Move to Australia with exactly the level of professional support you need.
Choose full representation, professional guidance at a specific stage, or a fixed-fee review before you submit.
Cai Jones | MARN 2117687 | UK-based | Direct advice from the registered migration agent.
Move to Australia as a UK Nurse
If you are a UK-qualified nurse considering working or settling in Australia, you may need AHPRA registration, an ANMAC migration skills assessment and an appropriate visa. These are separate processes. Visa Your Way provides direct migration advice with a choice of Review Only, DIY + Support or Full Support.
AHPRA, ANMAC and Your Visa Are Separate Processes
Moving to Australia as a nurse can involve three separate stages. Completing one stage does not automatically complete or guarantee the next.
1. Professional Registration with AHPRA – Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency
To work as a registered nurse in Australia, you must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. Applications are managed through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, commonly known as AHPRA.
2. ANMAC Skills Assessment – Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council
If you are applying through General Skilled Migration, including a subclass 189, 190 or 491 visa, you will generally need a suitable migration skills assessment from the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council. This is separate from professional registration.
3. Australian Visa Application
You must also qualify for an appropriate visa. Depending on your circumstances, this may involve General Skilled Migration, state nomination or employer sponsorship. Visa eligibility depends on factors including your age, qualifications, work experience, English-language evidence and the requirements applying to the particular pathway.
Streamlined AHPRA Registration for Eligible UK Nurses
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia introduced additional registration pathways for internationally qualified registered nurses in April 2025. The United Kingdom is one of the approved comparable jurisdictions.
These pathways may make registration more straightforward for eligible UK nurses, but eligibility is not automatic. Relevant criteria include completing at least 1,800 hours of practice as a registered nurse in an approved comparable jurisdiction since 1 January 2017, together with the other registration, identity, English-language, recency-of-practice and suitability requirements.
AHPRA will determine which registration pathway applies based on the individual nurse’s qualifications, registration history and professional experience. Obtaining professional registration does not itself provide a visa or guarantee eligibility for skilled migration.
View the official registration information for internationally qualified nurses
Australian Visa Options for UK Nurses
The most suitable visa pathway depends on your age, nursing specialism, qualifications, work experience, points position, family circumstances and whether you have an Australian employer willing to sponsor you.
General Skilled Migration
Registered nurses may be eligible to submit an Expression of Interest for a subclass 189, 190 or 491 visa. These visas are points-tested and require a suitable skills assessment and an invitation before a visa application can be lodged.
Meeting the minimum points requirement does not guarantee an invitation. Invitation prospects depend on the occupation, points ranking and the relevant federal or state nomination settings.
Employer-Sponsored Visas
Nurses with a suitable Australian job offer may be able to consider employer-sponsored pathways such as the subclass 482, 186 or 494 visa. The requirements depend on the position, employer, salary, work experience and particular visa pathway being offered.
Working Holiday Visa
UK passport holders aged between 18 and 35 inclusive may be eligible for a Working Holiday subclass 417 visa. This can provide a temporary way to live and work in Australia, but appropriate professional registration is still required before working as a registered nurse.
The Working Holiday visa is not itself a permanent skilled-migration visa, although some nurses later consider skilled migration or employer sponsorship if eligible.
How Visa Your Way Can Help UK Nurses
Visa Your Way provides the visa and migration assistance connected with your move to Australia. We can help you understand how professional registration affects your visa strategy and assist with the relevant stages of the migration process.
All migration advice is provided directly by Cai Jones, Registered Migration Agent, MARN 2117687.
Assistance may include:
- Assessing potentially suitable visa pathways
- Points calculations and migration strategy
- ANMAC migration skills assessments
- Expressions of Interest and state nomination applications
- Employer-sponsored visa pathways
- Reviewing or preparing visa applications
Review Only
You prepare the relevant application and we check the forms and supporting evidence before submission.
DIY + Support
You remain in control while receiving professional guidance and review assistance at agreed stages.
Full Support
We professionally prepare and manage the agreed migration application or stage for you.