Are you an overseas-trained nurse with a bachelor’s degree and a couple of years on the wards?
Australia is one of the few countries where permanent residence is realistically available to you without a sponsor.
Nursing sits on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List. That opens the independent pathways.
However, the first decision in a registered nurse skilled visa application is one most people get wrong.
It happens before you fill in a single form: choosing your occupation code.
In practice, this guide is written for three groups. First, nurses still overseas planning a move.
Second, nurses already in Australia on a student or graduate visa.
Third, employers weighing up whether sponsorship is realistic.
The registered nurse skilled visa rules are the same for all three, but the sensible sequence differs quite a lot.
Key takeaways on the registered nurse skilled visa
- There is no generic “Registered Nurse” code. A registered nurse skilled visa application nominates one specialisation from 254412 to 254499.
- ANZSCO 254411 is Nurse Practitioner — an advanced-practice role requiring a master’s degree and endorsement. Do not nominate it because it appears first in the list.
- Registered nurse specialisations sit on the MLTSSL, so subclass 189, 190 and 491 are all available, alongside employer-sponsored 482 and 186.
- ANMAC does your skills assessment. AHPRA does your registration. They are separate applications with different criteria, and you need both.
- ANMAC’s Full pathway is restricted to seven countries. If you trained in India, the Philippines or Nepal, your route runs through AHPRA registration first.
- Nursing needs Proficient English — IELTS Academic 7 in each band, or OET Grade B — which conveniently also earns you 10 points.
- Advertised salaries commonly sit around $82,500 to $95,000, with senior and specialist roles above that.
- The most common refusal driver is a mismatch between your nominated specialisation and the clinical work you can actually evidence.
Registered nurse skilled visa at a glance
Correct as at 3 August 2026. Confirm before you lodge.
Visa pathways
| Subclass | Type | Sponsor needed | Extra points | Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 189 | Permanent | None | — | $6,135 |
| 190 | Permanent | State or territory | +5 | $6,140 |
| 491 | Provisional, 5 years | Regional state or family | +15 | $6,140 |
| 482 | Temporary | Employer | No points test | Varies |
| 186 | Permanent | Employer | No points test | Varies |
Salary bands
| Level | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Award minimum | $70,235 |
| Graduate / entry | $70,000 – $78,000 |
| Experienced RN | $82,500 – $95,000 |
| Senior / specialist / ICU | $100,000+ |
| Sponsorship floor (CSIT) | $79,423 |
A sponsored role must clear the Core Skills Income Threshold and the annual market salary rate, whichever is higher.
Nurses reach Australia by several different routes, and the fastest registered nurse skilled visa for you depends on your registration status, your specialisation and whether you are already onshore.
Take the Free Visa Assessment →What’s in this guide
- The registered nurse skilled visa code problem
- Registered nurse skilled visa list status in 2026
- ANMAC assessment vs AHPRA registration
- Registered nurse skilled visa pathways
- Which states nominate a registered nurse skilled visa?
- Salary snapshot
- Points test quirks for nurses
- Registered nurse skilled visa pitfalls to avoid
- Frequently asked questions
The registered nurse skilled visa code problem
Unit group 2544 covers registered nurses. Notably, it contains more than a dozen separate occupations.
However, you nominate exactly one. There is no code that simply says “Registered Nurse”.
Consequently, this surprises almost everyone who comes to it for the first time.
| Code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 254411 | Nurse Practitioner — advanced practice, requires a master’s and NMBA endorsement. Not a general RN code. |
| 254412 | Registered Nurse (Aged Care) |
| 254413 | Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health) |
| 254414 | Registered Nurse (Community Health) |
| 254415 | Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) |
| 254416 | Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability) |
| 254417 | Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation) |
| 254418 | Registered Nurse (Medical) |
| 254421 | Registered Nurse (Medical Practice) |
| 254422 | Registered Nurse (Mental Health) |
| 254423 | Registered Nurse (Perioperative) |
| 254424 | Registered Nurse (Surgical) |
| 254425 | Registered Nurse (Paediatrics) |
| 254499 | Registered Nurses not elsewhere classified |
Correct as at 3 August 2026. Note there is no 254419 or 254420 — the sequence jumps from 254418 to 254421. Related codes outside this group include Midwife (254111), Nurse Educator (254211), Nurse Manager (254311) and Enrolled Nurse (411411).
Still, verify the exact code and its current list status before you act on any of this.
