If you are a registered nurse dreaming of a permanent life in Australia, the Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa is one of the most direct routes you can take. Nursing sits at the very top of Australia’s skill shortage lists, and almost every state and territory actively invites overseas nurses to fill critical gaps in their hospitals, aged care facilities, and community health services.

The Subclass 190 visa is a permanent residency visa. The moment it is granted, you are a permanent resident of Australia. In return for your state or territory nomination, you commit to living and working in the nominating state for the first two years — and once that commitment is met, you are free to live, work, and study anywhere in Australia. For nurses, the added advantage is powerful: when a state or territory nominates you, you receive 5 bonus points, which is often the exact push needed to cross the invitation line in a competitive pool.

Keep reading as we guide you through every stage that matters in 2026: eligibility, the ANMAC skills assessment, AHPRA registration, the points system, choosing the right state, updated government fees, the application process, and answers to the questions nurses ask most.

What is the Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated Visa?

The Subclass 190 is a points-tested, permanent visa for skilled workers who are nominated by an Australian state or territory government. It works on exactly the same points test as the Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa — but with one crucial difference: you need a state or territory to nominate you, and that nomination adds 5 points to your score.

Here is what the visa gives you at a glance:

• Permanent residency from day one — no provisional stage
• Full work and study rights — you live and work in the nominating state for the first two years, then move anywhere in Australia
• Access to Medicare, Australia’s public healthcare system
• The ability to include your partner and dependent children in the application
• Travel in and out of Australia for five years, with the option to renew your travel facility through a Resident Return visa
• A clear pathway to Australian citizenship once you meet the residency requirements

To be clear, permanent residency does not mean you can settle wherever you like straight away. In return for the nomination, you make a commitment to live and work in the nominating state or territory for around two years after your visa is granted. This isn’t a hard-coded visa condition, but it is a genuine expectation that states monitor — only after those two years should you plan to relocate elsewhere in Australia. So choose your nominating state with your career and lifestyle firmly in mind.

Why Nurses Are in a Strong Position in 2026

Nursing is one of the most reliably in-demand occupations across the entire Australian skilled migration program. Registered Nurse occupations appear on the skilled occupation lists of every state and territory, which gives nurses far more nomination options than most other professions.

Demand is driven by an ageing population, an expanding aged-care sector, and ongoing workforce pressures across the health system. States such as New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia all list healthcare — and registered nurses specifically — among their top nomination priorities for 2026.

That said, competition still exists. Because everyone wants to settle in Australia, states have become more selective, often favouring applicants who already work in the state, hold strong English scores, or work in a priority nursing specialisation. A well-prepared application with a maximised points score is what separates a successful nurse from one who waits.

Registered Nurse Occupations Eligible for the 190 Visa

Nursing is not a single occupation on the skilled lists — it is broken into specialisations, each with its own ANZSCO code. When you lodge your Expression of Interest, you nominate the specialisation that best matches your qualifications and experience. Common eligible nursing occupations include:

• Registered Nurse (Aged Care)
• Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency)
• Registered Nurse (Medical)
• Registered Nurse (Mental Health)
• Registered Nurse (Perioperative)
• Registered Nurse (Surgical)
• Registered Nurse (Paediatrics)
• Registered Nurse (Community Health)
• Registered Nurse (Medical Practice)
• Registered Nurses (not elsewhere classified)

Enrolled nurses have a different, more limited set of pathways, so it is important to confirm whether your qualification maps to a Registered Nurse or Enrolled Nurse occupation before you begin.

Step 1: AHPRA Registration and NMBA Standards

Before you can practise as a nurse in Australia — and before your skills assessment can be finalised — you must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). This is a non-negotiable requirement for any internationally qualified nurse.

Registration confirms you meet the NMBA’s registration standards, which cover:

• English language proficiency
• Criminal history
• Recency of practice
• Continuing professional development
• Professional indemnity insurance arrangements

For internationally qualified nurses and midwives (IQNMs), AHPRA registration usually runs through the Outcomes-Based Assessment (OBA) pathway, which can involve a multiple-choice exam and a practical (OSCE) assessment, depending on your country of qualification. Getting this stage right early saves months of delay later — which is exactly where an experienced AHPRA registration consultant can make the difference, helping you sequence your documents, English test, and OBA steps so nothing stalls your visa timeline.

Step 2: ANMAC Skills Assessment for Nurses

For skilled migration purposes, your qualifications and experience must be assessed by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) — the designated skills assessing authority for nurses and midwives.

