Registered nurse PR pathway in Australia, step by step
Settledin Team6 min readThe registered nurse PR pathway in Australia runs on two separate tracks: a migration skills assessment from ANMAC, and registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board through Ahpra. Most registered nurse codes are on the Home Affairs skilled lists for the 189, 190, 491, 482 and 186 visas, and each state sets its own nomination list.
Lists and pages checked on 7 November 2026.
What are the steps from nurse to PR in Australia?
The Nursing and Midwifery Board (NMBA) sets out a recommended order for internationally qualified nurses (Before you apply):
- Check the registration requirements.
- Check the immigration requirements.
- Complete the NMBA Self-check.
- Complete Orientation Part 1 (Stream A), or Orientation Part 1 plus an outcomes-based assessment (Stream B).
- Apply to Ahpra for registration, with all documents.
- NMBA decides whether the registration requirements are met.
- Apply for immigration, find employment, then move.
The Board says registration and a visa are "two entirely separate" processes, and success in one does not automatically mean success in the other. It also says any health practitioner must hold registration before taking up employment in their profession in Australia.
For the visa itself, Home Affairs lists the same gates for the 189 and 190: an occupation on the relevant skilled list, a suitable skills assessment, an invitation, and the points test (189, 190). The whole process is set out in how to get PR in Australia.
Which nursing occupations are on the skilled lists?
Nursing is not one occupation in the Home Affairs system. Registered nurses are split across a series of 6-digit codes, each with its own list and visa entries (Skilled occupation lists). The page footer shows "Last updated 6/08/2025".
| Code | Occupation | Home Affairs list | Visas listed (among others) | JSA 2026 rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 254499 | Registered Nurses nec | MLTSSL, CSOL | 189, 190, 491, 482, 186 | No shortage |
| 254412 | Registered Nurse (Aged Care) | MLTSSL, CSOL | 189, 190, 491, 482, 186 | Shortage |
| 254422 | Registered Nurse (Mental Health) | MLTSSL, CSOL | 189, 190, 491, 482, 186 | Shortage |
| 254411 | Nurse Practitioner | MLTSSL, CSOL | 189, 190, 491, 482, 186 | Shortage |
| 254415 | Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) | MLTSSL, CSOL | 189, 190, 491, 482, 186 | Shortage |
| 254211 | Nurse Educator | STSOL, CSOL | 190, 491, 482, 186 | No shortage |
| 254311 | Nurse Manager | STSOL | 190, 491 | No shortage |
| 411411 | Enrolled Nurse | STSOL, CSOL | 190, 491, 482, 186 | Regional shortage |
Lists as shown by Home Affairs on 7 November 2026. JSA ratings from the 2026 Occupation Shortage List, October 2026.
The same page names ANMAC as the assessing authority for each of these occupations. Three points from the table:
- The 189 appears only on the MLTSSL rows. Nurse Educator, Nurse Manager and Enrolled Nurse do not list it.
- Two code sets are in use. Home Affairs uses ANZSCO 2022 for the 186 and 482, and ANZSCO 2013 for other visas, but the registered nurse codes are the same in both.
- The JSA rating is not a visa list. Jobs and Skills Australia's 2026 Occupation Shortage List rates occupations on the labour market. 254499 is rated No shortage and 254412 is rated Shortage, but both are on the MLTSSL. See the 2026 Occupation Shortage List for how the two relate.
The lists are explained on Settledin's MLTSSL and CSOL pages, and every nursing code has its own occupation page.
Who assesses a nurse's skills?
For migration, the assessing authority is the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC). It is approved by the Australian Government to carry out skills assessments for nurses, midwives and direct care workers (skills assessment overview). ANMAC describes what it does:
- It assesses documents such as proof of identity, English language evidence, qualifications, work experience where required, and fitness to practise.
- It contacts education providers and employers to verify the information.
- If the outcome is positive, it sends an outcome letter confirming the ANZSCO code assessed.
- It does not assess nurses for registration to practise.
ANMAC also says it has announced a new application portal and new assessment names, with new fees, for later this year, and that the current process stays in use until the portal launches (upcoming changes). The general process for every occupation is in skills assessment in Australia, and Settledin has an ANMAC page.
Is Ahpra registration the same as the skills assessment?
No. The NMBA explains the difference (Before you apply):
| ANMAC | NMBA through Ahpra | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Skills assessment for migration | Registration to practise |
| What it takes into account | Qualifications and work experience | Qualifications only |
| Deals with | The visa application | Employment in Australia |
The Board states that, because of this difference, some applicants are approved for skilled migration but do not meet the registration requirements. Ahpra assesses registration applications on behalf of the NMBA.
