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Skilled migration · Nursing & midwifery

Nursing & Midwifery Skilled Migration to Australia

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The two approvals every overseas nurse needs — the ANMAC skills assessment and AHPRA registration — plus the right visa

MARN 1576536 · Verifiable at mara.gov.au

Australia has strong, ongoing demand for nurses and midwives, and several skilled and employer-sponsored visas lead to permanent residency. But overseas nurses often trip over one point: migrating as a nurse involves two separate approvals from two different bodies. Get the order right and the process is far smoother.

The two steps, side by side

1. ANMAC — the migration skills assessment. The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council assesses whether your nursing qualification and experience meet the standard for your nominated occupation. You need a positive ANMAC assessment for the skilled-visa occupation you nominate.

2. AHPRA / NMBA — registration to practise. To actually work as a nurse or midwife, you must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia through AHPRA. Where your qualification is not directly approved, this can involve an outcomes-based assessment and bridging study.

These are different processes with different criteria. Neither replaces the other, and neither is a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) certificate — nursing is a registered profession, not a VET-RPL occupation. Because registration can be the longer step, many nurses begin both in parallel.

Choose your nursing occupation

ANZSCO separates nursing into several fields, and you nominate the one that matches your actual experience. Each page below covers the ANMAC pathway, evidence and FAQs for that occupation:

Not sure which field fits? Nominate the occupation your employment references most clearly evidence — the ANZSCO code you choose determines which nursing area you can claim on your visa. More on the ANMAC skills assessment →

Which skilled visa?

Once your occupation is positively assessed, the assessment supports a points-tested or employer-sponsored skilled visa:

Planning your move as a nurse?

Book a consultation to map your ANMAC assessment, AHPRA registration and the best visa for your points and circumstances — in the right order.

Book a consultation ($200 + GST)

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between ANMAC and AHPRA for nurses?

ANMAC (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council) conducts the migration skills assessment — it decides whether your nursing qualification and experience meet the standard for your nominated occupation and visa. AHPRA, through the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), handles registration to practise as a nurse in Australia. They are separate processes and most overseas nurses need both.

Do I need to redo my nursing degree to work in Australia?

Not always. If your qualification is recognised, you may not need to repeat study. Where it is not directly recognised, AHPRA/NMBA may require an outcomes-based assessment and, in some cases, bridging study rather than a full new degree. The ANMAC skills assessment and the AHPRA registration pathway assess different things, so check both for your qualification.

Which visa can a registered nurse use?

Registered nurses have historically been eligible across the points-tested skilled visas (Subclass 189, 190 and 491) and the employer-sponsored pathways (Subclass 482 and the 186 permanent pathway), subject to the current occupation lists and any nomination. The best option depends on your points, age, English, state nomination and whether an employer will sponsor you.

Can RPL help me qualify as a nurse in Australia?

No. Nursing is a registered profession assessed on your nursing qualification and registration, not through VET Recognition of Prior Learning. If your qualification is not recognised, the pathway is an AHPRA/NMBA assessment (and possibly bridging), not an RPL certificate.

How long does the process take?

Timeframes vary with ANMAC and AHPRA processing, English testing and your visa pathway. Because registration can be the longer step, many nurses start the ANMAC skills assessment and AHPRA registration in parallel. Confirm current processing times with each body when you plan.

Related

Are you eligible to migrate as a nurse?

Nursing pathways turn on your ANMAC skills assessment, AHPRA/NMBA registration, English and points. Tell us your qualifications and experience and a registered migration agent will come back within one business day with the pathway that realistically fits. Free, no obligation.

Free & confidential · reply within 1 business day · MARN 1576536

General information only, not migration advice. Occupation lists, assessing-authority arrangements and registration requirements change — confirm the current position for your situation. Skills assessments are conducted by ANMAC and registration by AHPRA/NMBA, not by WIDEN. No qualification or assessment guarantees a visa. Migration advice is provided by Keshab Chapagain (MARN 1576536) only after a paid consultation under a written service agreement.