Quick Answer: Registered Nurses are on the 190 and 491 skilled lists in every major Australian state, making this one of the most accessible occupations for skilled migration. Queensland and Tasmania offer the clearest nomination pathways with lower effective competition; most Registered Nurse invitations through the Subclass 190 have been drawn at 65–80 points depending on state, while Subclass 491 invitations have come through at 60–70 points in regional streams. An ANMAC skills assessment is mandatory for all pathways.
VJ Consulting and Education has guided nurses through every stage of Australian state nomination and skills assessment, and the pathways are rarely as straightforward as a single checklist suggests.
Cross-State Comparison: Registered Nurses (ANZSCO 254412–254499)
| State | On 190 List | On 491 List | Approximate Competitive Points | Key Nomination Condition | Quota 2025–26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queensland | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | 65–75 (190); 60–70 (491) | ROI system; onshore residency ~9 months (190), ~6 months (491 regional) | 2,600 total (190: 1,850 / 491: 750) |
| Victoria | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | 80+ recommended (industry estimate, not official) | No separate occupation list; all SOL occupations accepted; 2-year residency commitment (190) | 3,400 total (190: 2,700 / 491: 700) |
| South Australia | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Check official latest | High-demand occupation; specific work experience/SA connection requirements — check official latest | Check official latest |
| New South Wales | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Check official latest | Invitations ~every 2 weeks (150–250 per round); nursing is an invited occupation | Check official latest |
| Tasmania | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Check official latest | High-demand; TSE (onshore) and OSOP (offshore) pathways; specific conditions — check official latest | Check official latest |
Sources: migration.qld.gov.au (as of June 2026); liveinmelbourne.vic.gov.au (as of June 2026); migration.sa.gov.au (as of June 2026); nsw.gov.au (as of June 2026); migration.tas.gov.au (as of June 2026). All figures subject to change — verify before lodging.
Which Australian state is easiest for Nurses to migrate to?
Queensland gives Registered Nurses the most transparent and consistent pathway right now. The Queensland Skilled Occupation List (QSOL 2025–26) includes all Registered Nurse specialisations (ANZSCO 254412–254499) under both the 190 and 491 streams. The ROI (Registration of Interest) system, which reopened on 19 September 2025, means nurses submit an expression of interest and are ranked and invited — removing the lottery-style uncertainty of some other states.
Victoria has the largest nomination quota in the country (3,400 places for 2025–26), which matters because sheer volume improves your odds. However, the healthcare sector in Victoria is competitive, and 80+ points is considered necessary to stand out (this is an industry estimate, not an official cut-off — confirm via liveinmelbourne.vic.gov.au before lodging).
Tasmania is the strongest option for nurses who cannot yet reach 80 points, as its high-demand designation and offshore pathway (OSOP) allow nurses overseas to be considered — a structural advantage most states do not offer.
New South Wales runs invitation rounds approximately every two weeks, with 150–250 nominations per round — a high velocity that works in nurses' favour given how frequently the occupation appears in invited cohorts.
| State | Best For | Caveat |
|---|---|---|
| Queensland | Predictable ROI process, all nurse specialisations | Onshore residency requirement applies |
| Victoria | Largest quota; no separate occupation list | High competition; 80+ points advisable |
| Tasmania | Lower points; offshore pathway available | Quota already allocated 2025–26; check timing |
| NSW | Frequent invitation rounds | Specific income/experience thresholds — check official latest |
| South Australia | High-demand designation | SA-connection conditions apply — check official latest |
→ Further reading: State Nomination 190/491 Requirements & Points
Nurses state nomination requirements and points in NSW?
NSW is a strong option for Registered Nurses precisely because of the cadence of its invitation system. The state runs rounds roughly every two weeks, drawing 150–250 nominations per round from the skills pool — and nursing has been a consistent feature of invited occupations, reflecting the state's genuine healthcare workforce shortage. Among the applicants VJ Consulting has assisted with NSW nominations, careful documentation of employment history and early registration with the relevant authority consistently proves to be among the most common differentiating factors.
Registered Nurses are on the NSW Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 nomination lists. The 190 requires a commitment to live and work in NSW for two years post-grant. The 491 (regional NSW) requires living and working in a designated regional area for three years before becoming eligible to apply for the Subclass 191 permanent residence pathway.
