Doctor visa Australia
Matilda handles 482 and 186 ENS sponsorship for GPs, resident medical officers and specialists who want to work as a doctor in Australia - for hospitals and practices that need to fill a medical role and doctors who need a sponsor.
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migration agents - Experienced
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Why doctors & employers choose Matilda
Experienced registered migration agents
Your case is handled by MARA-registered agents who specialise in employer sponsorship, not generalists.
We build the entire case file
Sponsorship, nomination and visa application- prepared and lodged by Matilda.
We track CSOL changes and policy shifts
Your application reflects current rules, not last year's guidance.
5 stars from 100+ Google Reviews
Real clients, verified reviews, across every visa type we handle.
We are your central contact point
We liaise with your employer and the Department on your behalf, and plan the visa around your AHPRA registration.
Unlimited support
From initial application through to visa grant and beyond
Eligibility
AssessmentWe evaluate your qualifications, work experience, and English proficiency to determine the best visa pathway
Application Management
Track progress, respond to requests for information, and handle any complications
Documentation Support
Comprehensive checklists and guidance to ensure your application is complete and accurate
Skills Assessment
Guide you through the relevant assessing authority requirements for your occupation
Employer Liaison
We work directly with your sponsoring employer to streamline the nomination process
Ongoing Support
From initial application through to visa grant and beyond
For employers
Sponsor a doctor from overseas
- Standard Business Sponsorship lodgement
- Labour Market Testing evidence file
- ANZSCO classification confirmed per medical role before lodging
- CSOL eligibility confirmed upfront
For doctors
Get sponsored and build toward permanent residency
- Visa pathway assessment (482 vs 186)
- Visa timeline planned around your AHPRA registration
- Application lodgement and case management
- PR pathway planning from day one
Your doctor visa options: 482 & 186 explained
If you’re a doctor looking to work in Australia, or a hospital or practice trying to fill a medical role, Matilda Migration manages two employer-sponsored visa pathways for doctors: the 482 Skills in Demand visa (temporary, up to 4 years) and the 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (permanent).
Doctors can start on a 482 and apply for the 186 after two years of sponsored work. Doctors with three or more years’ experience can go straight to the 186 through Direct Entry. GPs and specialists on a salary of at least $146,576 can also be sponsored through the 482 Specialist Skills stream.
**Doctors have age exemptions under 186TRT if:
1. Worked as a medical practitioner in a designated regional area of Australia for at least 2 years in the 3 years while holding 482 visa immediately before applying 186TRT.
2. salary meet fairwork high income threshold while hold 482 visa worked in the nominated position for at least 2 years during the 3 years before applying for 186TRT.
Do doctors need AHPRA registration before applying?
Yes. For most occupations, registration only has to be in place before you start work. Doctors are the exception: you need AHPRA registration, through the Medical Board of Australia, when the visa is lodged. That makes registration the first step for most international medical graduates (IMGs), and Matilda plans the sponsorship timeline around it.
Do doctors also need a skills assessment?
It depends on the visa pathway, not on being a doctor. A standard 482 doesn’t need one, and neither does the 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream. Only the 186 Direct Entry stream requires a positive skills assessment, and for doctors your medical registration is generally what’s assessed. Matilda confirms what your pathway needs at the eligibility assessment.
AHPRA’s English standard is separate
AHPRA sets its own English standard for registration, usually IELTS Academic 7.0 in each component or OET grade B. That is for registration. The visa itself asks for IELTS 5.0 on the 482 and 6.0 on the 186.
Which doctor occupations qualify for sponsorship?
482 Processing Times
The application processing times listed below are from the Department of Home Affairs website. These are updated regularly by the Department. These processing times are current as at 11 September 2026.
Sponsorship
date
Nomination
date
Specialist Skills
date
Core Skills
date
From temporary to permanent: the doctor PR pathway in Australia
Every medical occupation on this page is on the Core Skills Occupation List, which, since the December 2024 reform, is also the occupation list used for the 186 Direct Entry stream. That gives each of them two ways to permanent residency.
Already have 3+ years’ relevant experience and AHPRA registration? Doctors can be nominated for 186 Direct Entry instead, skipping the 482 step entirely. Matilda confirms which fits at the free eligibility assessment, before any fees are quoted.
