Registered Nurse (Aged Care) Visa Pathway Australia

Australia classifies Registered Nurse (Aged Care) under ANZSCO 254412. The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) conducts the skills assessment and AHPRA handles registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. The occupation sits on the MLTSSL and CSOL, and Home Affairs lists it for subclasses 186, 189, 190, 407, 482, 485, 489, 491 and 494. Typical 2026 salaries range AUD $90,000-$100,000, with sustained shortages across every state and territory driving Royal Commission-funded wage growth.

Quick Facts: Registered Nurse (Aged Care) Migration Pathway

What Aged Care Registered Nurses Do in Australia

Aged Care RNs deliver clinical care in residential aged care facilities, retirement villages, in-home care services and transition care programs. Day-to-day work includes medication administration, wound care, chronic disease management, behaviour management for residents with dementia, end-of-life care, and clinical leadership of personal care workers.

Demand has grown sharply since the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. The mandated requirement for a registered nurse on-site 24/7 in every residential aged care facility — phased in across 2023-2024 — and the funded sector-wide wage increases (with the final tranche scheduled for 1 August 2026) have made aged care RN one of the fastest-recruiting healthcare occupations.

The work is concentrated in residential providers (Bupa, Regis, Estia Health, BlueCross, Allity, Bolton Clarke) and in-home community providers. Geographic spread is broad — most aged care facilities sit in metropolitan suburbs and regional towns rather than CBDs, which makes regional 491 pathways particularly viable.

ANZSCO Code 254412 — What's Covered

Code 254412 covers registered nurses who provide nursing care to elderly patients in residential, in-home and community settings. Tasks include comprehensive nursing assessment, care planning, medication management, infection control, dementia and palliative care, supervision of enrolled nurses and personal care assistants, and family liaison.

The code is distinct from 254499 Registered Nurses nec (used as a fallback for nurses without a clear specialty match) and from other RN specialty codes (254413 Child and Family Health, 254414 Community Health, 254415 Critical Care, 254416 Developmental Disability, 254417 Disability and Rehabilitation, 254418 Medical, 254421 Medical Practice, 254422 Mental Health, 254423 Perioperative, 254424 Surgical, 254425 Paediatrics).

If your career has straddled aged care and another specialty, nominate the code that matches your most recent and most documented experience. ANMAC assesses based on the documented work, not the title in your employment contract.

Skills Assessment

ANMAC Skills Assessment

ANMAC Modified Skills Assessment

For applicants with in-principle AHPRA approval.

ANMAC Direct Care Skills Assessment

For applicants who completed an AHPRA-approved Outcomes Based Assessment and need ANMAC to confirm outcome for migration.

ANMAC Full Skills Assessment

For applicants without Australian or New Zealand registration who hold a Bachelor of Nursing (or higher) from Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland, the UK or the US, with current home-country registration.

ANMAC lists these fees: AUD595 for a full skills assessment (AUD395 modified, AUD545 direct care). ANMAC does not publish a set processing time; it says processing times vary.

Common rejection reasons: Insufficient evidence of aged care-specific clinical responsibilities (rather than general medical-surgical experience); employment references that describe personal care worker tasks rather than RN-scope tasks; gaps in registered practice over five years.

AHPRA Registration (NMBA)

Required for all registered nurses regardless of specialty. Internationally qualified nurses typically complete the Outcomes Based Assessment (OBA) — MCQ then OSCE.

Registration fees: an application fee of AUD $346 and a registration fee of AUD $201 for general registration (Nursing and Midwifery Board fee schedule effective 9 October 2026) English: meet the Nursing and Midwifery Board's English language skills registration standard

Submit AHPRA and ANMAC in parallel. The bodies do not share information; running them one after the other adds months of waiting.

Visa Pathways for Aged Care Registered Nurses

Subclass 482 — Skills in Demand Visa (Most Common Pathway)

Aged care is one of the highest-volume 482 sponsorship sectors. Most large residential aged care providers hold accredited sponsor status and run rolling international recruitment.