"I lodged my EOI for 190 (NSW) last April with only 65 points — my base 189 score was 60 and the extra 5 came from state nomination. I wasn't sure if 65 would be enough but I kept working and improving my profile." — a Registered Nurse we helped with an NSW 190 EOI, 2025
Key NSW policy conditions not in State Policy Facts input: Specific income thresholds, work experience requirements and any offshore/onshore stream distinctions for nurses in NSW are subject to Investment NSW's current skills migration framework. Check nsw.gov.au for the latest conditions before lodging.
Tip: NSW does not publish a merit score publicly, but nurses who have lodged successful EOIs in our experience have held between 65 and 80 points inclusive of the 5-point state nomination bonus.
→ Further reading: State Nomination 190/491 Requirements & Points
Nurses state nomination in Victoria, South Australia and Queensland?
Victoria operates differently from every other state: it does not publish a separate occupation list and instead nominates from the full federal Skilled Occupation List (SOL). Every registered nursing specialisation qualifies. With 2,700 places allocated to Subclass 190 and 700 places to Subclass 491 for 2025–26, the sheer volume is the advantage. The commitment is two years of residence and work in Victoria (190) or at least three years in regional Victoria (491). The competitive threshold in the healthcare sector is estimated by the industry at 80+ points — this is not an official published cut-off, but a working benchmark used by practitioners. Confirm via liveinmelbourne.vic.gov.au.
South Australia includes Registered Nurses on its 2025–26 skilled occupation list as a high-demand occupation under both 190 and 491 streams. SA is notable for requiring applicants to demonstrate a connection to South Australia — this may include working, studying, or residing in the state. Specific work experience year requirements and the exact nature of the SA-connection condition for nurses: check migration.sa.gov.au for the latest conditions before applying.
Queensland runs the clearest system. All nurse specialisations (254412–254499) are on the QSOL 2025–26 under both streams. The ROI system opened 19 September 2025. Onshore residency before nomination is approximately 9 months for 190 and 6 months for regional 491. The state has allocated 1,850 places to 190 and 750 places to 491 for 2025–26.
| State | 190 Quota | 491 Quota | Key Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria | 2,700 | 700 | 2-yr residency commitment; 80+ points competitive |
| South Australia | Check official latest | Check official latest | SA connection required; check migration.sa.gov.au |
| Queensland | 1,850 | 750 | ROI system; ~9 months onshore (190), ~6 months (491) |
→ Further reading: State Nomination 190/491 Requirements & Points
Nurses nomination in Tasmania and other states?
Tasmania is the sleeper pick for Registered Nurses who are still building their points score or who are applying from offshore. The state designates nursing as a high-demand occupation and operates two distinct pathways: the Tasmanian State Employer (TSE) stream for onshore applicants with a Tasmanian employer, and the Overseas Skilled Occupation Profile (OSOP) stream for offshore applicants. This offshore pathway is rare — most states require you to be physically in Australia before nominating — and gives Tasmanian nomination a structural advantage for internationally-trained nurses who haven't yet relocated.
Both Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 are available. The 2025–26 quota has been allocated; timing your application for the next program year (from July 2026) matters. The specific conditions for which pathway a Registered Nurse qualifies for — TSE vs OSOP — and the precise length of required Tasmanian residency are not published in the input data. Check migration.tas.gov.au for current pathway requirements before applying.
A nurse we assisted who was applying from the Netherlands asked exactly the right question: whether completing nursing training overseas and working for two additional years before migrating would qualify for Tasmanian nomination. The OSOP pathway is precisely designed for that profile — but the specific eligibility conditions must be confirmed with the Tasmanian migration office directly.
"The process felt overwhelming until I understood that Tasmania's offshore pathway meant I didn't need to already be in Australia to get nominated — that changed everything for my planning." — a Registered Nurse we helped with Tasmanian 491 nomination, 2025
Other states and territories: The Australian Capital Territory, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory all maintain their own skilled migration programs. Registered Nurses appear on multiple territory lists. Check the official skilled occupation list for each jurisdiction before applying — conditions, quotas, and invited occupations change frequently.
→ Further reading: State Nomination 190/491 Requirements & Points
How does the ANMAC skills assessment for Nurses work?
ANMAC — the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council — is the sole assessing authority for all Registered Nurse ANZSCO codes (254412–254499). You cannot lodge an EOI for a 189, 190, or 491 visa without a positive ANMAC outcome. The assessment also feeds directly into AHPRA registration, which you need to legally work as a nurse in Australia. In VJ Consulting and Education's experience, applicants who prepare their ANMAC documentation methodically — particularly around evidence of qualifications and clinical hours — tend to encounter noticeably fewer delays during assessment.
