Doctor Visa Options Australia

The most common visa for Medical Practitioners moving to Australia to hold initially is a temporary visa. These are quicker and easier to get granted from offshore compared to permanent visas and allows the practitioners to start working in Australia whilst then pursuing the permanent visa options for doctors.

Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (Subclass 482) – Medium-Term Stream

Employers can offset labour shortages with qualified workers from abroad thanks to the temporary skill shortage visa known as subclass 482. This is the most common visa option for General practitioners looking for work in Australia, and many practices are happy to provide sponsorship.

Health Workforce Certificate Requirement (removed in 2023): Until September 2023, employers sponsoring overseas GPs needed a Health Workforce Certificate from a Rural Workforce Agency to prove community need. This requirement was abolished when the Visas for GPs program ended on 16 September 2023, making it simpler and faster for clinics to sponsor GPs for visas. (Doctors are still subject to the Section 19AB ten-year moratorium, so most GPs will still work in DPA locations unless they obtain an exemption.)

The following prerequisites apply to medical practitioners who wish to qualify for a subclass 482 visa:

• Medical registration
• Must work primarily for the sponsor employer

Age restrictions don’t apply to subclass 482 visa for general practitioners and other doctor applicants.

In 95% of cases, employers offer the 482 temporary visa as detailed above to doctors when they first arrive.

Further below, you’ll find information about permanent visa options. These are generally only suitable when you have already worked in Australia as a GP, unless you come into Australia as a employee instead of a contractor – Please note that the vast majority of vacancies in Australia are for contractors – not employees.

For medical practitioners who are looking at a short-term stay in Australia, the training visa (subclass 407) is a practical option.

The subclass 407 training visa enables a sponsored person to take part in professional development training programs in Australia or workplace-based occupational training activities to advance their abilities in their occupation, field of expertise or area of tertiary study.

The requirements for a subclass 407 visa are as follows:

• Valid substantive visa (not a subclass 403, subclass 771, or special purpose visa)
• Nominated by an approved sponsor
• At least 18 years of age
• Satisfy health and character standards
• Adequate health insurance
• Legitimate temporary entrant
• Functional English literacy
• Sign the Australian Values Statement
• Does not owe the Australian Government any money or has made the necessary preparations to repay any debts owed
• Not had a visa revoked or a prior visa application denied

The Subclass 407 visa is often utilised by practitioners working in hospitals or doing specialist fellowship programs.

As a shortage profession, Medical practitioners have a number of alternatives depending on their chosen specialism and other considerations if they want to travel, work, and live as a permanent resident in Australia.

Each nominated occupation is defined according to the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations for immigration law purposes (ANZSCO).

The ANZSCO occupational categorization system gives a broad overview of each occupation, as well as information on the required degree of competence, registration and/or licensing requirements, and tasks and duties that may be involved in each occupation.

The following permanent visa options for doctors do not require employer sponsorship.

Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)

The point-based skilled independent visa (subclass 189) caters to foreign workers possessing skills that various Australian states need. It makes it possible for skilled professionals to relocate to Australia and live here without needing the sponsorship of a family member, employer or a government nomination from a state or territory.

This visa is dependent on submitting and EOI and then receiving an invitation to apply, and the time frames can vary.  This visa provides one of the best opportunities for GPs to obtain Permanent Residency.

Medical practitioners applying for this visa must satisfy certain requirements, including:

• General (not provisional, limited, or supervised) or specialist AHPRA registration
• Meeting the required skilled migration points
• Age limit of 45 (below 45 years of age at the time of invitation)
• You must be invited to apply for this visa

If you are a GP and meet the above requirements, you can apply for a general practitioner 189 visa.–>

 Skilled State-Sponsored Visa (Subclass 190)

You can remain in Australia permanently with the points-based skilled nominated visa (subclass 190). With this visa for skilled workers, you can work, study, and travel to Australia as a permanent resident.

If you’re a medical practitioner applying for the subclass 190 visa, you need the following:

• General (not provisional, limited, or supervised) or specialist AHPRA registration
• Nomination from an Australian state or territory
• Medical registration
• Age limit of 45 (below 45 years of age at the time of invitation)
• Required skilled migration points

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491)

The skilled work regional visa known as subclass 491 allows for five years of living, working, and studying in a regional area of Australia. You need to meet the following prerequisites to qualify for a Subclass 491 visa as a medical practitioner:

• General (not provisional, limited, or supervised) or specialist AHPRA registration
• State or territory medical registration in Australia
• Nomination by a territory government agency
• Age limit of 45 (below 45 years of age at the time of invitation)
• Required skilled migration points

Although this is a five-year provisional visa that only allows you to live, work and study in a regional area, eligible holders can apply for permanent residency through the Subclass 191 visa after three years of regional work and meeting income and residency requirements.

