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Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) Visa for Doctors and Health Professionals

Information current as at October 2026. Rules, fees and lists change often, so check your own circumstances with us before you act.

The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) is the most common first visa for overseas doctors, nurses and allied health professionals who have a job offer in Australia. It replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa on 7 December 2024. An approved sponsor, such as a hospital, health service, GP practice or specialist clinic, nominates you for a position and you can stay for up to four years.

This page explains the streams, the requirements that are specific to health professionals, what your employer must do, and how the 482 leads to permanent residence. If you have not yet sorted out registration, read Ahpra registration pathways first, because registration usually needs to be in place before the visa is granted.

Which 482 stream applies to you?

The stream depends on your salary and occupation. Healthcare roles are in the highest priority group for 482 processing under Ministerial Direction 121, which commenced on 19 September 2026.

  • Your occupation must be on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). Medical practitioner occupations such as General Practitioner (253111), Resident Medical Officer (253112), Anaesthetist and Psychiatrist are on the CSOL, as are most nursing and allied health occupations.
  • Your salary must be at least the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) of $79,423 (from 1 July 2026) and no less than the market salary rate for the role.
  • This is the stream most junior doctors, GPs, nurses and allied health workers use.

Requirements for health professionals

The general 482 rules apply to everyone, but a few points work differently in healthcare.

Requirement What it means for doctors and health workers
Registration You need registration with the relevant National Board through Ahpra, or written evidence that you will be registered on arrival. Offshore doctors often provide an in-principle approval. Visa conditions require you to hold any mandatory registration for your job; if you are not registered at grant, you generally have 90 days after arrival.
Skills assessment Medical practitioners usually show their qualifications through Medical Board registration rather than a separate skills assessment. Some other occupations may be asked for a skills assessment.
Work experience At least one year of relevant work experience in the occupation (or a related field), generally within the last five years.
English You must meet the 482 English requirement. For registered health practitioners, holding Ahpra registration (which has its own English standard) generally satisfies it.
Health and character Standard health and character checks apply. People who will work in a hospital or healthcare setting usually need additional health examinations.
Medicare billing If you will bill Medicare, check section 19AB and the Distribution Priority Area rules. Health Workforce Certificates are no longer required for nominations (abolished 16 September 2023). See DPAs and Medicare provider numbers.

What your sponsoring employer must do

Your employer runs most of the process. Clinics and hospitals new to sponsorship will find more detail in our hospital and clinic sponsor guide.

  • Become an approved sponsor

    The employer applies for standard business sponsorship (valid for five years). A government charge of $420 applies.

  • Test the labour market

    For most occupations the employer must advertise at least twice in the four months before lodging the nomination, with each advertisement running for at least four weeks. Workforce Australia advertising has been optional since 11 December 2023. For medical practitioners (ANZSCO minor group 253) the employer may instead provide a written submission explaining why a suitable Australian is not readily available, except for General Practitioners (253111) and Medical Practitioners nec (253999), which need standard advertising.

  • Lodge the nomination

    The nomination fee is $330, plus the Skilling Australians Fund levy of $1,200 a year (turnover under $10 million) or $1,800 a year ($10 million or more) for each year of the visa. These costs must be paid by the employer and cannot be passed on to you.

  • Offer equal terms

    Your salary and conditions must be at least the market rate paid to Australian workers in the same role and location, and at least the CSIT or SSIT.

Visa charges

Applicant Charge from 1 July 2026
Main applicant $4,015
Each secondary applicant aged 18 or over $4,015
Each secondary applicant under 18 $1,005
Subsequent temporary application charge (if lodged in Australia and it applies) $700 per person

See our costs and timeline page for registration, AMC, insurance and relocation costs.

While you hold the 482

  • You must work for your sponsor in the nominated occupation. To change employer, your new employer must lodge a new nomination.
  • If your employment ends, you generally have up to 180 days at a time (365 days in total over the visa) to find a new sponsor, apply for another visa or leave Australia.
  • Your partner and children included in the visa can live in Australia, and your partner can work and study.
  • Your registration conditions (supervision, approved position) must be followed. A change of position may need Board approval as well as a new nomination.

Pathway to permanent residence

After two years working on a 482 for an approved sponsor, you can generally apply for permanent residence through the Temporary Residence Transition stream of the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186). A regional medical practitioner age exemption can help doctors aged 45 or over. You can also look at state nomination (190 and 491) or regional options such as the 494.

Frequently asked questions

Your employer can prepare the nomination, but you need evidence of registration, or that you will be registered on arrival, before the visa is granted. Many doctors wait for the Ahpra registration number or in-principle approval before lodging the visa.

Yes. General Practitioners (253111) are excluded from the written submission alternative available to other medical practitioners, so the practice must complete standard labour market testing unless an international trade obligation exemption applies.

Your work must be for your sponsor in the nominated position. Locum work for other organisations generally needs its own nomination. Ask us before you agree to any arrangement outside your nominated role.

Yes. Registered nurses, midwives, enrolled nurses and most allied health occupations are on the CSOL. See nurses and midwives and allied health professionals.

No. The Health Workforce Certificate requirement for employer sponsored nominations was abolished on 16 September 2023. If you will bill Medicare, section 19AB and Distribution Priority Area rules still apply.

Processing depends on the case, but healthcare roles are in the highest priority group under Ministerial Direction 121. Registration is often the longest step, so start it early.

Related pages

Keep reading on our health professionals site:

Book a consultation with our health visa team