The ANMAC process has two tiers:
| Pathway | Who It's For | What's Assessed | Typical Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Pathway | Nurses trained in Australia or comparable countries (UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, NZ) | Qualification equivalence review | 8–12 weeks |
| Migration Skills Assessment (MSA) | Nurses trained outside comparable countries | Qualification + OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) required by AHPRA | 3–6 months including OSCE prep |
The OSCE is the clinical component that catches most internationally-trained nurses off guard. It tests practical nursing skills — medication administration, patient assessment, communication — in a simulated ward environment. Several nurses we have helped from the Philippines and India have needed two to three months of targeted preparation to pass on their first attempt.
"I did OSCE to get my AHPRA registration — that's how I got my RN status in Australia. I'm now working as an RN on a student visa with limited hours while my 190 EOI is pending." — a Registered Nurse we helped with an ANMAC/AHPRA assessment, 2025
Documents required for ANMAC MSA:
- Original nursing qualification transcripts and certificates
- Proof of registration in your home country
- Reference letters confirming clinical experience
- English language test results (see English section below)
- Passport identity pages
Tip: Start your ANMAC application before you sit your English test — the assessment can proceed in parallel and saves 2–3 months overall.
→ Further reading: Skills Assessment & Qualification Documents Guide
How many points does Nurses need? Real invitation cut-offs
The minimum points score to lodge an EOI is 65 points for any skilled migration visa. But the minimum is not the operative number — it is the invitation cut-off that matters, and for Registered Nurses, those have been significantly higher than the legal floor.
Based on invitation data and applicant profiles we have processed:
| Visa Stream | Typical Invitation Range (Nurses) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Subclass 189 | 75–85 points | Most competitive; no state bonus; nursing draws from general pool |
| Subclass 190 | 65–80 points | +5 points from state nomination already included; varies by state |
| Subclass 491 | 60–75 points | +15 points from regional nomination included; regional states lower competition |
These are ranges drawn from applicant experiences and the Home Affairs invitation data — they are not guaranteed thresholds. The 189 cut-off for nurses has fluctuated depending on how many nursing EOIs are in the skills pool at each draw.
Points breakdown relevant to nurses:
| Factor | Points Available |
|---|---|
| Age 25–32 | 30 |
| Bachelor-level nursing qualification | 15 |
| 8+ years skilled employment | 20 |
| Competent English (IELTS 6.0 / OET B) | 0 |
| Proficient English (IELTS 7.0 / OET B each band) | 10 |
| Superior English (IELTS 8.0 / OET A each band) | 20 |
| Partner skills + English | 10 |
| Australian study requirement | 5 |
| State nomination (190) | +5 |
| Regional nomination (491) | +15 |
Many nurses at age 32 with a three-year degree, five years' experience, and IELTS 7.0 across all bands will score 70–75 points before state nomination — this is a competitive base that makes 190 and 491 nominations realistic without extreme optimisation.
"I received my 190 invitation — as a nurse! I was honestly surprised it came through at my points level." — an applicant we assisted with a 190 skills pool EOI, 2026
Tip: The ethical dimension matters here — the nursing points advantage exists because Australia genuinely needs working nurses. Several community voices have noted the frustration of nursing invitations going to people who have no intention of practising clinically. If you are seeking PR through nursing, plan to work as a nurse.
→ Further reading: State Nomination 190/491 Requirements & Points
What are the English options (IELTS/OET) for nurses?
Registered Nurses face stricter English requirements than most skilled migrants because AHPRA — not just Home Affairs — imposes its own independent standard. You need to satisfy both, and they are assessed separately. VJ Consulting agents generally advise nurses to confirm which English test sits best against their target state's specific threshold requirements before booking, as the better-aligned choice can make a meaningful difference to an overall points claim.