If you’re seeking employer-sponsored permanent visa options as a doctor, check out the ones below.

Employer Nomination Scheme Visa (Subclass 186)

A path to Australian permanent residency for skilled workers is possible through the subclass 186 visa, which is based on an employer nomination program.

Medical practitioners who want to qualify for the subclass 186 visa need to meet these requirements:

• Employment level compatible with their medical registration
• Direct stream of entry (specific requirements also apply)
• At least three years of relevant work experience in the medical field
• Age limit of 45 (below 45 years of age at the time of application)

For those applying for a 186 visa as a general practitioner for the temporary residency stream, you must:

• Have spent at least three years working full-time in a relevant medical profession.
• Be below 45 years of age at the time of your application, unless you’re a doctor who has worked in their field for at least three years (as a holder of a 457 or 482 visa), and out of those three years, you spent two years employed in regional Australia.

Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visa (subclass 187)

The RSMS visa closed permanently to new applications on 16 November 2019. It has been fully replaced by the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 494), which is now the main pathway for regional employer sponsorship in Australia.

Permanent Visa Option for Doctors With a Partner/Spouse in Australia

Medical practitioners can apply for a partner visa if they are in a relationship with an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

With the partner visa (subclass 820 and 801), you can live, work, and study in Australia.

Although there is no minimum age requirement for a partner visa, you must still fulfil the necessary conditions to demonstrate that your relationship is genuine and ongoing.

Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Subclass 494 (Employer Sponsored Stream)

The skilled employer sponsored regional (provisional) visa subclass 494 is another temporary visa alternative for skilled workers.

Medical practitioners applying for the 494 visa need to have the following:

• Employer sponsorship in regional Australia
• Position is likely to exist for 5 years
• Age limit of 45 (below 45 years of age at the time of application)
• Proof of English competency
• Advice from a regional certifying body
• Meet the required annual market salary rate
• Skills assessment and three years of experience in their nominated occupation

The subclass 494 visa provides a permanent residency pathway.

COMBINED VERSION FOR SUBCLASS 494

Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Subclass 494 (Employer Sponsored Stream)

The skilled employer sponsored regional (provisional) visa subclass 494 is another temporary visa alternative for skilled workers. It enables firms in regional Australia to find internationally skilled people to fill labour gaps.

Medical practitioners applying for the 494 visa need to have the following:

• Employer sponsorship in regional Australia
• Position is likely to exist for 5 years
• Proof of English competency
• Advice from a regional certifying body
• Meet the required annual market salary rate
• Skills assessment and three years of experience in their nominated occupation
• Must be below 45 years of age at the time of application – except if you are a doctor who has worked in their nominated occupation for at least three years (as a holder of a 457 or 482 visa), and out of those three years, you spent two years employed in regional Australia. You don’t need a medical registration for this visa subclass.

The subclass 494 visa provides a permanent residency pathway.

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There is a wide variety of medical professions that can be nominated for a visa in Australia – from general practitioners to specialisations like anaesthetists, specialist doctors, and surgeons.

However, note that to be able to work in Australia and be eligible for a skilled visa, you need to have a professional registration. The Medical Board of Australia, operating under the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), is the official registration authority for medical practitioners.

So, if you’re looking to obtain a visa for doctors in Australia, it’s important to know the specifics associated with the post you wish to fill and the visa requirements.

Every year, we receive hundreds of enquiries from doctors about migrating to Australia.

Australia is a well-liked destination among medical practitioners and international medical graduates (IMGs) because of its high standard of living and robust economy. Moreover, the favourable reputation of the country’s healthcare system and above-average remuneration for doctors are two more compelling factors for IMGs’ wanting to migrate and work in Australia.

According to a survey, several of Australia’s top earners are all employed in the medical field.

In addition, the projected serious physician shortage, particularly for full-time general practitioners (GPs), is already happening especially in rural and remote areas. With a growing, ageing population, the demand for more doctors in the country is expected to increase further in the next decade.

Therefore, if you’re a GP or specialist who wants to work as a doctor in Australia, now is as good a time as any to start looking into available opportunities.

