Nurse Work Visa Australia
Matilda handles 482 Core Skills and 186 ENS sponsorship for registered and enrolled nurses in Australia - for employers who need to fill a nursing role and nurses who need a sponsor.
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- Registered
migration agents - Experienced
immigration lawyers
Why nurses & 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 around your AHPRA registration timing.
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 nurse from overseas
- Standard Business Sponsorship lodgement
- Labour Market Testing evidence file
- ANZSCO classification confirmed per nursing role before lodging
- CSOL eligibility confirmed upfront
For nurses
Get sponsored and plan for permanent residency
- Visa pathway assessment (482 vs 186)
- Skills assessment and AHPRA registration guidance
- Application lodgement and case management
- PR pathway planning from day one
Your nurse visa options: 482 Core Skills and 186 ENS explained
If you're a nurse looking at sponsorship in Australia, or an employer trying to fill a nursing role, Matilda Migration manages two employer-sponsored visa pathways for nurses: the 482 Core Skills stream (temporary, up to 4 years) and the 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (permanent).
Nurses can start on a 482 and apply for the 186 after two years of sponsored work. Nurses with three or more years' experience and a positive ANMAC skills assessment can go straight to the 186 through Direct Entry.
Do nurses need a skills assessment to apply for a visa in Australia?
It depends on the visa pathway, not on being a nurse. 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, which for nurses comes from ANMAC. Matilda confirms whether you need one at the eligibility assessment.
AHPRA registration is a separate step
AHPRA registration, through the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, is what lets you work as a nurse. You don’t need it to lodge the visa. Nurses applying from overseas usually aren’t registered yet, but registration must be in place before you start work.
AHPRA also sets its own English standard, usually IELTS Academic 7.0 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 nursing 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 nurse PR pathway in Australia
Registered nurses and enrolled nurses are all 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 every nursing occupation on this page two ways to permanent residency.
Already have 3+ years' relevant experience and a positive ANMAC skills assessment? Registered and enrolled nurses 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 nurse?
Any lawfully operating Australian business can apply - there's no minimum turnover or headcount to become an approved sponsor under the 482 Core Skills stream. 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 nurse also needs AHPRA registration before they start work, so plan the start date around it.
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 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 nurse get permanent residency in Australia through employer sponsorship?
Yes, through the 186 Employer Nomination Scheme. Nurses on a 482 can apply through the Temporary Residence Transition stream after two years of sponsored work. Nurses with three or more years' relevant experience and a positive ANMAC skills assessment can be nominated through Direct Entry instead, without holding a 482 first.
Do nurses 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. Where one is needed, it comes from ANMAC.
What English score does a nurse 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, New Zealand 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 nurse?
The Core Skills Income Threshold: AUD $79,423 a year for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026. The salary must also match what Australian nurses in the same role earn under the relevant award or enterprise agreement, whichever is higher.
How long does nurse 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 nursing processed as a priority.