Use the Department of Home Affairs occupation list. Codes and titles do get amended by legislative instrument.
Indeed, an August 2026 review moved several trades and one management occupation between lists. Nursing was not affected.
Millennium Migration checks this at the point of lodgement rather than relying on a list checked weeks earlier.
How to pick the right registered nurse skilled visa code
In practice, the rule is simple to state and harder to apply. Nominate the specialisation your evidence supports.
Do not pick the one that sounds most senior, or the one a friend used successfully.
Instead, both look at your actual clinical duties. Then they check your unit, your rostered work and your references.
Take a nurse with four years on a general medical ward who nominates Critical Care because ICU sounds better.
That problem surfaces at exactly the wrong moment.
Registered nurse skilled visa list status in 2026
A registered nurse skilled visa can be built on either of two list systems.
First, it helps to know which one you are looking at.
Registered nurse specialisations appear on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List.
That is what makes the independent subclass 189 available. Furthermore, they appear on the Core Skills Occupation List.
That list covers the Skills in Demand subclass 482 visa. It also covers the Direct Entry stream of the subclass 186.
One technical point matters more than it should. The points-tested lists for 189, 190 and 491 use an older ANZSCO release.
By contrast, the CSOL used for 482 and 186 uses ANZSCO 2022.
As a result, a title or code occasionally differs between them.
Moreover, the Australian Bureau of Statistics replaced ANZSCO with OSCA in December 2024.
That change was for statistical purposes. Migration is expected to follow eventually.
However, as at August 2026 the occupation lists still run on ANZSCO.
So if you encounter an OSCA code somewhere, do not assume it is the one your application needs.
ANMAC assessment vs AHPRA registration
Notably, these two get conflated constantly, and the confusion costs people months.
Crucially, they are different organisations doing different jobs.
Consequently, a registered nurse skilled visa needs both to go right.
ANMAC — the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council — performs the migration skills assessment.
Specifically, it confirms your qualification and experience are comparable to Australian standards for visa purposes.
As a result, a positive ANMAC outcome is what lets you claim points and lodge a registered nurse skilled visa application.
However, it does not permit you to work as a nurse.
AHPRA, through the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, grants the registration that actually lets you practise.
In short, employers will not put you on a ward without it.
Two separate tracks, two different jobs
ANMAC
Migration skills assessment
Lets you claim points and lodge a visa application.
Does not let you work as a nurse.
AHPRA / NMBA
Professional registration
Lets you practise and be employed.
Does not give you a visa.
For most nurses these are not fully parallel. Unless you qualify for ANMAC’s Full pathway, AHPRA registration comes first and unlocks the faster ANMAC route.
Which ANMAC pathway applies to you
Importantly, ANMAC runs four assessment types.
Which one you can use is decided by your registration status and where you trained.
This is the part the internet most often gets wrong.
| Pathway | Who it is for | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Modified | Already registered with AHPRA/NMBA or in New Zealand. English evidence usually not required. | AUD $395 |
| Modified PLUS | Hold AHPRA in-principle approval subject to identity verification, plus current overseas registration. | AUD $395 |
| Full | Bachelor of Nursing from a limited list of countries — Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland, Singapore, Spain, the UK or the US — and current registration there. English evidence mandatory. | AUD $595 |
| Direct Care | Nursing support workers and personal care assistants — a different occupation group, not a registered nurse route. | AUD $545 |
Fees correct as at 3 August 2026; an outcome letter update costs AUD $145. ANMAC’s current wait time for an assessment to commence is approximately 6–8 weeks, which is time until it starts rather than total turnaround. Confirm both directly with ANMAC, and use AHPRA’s online self-check to confirm your pathway before paying.
Why the Full pathway is not a catch-all
Read the Full row carefully. Indeed, this is where plans go wrong.
By contrast, it is not a catch-all for everyone without Australian registration.
If you trained in India, the Philippines, Nepal or most other countries, you generally cannot use it.
Your CV does not change that. Instead your route runs through AHPRA first.
You use the Outcomes-Based Assessment stream of the Internationally Qualified Nurse and Midwife framework.
In practice that means the NCLEX-RN exam and an OSCE. Only then do you return to ANMAC for a Modified assessment.
Consequently, the advice to “run both in parallel” holds only for Full pathway nurses.
They can lodge with ANMAC and AHPRA at the same time. For everyone else the order is closer to sequential.