ANMAC offers different assessment streams depending on where you trained and whether you already hold Australian or New Zealand registration:

• Full Skills Assessment — for nurses who hold a qualification and registration from a comparable country but are not yet registered in Australia
• Modified Skills Assessment — for nurses already registered with the NMBA or the Nursing Council of New Zealand
• Modified Plus Skills Assessment — for nurses who hold an AHPRA “in-principle approval of registration” notice

A positive ANMAC skills assessment is mandatory before you can be invited to apply for the 190 visa. Remember that AHPRA/NMBA (which licenses you to practise) and ANMAC (which assesses your skills for migration) are two separate bodies — most nurses need to satisfy both.

Step 3: Meet the 190 Visa Eligibility Requirements

To be nominated and invited to apply for the Subclass 190 visa, you must satisfy all of the following:

• Age: Be under 45 years of age at the time you are invited to apply
• Occupation: Have a registered nurse occupation on the nominating state’s skilled occupation list
• Skills assessment: Hold a positive ANMAC skills assessment for your nominated nursing occupation
• English language: Have at least Competent English, which is IELTS Academic 6.0 in each band (or equivalent OET, PTE, or TOEFL score). Note that for AHPRA registration nurses generally need a higher standard — IELTS Academic 7.0 in each band, which corresponds to Proficient English and earns you extra points on the visa points test
• Points test: Score at least 65 points, which includes the 5 points from state nomination
• State nomination: Be nominated by a state or territory government
• Health and character: Meet Australia’s health and character requirements, along with all family members included

Because nurses usually need strong English for AHPRA registration anyway, many enter the points test already holding Proficient or Superior English — a natural advantage in the 190 pool.

How the 190 Points Test Works for Nurses

The Subclass 190 uses Australia’s General Skilled Migration points test. You claim points across several factors, and the nomination bonus sits on top:

Factor	Points (indicative)
Age 18 to under 25	25
Age 25 to under 33	30
Age 33 to under 40	25
Age 40 to under 45	15
Superior English (e.g. IELTS 8)	20
Proficient English (e.g. IELTS 7)	10
8+ years skilled work experience overseas	15
Australian skilled work experience (5–7 years)	15
Bachelor of Nursing degree	15
Master’s or Doctorate	20
Australian study requirement	5
Study in regional Australia	5
Credentialled community language (NAATI)	5
Professional Year in Australia	5
Partner with skills assessment + Competent English	10
Single, or partner is an Australian citizen/PR	10
State or territory nomination (190)	5

A reality check for nurses: 65 points is the minimum to be eligible, not a guarantee of nomination. In competitive states, successful nurses often present 75–85+ points. The good news is that nursing profiles tend to score well — strong English, a bachelor-level qualification, and relevant clinical experience add up quickly.

Choosing the Right State to Nominate You

This is where strategy matters most. Every state and territory runs its own nomination program with its own occupation list, points expectations, and selection method. Registered nurses are welcome almost everywhere, but the specialisation and the state you choose can change your odds dramatically.

• New South Wales prioritises healthcare heavily, including registered nurses and allied health, and selects on merit and sector alignment. It is highly competitive, and evidence of NSW employment strengthens an application.
• Victoria lists nursing among its priority sectors and charges no nomination fee. Onshore applicants already working in Victoria have a strong advantage.
• Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia all actively nominate nurses, often with pathways that reward regional experience or existing employment in the state.
• Tasmania, the ACT, and the Northern Territory frequently offer accessible pathways for nurses, especially those living, working, or studying locally.

Because allocations are limited each program year, timing counts. State nomination is a program-year race — lodging your Expression of Interest early in the year (the program year runs 1 July to 30 June) improves your chances before allocations run low.

Step-by-Step: How to Apply for the 190 Visa as a Nurse

Step 1 – Register with AHPRA (NMBA). Complete your registration through the relevant IQNM pathway, including OBA if required.

Step 2 – Obtain your ANMAC skills assessment. Choose the correct assessment stream and secure a positive outcome for your nursing occupation.

Step 3 – Sit an approved English test. IELTS, PTE Academic, OET, TOEFL iBT, or Cambridge C1 Advanced — aim for the highest band you can, as it directly boosts your points.

Step 4 – Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). Lodge your EOI through SkillSelect and select the Subclass 190, indicating your preferred states.

Step 5 – Apply for state nomination. Some states require a separate Registration of Interest or a direct application through their own portal. Check each state’s process, occupation list, and any fees (for example, NSW charges a nomination application fee, while Victoria does not).

Step 6 – Receive nomination and invitation. Once a state nominates you, the 5 points are added to your profile and you receive an invitation to apply. You then have 60 days to lodge your visa application, so have your documents ready.