Does your business qualify to sponsor a doctor?
Any lawfully operating Australian business can apply - there’s no minimum turnover or headcount to become an approved sponsor under the 482. What matters is that the position is genuine, the salary meets the Core Skills Income Threshold and the market rate for the role, and the role sits on the Core Skills Occupation List. The doctor also needs AHPRA registration before the visa is lodged, so start there.
How Matilda handles your employer sponsorship from start to finish
Here's exactly what to expect when you work with Matilda to get your overseas employees an Australian work visa.
You can also alternate between your view and what your employee will experience with us:
1. You'd like to sponsor an overseas candidate to work in your business
Your top candidate needs a visa with work rights in Australia - and the sooner you start the employer sponsorship process, the sooner they can start.
2. Understand which employer-sponsored visa is the right fit for your business
We will guide you on which employer-sponsored visa pathway is the right fit for you and the candidate, making it easier to plan staffing levels, budget, and processing timelines.
3. Ensure that you have the right to Sponsor them
Where necessary, we will help you obtain Government approval to become an approved employer sponsor - including preparing your Standard Business Sponsorship application. Where possible, we'll also help you achieve Accredited Sponsor status, which gives your applications priority processing and makes the process quicker every time you hire from overseas.
4. Check the candidate's eligibility for an employer-sponsored visa
We will assess your candidate's experience and skills to ensure they meet the eligibility requirements, and provide guidance on the minimum qualifications, work experience and English language ability needed for each position you wish to nominate under your sponsorship.
5. We’ll build the Standard Business Sponsorship, Nomination and Visa applications for you
We'll create the Sponsorship, Nomination and Visa applications so they meet the Department of Home Affairs requirements for employer sponsorship. We'll also do the hard work for you - including the Genuine Position Statement, Labour Market Testing, Skills Assessment where your pathway requires one and Police Checks.
6. Final review and lodgement
Our Registered Migration Agent will complete the final review before lodgement, submit your employer sponsorship applications, and liaise directly with the Department of Home Affairs until the grant of the visa.
7. Receive post-lodgement support and compliance guidance
We will work with the Department of Home Affairs to respond immediately to any requests for further information, and work with you to ensure your business remains compliant with all approved sponsor obligations - so you avoid any issues with departmental monitoring or audits.
Get your visa!
Take your career to new places
“The Matilda team did an incredible job guiding us through this sponsorship, nomination and visa application process. All three applications were granted within 2 weeks of submission. Thank you Niamh and the team.”
Tom
Frequently asked questions
Can a doctor get permanent residency in Australia through employer sponsorship?
Yes, through the 186 Employer Nomination Scheme. Doctors on a 482 can apply through the Temporary Residence Transition stream after two years of sponsored work. Doctors with three or more years’ relevant experience can be nominated through Direct Entry instead, without holding a 482 first.
Do doctors need AHPRA registration before applying for the visa?
Yes. Unlike most occupations, doctors need AHPRA registration, through the Medical Board of Australia, when the visa is lodged, not just before starting work. Matilda plans the sponsorship timeline around your registration.
Do doctors need a skills assessment for employer sponsorship?
Only for the 186 Direct Entry stream. A standard 482 doesn’t require one, and neither does the 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream. For doctors, your medical registration is generally what’s assessed.
What English score does a doctor need for the visa?
IELTS 5.0 in each component for the 482 and IELTS 6.0 in each component for the 186, or an equivalent test. UK, US, Canadian and Irish passport holders are exempt. AHPRA sets its own, higher standard for registration, usually IELTS Academic 7.0 or OET grade B. They are separate requirements.
What is the minimum salary to sponsor a doctor?
The Core Skills Income Threshold: AUD $79,423 a year for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026. The salary must also match what Australian doctors in the same role earn under the relevant award or enterprise agreement, whichever is higher. GPs and specialists paid at least $146,576 can use the 482 Specialist Skills stream.
How long does doctor visa sponsorship take?
Sponsorship approval usually takes one to two months and nomination at least 28 days where labour market testing applies. The visa itself then follows Home Affairs processing times: currently 4 to 9 months for a 482 and 13 to 22 months for a 186, with healthcare processed as a priority.
Ready to sponsor a doctor? Speak to a MARA-registered migration agent.
Start your free eligibility assessment.