Starting AHPRA early is not merely sensible. It is what unlocks the rest.
Millennium Migration maps this order at the outset. A visa in hand with no registration is an expensive place to sit.
Registered nurse skilled visa pathways
Four routes matter here.
The right one depends less on clinical strength than on your points score and whether you are onshore.
A common misconception is that a strong clinical CV substitutes for points. It does not.
The system ranks on the points table. An outstanding ward nurse of 44 scores below an average one of 30.
Subclass 189, Skilled Independent. Permanent residence, no sponsor, live anywhere.
This is the cleanest outcome and the hardest to reach, precisely because invitations go to the top of the ranking.
Competitive nursing scores generally sit well above the 65-point floor.
Subclass 190, Skilled Nominated. Permanent residence with a state or territory nomination.
It is worth 5 extra points, in exchange for a commitment to that state. Notably, nursing is nominated widely.
That makes 190 the workhorse pathway for nurses just short of a 189.
Subclass 491, Skilled Work Regional. This one is provisional and runs five years.
Regional nomination or eligible family sponsorship adds 15 points.
It converts to permanent residence via subclass 191 after three years of regional living and income.
However, the 2026-27 program cut regional places from 33,000 to 14,110. Nomination is now materially more competitive.
Employer-sponsored options for nurses
Subclass 482 into 186. This is the pathway the 2026-27 program favours most.
Employer-sponsored places rose from 44,000 to 58,040.
If you have a hospital or aged care provider willing to sponsor, this route sidesteps the points ranking entirely.
Equally, it is the practical answer for nurses whose points will never be competitive because of age.
Employers often assume sponsoring a nurse is complicated. Meanwhile, applicants often assume it is simpler.
Equally, both are wrong in the same direction. The requirements are manageable.
However, they must be satisfied before anyone is promised a role.
In practice, Millennium Migration works with health and aged care employers on exactly that sequencing.
Not sure which nursing code fits your experience?
Tell us where you’ve worked and we’ll tell you what you can evidence.
Which states nominate a registered nurse skilled visa?
Notably, nursing is nominated in every state and territory.
However, each runs its own program, list and selection model.
Consequently, the same profile can be competitive in one state and invisible in another.
Each state name in the table below links to that government’s own migration site.
State-by-state comparison
| State | How it selects | What strengthens a nursing application | 2025-26 places 190 / 491 |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | Invitation only, from its own Skills List. Merit and sector alignment. | Healthcare is a stated priority. Employment in NSW matters a great deal. Highly competitive. | 2,100 / 1,500 |
| Victoria | Registration of Interest, then invitation. No nomination fee. | Nursing is a listed priority sector. Onshore Victorians hold a clear advantage. | 2,700 / 700 |
| Queensland | Registration of Interest. Usually opens early in the program year. | Skilled stream generally expects around six months of skilled work in Queensland, plus a two-year commitment. | 1,850 / 750 |
| South Australia | Own occupation lists, with a separate high-calibre stream. | Strongly favours applicants already living and working in SA. Also opens earlier than most. | 1,350 / 900 |
| Western Australia | Periodic invitation rounds against its own list. | Health is a standing priority. Rounds can be large, so timing matters. | 2,000 / 1,400 |
| Tasmania | Connection-based pathways rather than pure points ranking. | A Tasmanian job offer, or study and residence in the state, does most of the work. | 1,200 / 650 |
| ACT | Matrix scoring, separate from the federal points test. | Canberra residence, local employment and English all score inside the matrix. | 800 / 800 |
| Northern Territory | Onshore and offshore streams, historically the most accessible. | The whole territory is regional, so a 491 there carries the full 15 points. Allocations can exhaust early. | 850 / 800 |
Place counts are the 2025-26 allocations confirmed by the Department of Home Affairs on 4 November 2025, totalling 20,350 nationally. They are shown as a size guide only — 2026-27 allocations had not been published as at 3 August 2026. Selection patterns reflect recent program years and are indicative. Each state republishes its list and criteria annually, and several amend them mid-year. State names link to each government’s own migration site.
How to read this as a nurse
In practice, three points follow from that table.
First, apply early. Allocations run out. Indeed, several states closed months before the program year ended.
Second, you can register interest with several states at once.
Because these are independent programs, there is no penalty.
Third, presence beats points in several states.
Working in your target state often matters more than five extra points.
