receiving an ITA depends on the invitation policy for each round and global competition for this occupation code.
Visas 190 and 491 — state nomination
The 190 is a state-nominated permanent residence visa — candidates nominated by a state receive an additional 5 points towards their total SkillSelect score. The 491 is a regional-sponsored temporary visa that can be converted to permanent residence through the 191 after 3 years living and working in a designated regional area. Registered Nurse (ANZSCO 254499) appears on the nomination lists of most Australian states and territories, particularly NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and territories such as the ACT and NT.
Each state’s specific requirements differ: some require candidates to be living and working in that state, while others accept applications from overseas. Candidates typically need a positive ANMAC assessment, a minimum SkillSelect score as set by the state (often 65 points or more), and sometimes evidence of a connection to the state (having studied or worked there). For the 491, after completing 3 years in the designated area and meeting the minimum income requirement for the 491 (check the current figure at homeaffairs.gov.au), candidates may apply for the 191 to move to permanent residence.
English requirements
English requirements differ considerably between visa types, and also between the migration requirement and the practice requirement. For the 482, the minimum under migration rules is IELTS 5.0 in each skill (Vocational English), but in practice ANMAC requires a minimum of IELTS 7.0 in each skill to perform a skills assessment — so in reality candidates have already had to meet a higher threshold before reaching the visa. For the 189 and 190, the requirement is Proficient English: IELTS 7.0 in each skill or PTE Academic 65 in each component. This threshold also satisfies ANMAC’s requirement, sparing candidates from sitting separate tests for the two purposes.
Beyond the visa, AHPRA may require an OET (Occupational English Test) result of B in each skill for some internationally qualified applicants registering to practise. The OET is designed specifically for the healthcare setting and differs from the general IELTS; many internationally trained nursing applicants find the Writing and Speaking sections of the OET more specialised than the standard IELTS.
Reference salary
The figures below are reference points, not guaranteed salaries. Actual pay depends on the city/region, level and experience, employer type (public or private), full-time/part-time/casual status, classification level, shift and night penalty rates, compulsory superannuation (super), and the visa/sponsorship context.
Labour-market benchmark (official): According to the Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profile (drawing on the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours), the median weekly earnings for the Registered Nurses occupation group (ANZSCO 2544) are 2,192 AUD/week — equivalent to roughly 9,500 AUD/month or 114,000 AUD/year on a simple 52-weeks-a-year conversion (pre-tax, a reference point only, not a guaranteed salary). This is the median for full-time, non-managerial, adult-rate, pre-tax workers — neither the minimum nor the maximum, and a figure for the occupation group as a whole.
Salary range from job ads (market): Sites such as SEEK Salary Insights publish salary ranges based on job ads. At the time of this update, AustraliaHub has not been able to verify the SEEK salary range; you should look it up directly and compare it against the median benchmark above.
Legal minimum floor: Nurses in the private sector are covered by the Nurses Award (MA000034); the public sector usually follows each state’s enterprise agreement. This is a legal minimum floor, distinct from the market salary; the specific rate depends on the classification level. Look it up using the Fair Work Pay and Conditions Tool (https://calculate.fairwork.gov.au/).
Official sources (checked 12/06/2026):
- Jobs and Skills Australia — Registered Nurses occupation profile (ANZSCO 2544): https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/occupation-and-industry-profiles/occupations/2544-registered-nurses
- Fair Work Ombudsman: https://www.fairwork.gov.au/
Pathway to permanent residence: a summary
The most realistic route for internationally trained nurses is: complete the ANMAC assessment and AHPRA registration, then find a 482 sponsoring employer in Australia (or go through the special aged care LAE program), work 2 years with the same employer, and then move to the 186 TRT for permanent residence. In parallel, candidates can submit an EOI for the 189 or 190 on SkillSelect if their points are competitive (IELTS 7.0+ in each skill will help the English points). Those willing to settle regionally can consider the 491 → 191 as an alternative permanent residence pathway over 3–4 years.
Common mistakes
- Confusing ANMAC and AHPRA: ANMAC assesses skills for migration purposes; AHPRA licenses the actual right to practise. The two processes are independent, both must be completed, and neither replaces the other.
- Not reaching IELTS 7.0 in each skill before applying to ANMAC: ANMAC requires this threshold and will reject the file if it is missing. Many candidates lose an extra 6–12 months simply by applying early with an insufficient IELTS result.
- Assuming current salary meets the TSMIT without checking: Some part-time or casual positions at small aged care providers have a lower total annual income (below the current TSMIT) — which can lead to a 482 refusal.
- Overlooking the work-experience requirement for the 482: The 482 requires relevant registered-nurse work experience within the most recent 5 years — student placement or nursing assistant experience does not count.
- Waiting for a 189 ITA without a backup plan: The number of ITAs and the cut-off points change with each invitation round. Candidates should keep an EOI active while also seeking employer or state sponsorship rather than relying on a single stream.