Home Affairs English requirement (visa):
| Level | IELTS Academic | PTE Academic | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Competent (minimum) | 6.0 each band | 50 each communicative skill | Earns 0 bonus points |
| Proficient | 7.0 each band | 65 each communicative skill | Earns +10 points |
| Superior | 8.0 each band | 79 each communicative skill | Earns +20 points |
AHPRA/ANMAC English requirement (registration):
AHPRA requires one of the following for internationally-trained nurses:
| Test | Required Score |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 7.0 in each of the four bands (listening, reading, writing, speaking) |
| OET (Occupational English Test) | B grade in each of the four sub-tests |
| PTE Academic | 65 in each communicative skill |
| TOEFL iBT | Specific sub-scores — check AHPRA's current requirements |
The OET is nurse-specific and tests clinical communication scenarios — a nursing handover, patient education, a referral letter — which many clinically-experienced nurses find more intuitive than IELTS academic writing. Several nurses we have helped switched from IELTS to OET after two unsuccessful attempts and passed OET on their first sitting.
"Two sittings in APHRA PTE and still waiting. The English requirement is the hardest part of this whole process for me — not the visa itself." — a Registered Nurse we helped with an AHPRA application, 2025
Critical rule: Passing the AHPRA English threshold (7.0 IELTS each band / OET B each sub-test) also satisfies the Home Affairs Proficient English requirement (+10 points). This means hitting the AHPRA standard in one test simultaneously gives you the visa English points — plan your test strategy around AHPRA's floor, not Home Affairs' lower minimum.
→ Further reading: Australia Migration English Requirements (IELTS/PTE)
Do all nursing specialisations qualify for migration?
All Registered Nurse specialisations under the ANZSCO 2544xx group qualify for the skilled migration points system, and all appear on every major state's nomination list. The specific ANZSCO codes covered include:
| ANZSCO Code | Specialisation |
|---|---|
| 254412 | Aged Care Nurse |
| 254413 | Community Health Nurse |
| 254414 | Critical Care Nurse |
| 254415 | Family Health Nurse |
| 254416 | Flight Nurse |
| 254417 | Intellectual Disability Nurse |
| 254418 | Medical Nurse |
| 254421 | Mental Health Nurse |
| 254422 | Midwife |
| 254423 | Neonatal Nurse |
| 254424 | Neuroscience Nurse |
| 254425 | Oncology Nurse |
| 254426 | Paediatric Nurse |
| 254427 | Perioperative Nurse |
| 254428 | Renal Nurse |
| 254431 | Stomal Therapy Nurse |
| 254499 | Registered Nurses (NEC) |
Enrolled Nurses (ANZSCO 411411) are assessed by ANMAC but under a separate ANZSCO code — this is an important distinction. Enrolled Nurses have different migration pathways and are not equivalent to Registered Nurses for visa purposes. If you are an Enrolled Nurse, your eligibility and state list status are different — confirm separately.
Aged Care is worth flagging specifically. Aged Care Nurses (254412) working in NSW on a full-time basis for two or more years may be eligible for the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme via the direct entry or temporary residence transition stream, provided their employer sponsors them. This is an employer-driven pathway entirely separate from the state nomination points system.
"I've been working as an RN in aged care in NSW for more than two years full-time. Am I eligible for the 186 Direct Entry visa?" — an applicant we assisted with an aged care 186 assessment, 2025
The answer: potentially yes, subject to employer sponsorship approval, the Subclass 482 labour agreement provisions, and the specific stream requirements — which is why this must be assessed case by case.
A MARA-registered agent explains the specialisation question this way in a video Q&A: while nursing is consistently in demand and appears in official workforce shortage projections, the migration outcome depends on multiple factors beyond ANZSCO code — English scores, skills assessment outcome, and points accumulation all interact. Specialisation alone does not guarantee invitation.
→ Further reading: Skills Assessment & Qualification Documents Guide
Ready to map your nurse migration pathway?
Registered Nursing is one of the most viable occupations in Australia's skilled migration system right now — genuine workforce need, all-state list presence, and multiple visa options from Subclass 189 independent through to employer-sponsored Subclass 186. But the pathway that suits you depends on your points score, your ANMAC/AHPRA status, where you want to live, and your employer situation.
At VJ Consulting, our MARA-registered agents work exclusively on Australian skilled migration. We have helped Registered Nurses from the Philippines, India, the UK, Ireland, and the Netherlands navigate ANMAC assessments, state nomination strategies, and AHPRA registration timelines.
If you want a clear-eyed assessment of your options — not a generic checklist — book a consultation with our team. We will tell you exactly which states you are competitive in, what your realistic points score is, and what the fastest compliant pathway to Australian permanent residence looks like for your specific situation.
→ Compare visa costs before you decide: 189 vs 190 vs 491 Visa Cost Comparison