Therefore Millennium Migration models which state suits your specialisation, location and score before you commit.
Salary snapshot
Figures vary by source. Award minimums, enterprise agreements and advertised market rates all differ.
Therefore treat any single number sceptically. Broadly, as at August 2026:
- Award minimum: around $70,235 for a full-time registered nurse, rising to roughly $115,825 at senior classifications
- Graduate / entry: commonly $70,000 to $78,000
- Experienced RN: advertised roles average around $82,500, with many between $85,000 and $95,000
- Senior, specialist or ICU: $100,000 upwards, and past $130,000 in some specialties
Millennium Migration refreshes these figures each quarter.
A stale salary number is the detail returning readers notice first.
Moreover, shift allowances, penalty rates and superannuation sit on top of base.
That is why headline averages differ so much.
For sponsorship, the role must clear the Core Skills Income Threshold of AUD $79,423 from 1 July 2026.
It must also clear the annual market salary rate for that position. Whichever is higher applies.
Consequently, a regional aged care role advertised at $76,000 cannot be nominated.
It falls below the threshold, however willing the employer.
Points test quirks for nurses
Nursing has one quiet advantage in the points test. Notably, we point it out to almost every nurse we speak to.
Specifically, it concerns English. AHPRA registration requires Proficient English.
That means IELTS Academic 7 in each band, or OET Grade B in each component.
Consequently, most registrable nurses already carry 10 points they may not know about.
Furthermore, moving from there to Superior at IELTS 8 is worth another 10.
For nurses it is often the most efficient way to become competitive.
Clinical experience accrues slowly, and age points only fall.
Beyond that, the usual levers apply. Those are a partner skills assessment and a NAATI community language credential.
Australian study also counts if you completed a bridging or postgraduate program here.
Notably, nurses who studied in regional Australia should check the extra regional study points.
These are frequently missed. Millennium Migration audits these before an expression of interest goes in.
Unclaimed points are the cheapest ones to find.
Finally, one caution on experience. Employment counts only from the date your assessing authority treats you as skilled.
Pre-registration and assistant-in-nursing work usually will not count.
That holds however clinical the work felt at the time.
Registered nurse skilled visa pitfalls to avoid
Nominating 254411. Because it is the first code in the group, it gets picked by mistake.
In fact, it is Nurse Practitioner, an advanced-practice endorsement requiring a master’s degree.
Therefore nominating it without that background produces a negative assessment.
Assuming you qualify for ANMAC’s Full pathway. It covers a short list of countries only.
Budgeting and sequencing a migration plan around it when you are not eligible wastes months.
Specialisation and evidence not matching. Your references and payslips must support the code you nominated.
For example, references saying “worked as a registered nurse” are weak evidence for a specialised code.
Assuming ANMAC lets you work. Again, it does not. Registration is a separate step.
Nurses have arrived on a granted visa and then found they cannot work for months. AHPRA registration was still processing.
Millennium Migration plans around that rather than discovering it.
Letting the assessment or English test expire. Importantly, both have validity periods.
Moreover, points are assessed at the date of invitation, not when you lodged your expression of interest.
So check the validity on your own ANMAC outcome letter and diary it.
Treating a state nomination as a formality. By contrast, states set their own rules on top of the federal criteria.
Those cover occupation lists, residence conditions and experience requirements.
States also change them mid-year.
Therefore a profile that suited one state in August may not suit it in March.
Millennium Migration works on nursing files across all four pathways. We operate from offices in Melbourne and Adelaide.
Sam Lotfollahi, MARN 0901704, will tell you plainly which route your profile actually supports.
That includes when the honest answer is employer sponsorship rather than the independent visa you wanted.
Frequently asked questions
Codes and eligibility
What is the ANZSCO code for a registered nurse?
There isn’t a single one. Registered nurse specialisations run from 254412 to 254499 within unit group 2544, and you nominate the one matching your clinical area. ANZSCO 254411 is Nurse Practitioner, a different occupation requiring a master’s degree and endorsement.
Which visa can a registered nurse apply for?
Registered nurse specialisations are on the MLTSSL, so subclass 189, 190 and 491 are available, as are the employer-sponsored subclass 482 and 186. The right choice depends on your points score, your age and whether you have a sponsoring employer.
Can an aged care nurse get permanent residence?