Which English tests does the registration standard accept?
Registration has its own English standard, separate from the visa rules. The NMBA's English language skills registration standard (2025) took effect on 18 March 2025, and changes to the minimum test scores took effect on 23 April 2026 (English language skills). Ahpra lists five accepted tests (accepted English language tests):
- Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency
- IELTS Academic
- OET
- PTE Academic
- TOEFL iBT
Ahpra says at-home versions, or versions with remote proctoring, are not accepted, apart from the OET computer-based test taken at a test centre. Test results are generally valid for two years before the date of the registration application. The scores for each test are in the registration standard itself, and are not the same as the Home Affairs visa scores.
For the 189 and 190, Home Affairs asks for proof of at least Competent English at the time of invitation (Competent English, page updated 21 September 2026).
Which visas list registered nursing?
From the table above, the registered nurse codes on the MLTSSL and CSOL are listed against these visas:
| Visa | What it is | Nursing on it |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Independent (subclass 189) | Points-tested, no nomination | MLTSSL codes only |
| Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) | Points-tested, with state or territory nomination | Registered nurse codes, and others |
| Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) | Provisional, with nomination | Registered nurse codes, and others |
| Skills in Demand (subclass 482) | Employer sponsored | Registered nurse codes on the CSOL |
| Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) | Employer sponsored, permanent | Registered nurse codes on the CSOL |
For the 482, see the Skills in Demand visa, explained. Confirm any sponsorship with the employer, and never pay for sponsorship.
How do points work for a nurse?
The 189 and 190 are points-tested. Home Affairs says an applicant must be able to score 65 points or more, and must be under 45 when invited (189). Home Affairs does not publish a minimum score. How the categories add up is in the Australian PR points test, explained.
Settledin adds up an indicative points total from the official points table.
Work out your indicative points
What do the state pages say about nursing?
Each state and territory sets its own nomination list and criteria. Three that were readable on 7 November 2026:
| State | What its page shows for registered nurses |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | Unit group 2544 Registered Nurses is on the NSW Skills List for the 190. NSW says "not all occupations within an ANZSCO Unit Group are eligible", and that the 491 list update is still to come. See the NSW skills list. |
| Queensland | Codes 254411 to 254425 and 254499 are on the onshore skilled occupation list, ticked for the 190 and 491. The page says an occupation not on the list "is not eligible for Queensland nomination in 2026-27". See Queensland state nomination. |
| South Australia | Registered nurse codes are on the occupations list for the 190 and 491, with a minimum of 65 points, across its Graduates, Skilled Employment, Outer Regional and Offshore streams. See South Australia state nomination. |
Victoria, Western Australia, the Northern Territory, the ACT and Tasmania publish their own lists. The state nomination tracker links each one.
Where can each step be checked on official sites?
| Step | Official page |
|---|---|
| Occupation lists | Home Affairs skilled occupation lists |
| Skills assessment | ANMAC |
| Registration | Nursing and Midwifery Board |
| English for registration | Ahpra accepted tests |
| English for the visa | Home Affairs Competent English |
| Labour market rating | JSA Occupation Shortage List |
Frequently asked questions
Is registered nurse on the Skills in Demand list?
Home Affairs lists the registered nurse codes in the table above on the CSOL, which applies to the 482 and the 186. Check the exact code on the Home Affairs page.
Do I need Ahpra registration before applying for a visa?
The two processes are separate. The Board says the visa and registration are assessed independently, and that registration is needed before taking up employment as a nurse in Australia.
Which English tests does Ahpra accept?
Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency, IELTS Academic, OET, PTE Academic and TOEFL iBT, taken under the conditions Ahpra sets out.
Is there a difference between 254499 and 254412?
Yes. 254499 is Registered Nurses nec, and 254412 is Registered Nurse (Aged Care). Each is a separate code with its own ANMAC outcome letter and its own JSA rating: No shortage for 254499 and Shortage for 254412 in 2026.
Can a nurse apply from overseas?
The NMBA has a registration pathway for internationally qualified nurses, and ANMAC runs assessments for nurses registered overseas. The 189, 190 and 491 are points-tested visas with an invitation step. State pages set their own rules for applicants outside Australia.
Where is the current shortage rating?
In the JSA Occupation Shortage List, which is published once a year, and is not a visa list.
This article describes published Department of Home Affairs and regulator information, checked on 7 November 2026. It is general information, not migration advice. For advice on your situation, speak to a registered migration agent. Check the register.