Step 7 – Lodge your visa application. Apply online through ImmiAccount, pay the visa application charge, and upload your evidence — identity documents, ANMAC assessment, AHPRA registration, English results, employment evidence, and documents for every family member.

Step 8 – Health, character, and decision. Complete health examinations and provide police clearances for every country you have lived in for 12 months or more over the last 10 years, then await the decision.

Subclass 190 Visa Fees in 2026

The government visa application charges were updated on 1 July 2026. The current figures for the Subclass 190 are:

Applicant	Fee (AUD)
Main applicant	$6,140
Additional applicant 18 years or over	$3,070
Additional applicant under 18 years	$1,535

Beyond the visa application charge, budget for your ANMAC skills assessment, AHPRA registration and OBA costs, English test fees, health examinations, police certificates, document translations, and any state nomination fee. Older articles quoting figures around $4,640 or $4,910 are out of date — those applied before the July 2026 increase.

Life After the 190 Visa: PR Benefits and Citizenship

Once your Subclass 190 is granted, you and your family enjoy the full benefits of Australian permanent residency: you can work and study, access Medicare, and enrol children in public schools. For the first two years you live and work in the state or territory that nominated you, honouring your nomination commitment. After that period, you are free to move and settle anywhere in Australia.

Permanent residency is also your gateway to Australian citizenship. Once you meet the residence requirements — generally four years of lawful residence including at least 12 months as a permanent resident — you can apply to become an Australian citizen.

How Long Does the 190 Visa Take?

Two timelines apply. First is the state nomination stage, which can take anywhere from a few weeks (many states aim for around six weeks) to a couple of months depending on the state and demand. Second is the Department of Home Affairs visa processing stage, which for the 190 currently runs in the range of roughly 5 to 12 months for most applicants once lodged.

You can shorten your overall journey by front-loading your file: complete health examinations promptly, upload police clearances early, and make sure every points claim in your EOI is backed by clear, verifiable evidence. Incomplete applications are the single biggest cause of delay.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do I need AHPRA registration before applying for the 190 visa as a nurse?

You need AHPRA/NMBA registration to practise as a nurse in Australia, and it is closely tied to your ANMAC skills assessment. Most nurses complete AHPRA registration (including the OBA pathway where required) as part of preparing for skilled migration.

2. Is the ANMAC skills assessment the same as AHPRA registration?

No. ANMAC assesses your qualifications and experience for migration purposes, while AHPRA (through NMBA) grants you the legal right to practise nursing in Australia. Most internationally qualified nurses need both.

3. How many points do nurses need for the 190 visa?

The minimum is 65 points, including the 5-point state nomination bonus. In practice, competitive nurses often score 75–85 or higher, and each state applies its own selection criteria on top of points.

4. Which states nominate nurses?

Registered nurses appear on the occupation lists of every Australian state and territory. The best choice depends on your specialisation, your points, and whether you already live or work in a particular state.

5. Can my family come with me on a 190 visa?

Yes. You can include your partner and dependent children. They receive the same permanent residency, along with work, study, and Medicare access.

6. Do I have to stay in the nominating state forever?

No. You commit to living and working in the nominating state for around two years after grant. After that, as a permanent resident, you can move anywhere in Australia.

7. What English score do nurses need?

The visa’s minimum is Competent English (IELTS Academic 6.0 in each band). However, AHPRA registration generally requires a higher standard — IELTS Academic 7.0 in each band or the OET equivalent — which is the Proficient English level. That means most nurses already qualify for Proficient English points, and pushing to IELTS 8 can earn Superior English points.

8. How much does the 190 visa cost in 2026?

From 1 July 2026, the base application charge is AUD 6,140 for the main applicant, AUD 3,070 for each additional applicant aged 18 or over, and AUD 1,535 for each child under 18 — plus assessment, registration, English, health, and police check costs.

Conclusion

For registered nurses, the Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa is one of the clearest and most rewarding pathways to Australian permanent residency in 2026. Nursing’s strong demand across every state, combined with the 5-point nomination bonus and the high English scores nurses typically already hold, puts well-prepared candidates in an excellent position. The keys to success are sequencing your steps correctly — AHPRA registration, ANMAC skills assessment, English test, EOI, and state nomination — and choosing the right state for your specialisation and points.

At Desma International, our experienced team supports internationally qualified nurses through every stage of the journey. From acting as your dedicated AHPRA registration consultant to guiding your ANMAC skills assessment, English test strategy, state nomination, and 190 visa lodgement, we help you move from application to permanent residency with clarity and confidence. Start your Subclass 190 journey with us today and take the first confident step toward your nursing career and permanent life in Australia.