Yes. Registered Nurse (Aged Care), ANZSCO 254412, is on the MLTSSL and supports both points-tested and employer-sponsored pathways. Note this is distinct from carer and personal care roles, which sit at a different skill level and use ANMAC’s separate Direct Care assessment.
ANMAC and AHPRA
Which state is easiest for a nurse to get nominated in?
There is no permanent answer, because every state republishes its list and allocation each year. Historically the Northern Territory and Tasmania have been the most accessible, while New South Wales and Victoria are the most competitive. As at August 2026 most states had not yet released their 2026-27 settings, so check each state’s own migration website.
Is ANMAC the same as AHPRA?
No. ANMAC does the migration skills assessment that supports your visa application. AHPRA, through the Nursing and Midwifery Board, grants the registration that lets you practise. You need both, and they are separate applications.
Do I need AHPRA registration before I apply for a visa?
For most nurses, yes in practical terms. Unless you qualify for ANMAC’s Full pathway, which is limited to a short list of qualification countries, AHPRA registration is what unlocks the Modified assessment. Nurses trained in India, the Philippines or Nepal generally go through AHPRA’s Outcomes-Based Assessment first.
How much does an ANMAC skills assessment cost?
As at August 2026, a Modified or Modified PLUS assessment is AUD $395, a Full assessment is AUD $595, and the Direct Care assessment is AUD $545. An outcome letter update costs AUD $145. Confirm current fees with ANMAC before applying.
How long does ANMAC take?
ANMAC’s published wait time is approximately 6 to 8 weeks for an assessment to commence, which is the time before it starts rather than total turnaround. Add time for document gathering, verification from your home country regulator and any requests for further information.
English, salary and classification
What English score do nurses need?
Registration generally requires Proficient English — IELTS Academic 7 in each band, or OET Grade B in each component — which also earns 10 points in the points test. Superior English at IELTS 8 earns 20. Confirm current requirements with AHPRA and ANMAC separately, as each sets its own.
How much do registered nurses earn in Australia?
Advertised registered nurse salaries average around $82,500, with many roles between $85,000 and $95,000 and senior or specialist positions above $100,000. Award minimums start near $70,235. Shift allowances and penalty rates sit on top of base.
Does the ANZSCO to OSCA change affect nurses?
Not yet for migration purposes. The Australian Bureau of Statistics replaced ANZSCO with OSCA in December 2024 for statistical use, but skilled occupation lists still run on ANZSCO as at August 2026. Confirm which classification applies before relying on a code you find online.
Get your nursing pathway mapped before you spend a dollar
The code you nominate shapes every step of your registered nurse skilled visa after it. Worth getting right the first time.
Related reading
- Skilled visa points test 2026: how to calculate your score
- The 2026-27 Migration Program explained
- All Australian visa pathways we handle
- Speak to a registered migration agent about your nursing application
Sam Lotfollahi
Principal, Millennium Migration · MARN 0901704
Sam has seventeen years of casework experience across skilled, employer-sponsored, family, student and humanitarian visas, and leads Millennium Migration from offices in Melbourne and Adelaide. He works directly on client files rather than passing them down a chain.
Sources
All codes, fees, thresholds and salary figures in this article are correct as at 3 August 2026. Occupation lists, assessing authority fees, registration standards and salaries change — always confirm current requirements with the Department of Home Affairs, ANMAC and AHPRA before you act.
- Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council — Information on ANZSCO codes, skills assessment pathways and fees
- Australian Bureau of Statistics — ANZSCO unit group 2544, Registered Nurses
- Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency — Information for international practitioners
- Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia — Internationally qualified nurses and midwives
- Department of Home Affairs — skilled occupation lists, MLTSSL and the Core Skills Occupation List
- Department of Home Affairs — State and territory nomination allocations, 2025-26 figures set 4 November 2025
- Migration Regulations 1994 — Schedule 6D points test; Core Skills Income Threshold from 1 July 2026
- Fair Work Commission Nurses Award pay guide 2026; Seek Healthcare Salary Report 2026
- Department of Home Affairs — Permanent Migration Program planning levels 2026-27
- Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority — Register of Migration Agents
This article is general information only and does not take your personal circumstances into account. It is not legal or migration advice. Occupation lists, assessing authority requirements, registration standards, salaries and thresholds change — always confirm current requirements with the Department of Home Affairs, ANMAC and AHPRA before you act. Accurate as at August 2026. For advice about your own situation, start with our free visa assessment or speak with Sam Lotfollahi, MARN 0901704.