There are three general steps you’ll need to take if you plan to live and work as a doctor in Australia:

• Establish your eligibility for registration as a doctor
• Identify a role that suits you
• Relocate to the country

Do note, however, that overseas-trained doctors currently working in Australia are required to spend their first 10 years of employment working in an underserved rural or regional area called a DPA location.

This is an important condition you need to meet to qualify for a Medicare provider number which you need to be able to treat private patients.

Overseas-trained doctors who want to establish themselves as general practitioners in Australia may do so by taking specific steps and pathways. Below is a rough outline of those steps:

• Pass tests on English language proficiency (depending on the language of your study program), unless you are holding a passport from an “exempt” country.
• Get registered as a medical practitioner through one of the available pathways (e.g. Practice Experience Pathway, Standard Pathway, or Specialist Pathway). The pathway you’ll take depends on your goals and qualifications.
• Obtain registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) – either provisional or full registration. Full registration is generally required to qualify for permanent residency pathways.
• Apply for a visa through an Australian employer. After obtaining full AHPRA registration and local work experience, you may become eligible to apply for a skilled independent or permanent residency visa.

Pathways for IMGs

International medical graduates who received their training from a medical school outside of Australia or New Zealand and who are seeking registration to practice medicine in Australia must demonstrate their eligibility by undertaking one of these assessment pathways.

• Competent Authority Pathway
• Standard Pathway
• Specialist Pathway

You may do an initial self-assessment check to see which pathway best corresponds to your qualifications, background and goals.

To be able to work in Australia and be eligible for a skilled visa, all medical practitioners – including IMGs – need professional registration. If you’re an IMG who has completed the required paths, general registration makes you eligible to work in the country.

The Medical Board of Australia, under AHPRA, is responsible for the registration and regulation of medical practitioners.

Under section 19AB of the Australia’s Health Insurance Act 1973, foreign graduates of accredited medical schools and overseas-trained doctors can come to Australia and practice medicine, but need to work in a place designated as a Distribution Priority Area (DPA) in order to qualify for Medicare. Places classified as DPA are usually located in rural and regional Australia, and do not have enough doctors available to meet the demands of the local populace.

This means that, in order to live in the country and get employed, doctors must render return-of-service work in the designated DPA for the first 10 years (the so-called 10-year moratorium) of their medical registration.

For doctors looking to migrate to and work in Australia, it’s important to know that there are age exemptions, as the government recognises the value and expertise experienced medical professionals bring to the healthcare system. Here’s what you need to know:

General Age Limitations

For most skilled migration visas, the general age limit is 45 years. Applicants must generally be under 45 at the time of their application to be eligible for points-tested skilled visas like the skilled nominated visa (subclass 190).

Age Exemptions for Medical Practitioners

Recognising the critical need for skilled medical professionals, Australia provides specific age exemptions for doctors and other health professionals under certain visa subclasses and circumstances. These exemptions are meant to attract and retain experienced practitioners who can contribute to the Australian healthcare system significantly, especially in underserved areas.

Key exemptions include:

Employer-Sponsored Visas

• Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (Subclass 482): No age restrictions for general practitioners and other doctor applicants.
• Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186): Doctors may be exempt from the age limit if they have worked in Australia for at least three years on a qualifying visa (such as a 457 or 482) and have met the required earnings threshold.

State and Territory Nominated Visa

Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190): Applicants must be under 45 years old at the time of invitation. State and territory governments can nominate doctors based on local need, but they cannot waive the federal under-45 requirement for this visa.

Besides the commonly known visa subclasses, such as 482, 407, 190, 491, 186, 494, 820, and 801, there are other visa options that doctors can consider if they wish to work in Australia.

These pathways can provide flexibility depending on your individual circumstances and professional goals, and the specific needs of the Australian healthcare system.

The Australian healthcare system consistently seeks skilled medical professionals to meet growing local demand, and a range of medical occupations qualify for skilled visas. Besides doctors, surgeons, and specialist physicians, overseas medical and allied health professionals engaged in the following occupations may be eligible to apply for a skilled visa.

• Aged care workers
• Dentists, dental specialists and other dental professionals
• Medical laboratory scientists
• Nurses (including registered nurses and nurse practitioners)
• Occupational therapists
• Pharmacists
• Physiotherapists
• Radiographers
• Radiologists

An updated list of eligible medical and allied health occupations can be found on the Department of Home Affairs’ Skilled Migration Occupation Lists, which are updated regularly to reflect current workforce needs.