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Costs and Timeline for Doctors and Health Professionals Moving to Australia

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

Moving to Australia as a doctor, nurse or allied health professional involves several separate costs paid to different organisations: qualification verification, exams and registration, the visa, and then the costs of relocating. Your employer pays some sponsorship costs by law, and some employers also help with relocation. This page brings the main costs and the typical sequence together so you can budget and plan your start date.

Government visa charges below are those that apply from 1 July 2026. Registration, exam and assessment fees are set by each body and can change, so confirm them before you pay.

What you are likely to pay

Select the stage to see the main costs.

Item Typical cost (AUD) Applies to
Primary source verification (MyIntealth) Varies by number of documents Doctors on most pathways
AMC portfolio $642 (plus about $107 per extra qualification) Doctors using AMC services
AMC CAT MCQ $2,920 per attempt Standard pathway
AMC clinical exam $3,000 in person or $3,400 online, per attempt Standard pathway
Specialist college assessment Set by each college Specialist recognition pathway
NMBA OSCE About $4,000 per attempt Nurses and midwives in Stream B
ANMAC skills assessment $595 full or $395 modified Nurses and midwives applying for skilled visas
English test Set by the test provider Most applicants
Ahpra application and registration fees Set by each National Board (lower in NSW) All registered health practitioners

See AMC exams and nurses and midwives for detail.

Worked example: visa charges for a family on a 482

A specialist moving on a 482 with a partner and two children under 18 would pay these government visa charges from 1 July 2026:

Applicant Charge
Main applicant $4,015
Partner $4,015
Two children ($1,005 each) $2,010
Total visa charges $10,040

The employer separately pays the sponsorship, nomination and Skilling Australians Fund costs. Registration, health checks, insurance and relocation are additional. If the family later moves to the 186, the 186 charges apply at that time.

A typical timeline

Every case is different. These are the usual stages and the timeframes the relevant bodies describe, not guarantees.

  • Verification and English

    Start primary source verification and book your English test. Verification depends on how quickly your university responds.

  • Registration pathway

    Expedited Specialist: the Board quotes four to six weeks for complete applications. Competent Authority and Standard: apply at least three months before your start date. Standard pathway exams usually add many months before this point. Nurses on the streamlined pathway are often faster than those needing the OBA.

  • Job offer and position approval

    The employer confirms the role, supervision and, for GPs, Medicare location. For area of need roles, the state health department declares the position.

  • Visa

    Your employer lodges the nomination and you lodge the visa once registration is in place or approved in principle. Healthcare visas are in the highest priority group under Ministerial Directions 121 and 122.

  • Supervised practice

    Six months for the Expedited Specialist pathway; 12 months for Competent Authority and Standard pathway doctors before general registration.

  • Permanent residence

    Usually after two years on a 482 (186 TRT), after three years on a 494 or 491 (191), or earlier through Direct Entry or state nomination.

  • Citizenship

    Generally after four years of lawful residence in Australia, including at least one year as a permanent resident.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, employers can choose to pay the worker’s visa charges and relocation costs. They must pay the sponsorship, nomination and Skilling Australians Fund costs themselves.

Generally not, unless you are from a country with a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia (which gives limited cover). Most 482 holders need private health insurance. Permanent residents can enrol in Medicare.

Registration. Verifying qualifications, exams and Board approval of the position usually take longer than the visa itself.

No. This page covers government and third party charges only. Contact us or book a consultation to discuss our professional fees for your case.

Start verification and English testing early, check whether you qualify for the Expedited Specialist or streamlined nursing pathway, and make sure every application is complete when lodged.

Related pages

Keep reading on our health professionals site:

Book a consultation with our health visa team