• Visa fee: AUD4,015 for the main applicant
• Core Skills Income Threshold: AUD79,423 (from 1 July 2026)
• Processing time: Core Skills stream: 50% of applications processed within 4 months and 90% within 9 months; Specialist Skills stream: 50% of applications processed within 37 days and 90% within 78 days
• Reality: Most aged care RN base salaries clear the Core Skills threshold but sit below the Specialist Skills threshold. Sponsors typically lodge in the Core Skills stream.

Subclass 186 — Employer Nomination Scheme

Permanent residency through employer sponsorship. Direct Entry stream is common for aged care RNs because the salary often clears the Core Skills Income Threshold but doesn't justify 482 first.

• Visa fee: AUD6,140 for the main applicant
• Processing time: Direct Entry stream: 50% of applications processed within 21 months and 90% within 25 months; Temporary Residence Transition stream: 50% of applications processed within 21 months and 90% within 25 months
• Streams: Direct Entry (skills assessment + 3 years experience) or TRT (after 2 years on 482)

Subclass 491 — Skilled Work Regional Visa

The dominant points-based pathway for aged care RNs given the geographic spread of facilities into regional areas.

• Visa fee: AUD6,140 for the main applicant
• Points boost: +15 from regional nomination
• Processing time: State or territory nominated: 50% of applications processed within 5 months and 90% within 18 months; Family sponsored: 50% of applications processed within 4 months and 90% within 7 months
• Quirk: Most aged care facilities outside Greater Sydney, Greater Melbourne and Greater Brisbane sit in 491-eligible regional postcodes

Subclass 190 — Skilled Nominated Visa

State nomination grants permanent residency with a 2-year commitment.

• Visa fee: AUD6,140 for the main applicant
• Processing time: 50% of applications processed within 4 months and 90% within 16 months
• Best states: All states nominate aged care RNs in 2026 given universal sector pressure

Subclass 189 — Skilled Independent Visa

Available because 254412 is on the MLTSSL. Less common than 491 and 482 for aged care because invitation rounds favour higher-scoring candidates.

• Visa fee: AUD6,135 for the main applicant
• Typical invitation score: 65-75
• Processing time: 50% of applications processed within 61 days and 90% within 8 months

Home Affairs also lists Registered Nurse (Aged Care) for the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (subclass 494) visa, an employer-sponsored regional visa (AUD6,140 for the main applicant).

Points Test Strategy

Realistic Scenarios

Scenario 1: 34-year-old Indian aged care nurse, 9 years experience, IELTS 7.0

• Age 25 + Bachelor's 15 + English 10 + Experience 15 = 65 points
• Add 491 nomination: 80 points — strongly competitive

Scenario 2: 29-year-old Filipino aged care RN, 5 years experience, IELTS 7.5

• Age 30 + Bachelor's 15 + English 10 + Experience 10 = 65 points
• Add 190: 70 points; add 491: 80 points

State Nomination for Aged Care RNs

New South Wales

NSW has the largest aged care workforce by absolute number. Western Sydney, the Central Coast, the Hunter and the Illawarra are the highest-recruitment regions. NSW 190 invitations to healthcare consistently hit 75-85 points in early 2026 rounds.

Victoria

Victoria's aged care sector covers metro Melbourne plus a heavy regional footprint in Bendigo, Ballarat, Geelong and the Latrobe Valley. The 2025-26 program closed to new EOIs on 28 April 2026 — check the next intake.

Queensland

Queensland aged care providers concentrate in the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane outer suburbs and Cairns/Townsville. Queensland 190 healthcare invitations cleared at 75-80 points through early 2026.

South Australia

SA Health's aged care nomination program is active and accepts candidates with English at IELTS 7.0 across the board (rather than Superior). Adelaide, Mount Gambier and the Limestone Coast see steady recruitment.

Western Australia

Perth metropolitan aged care plus regional WA via WA Country Health Service. WA's 190 program has historically been one of the more accessible for aged care nursing.

Tasmania

Tasmania has the highest median age of any state and the most acute aged care worker-to-resident ratio pressure. The Tasmanian 491 is one of the more achievable regional pathways for aged care RNs.

Northern Territory

Salaries include remote allowances. Check the NT program for current 190 and 491 nomination timing.

Australian Capital Territory

The ACT has a small but consistent aged care nomination program. Canberra suburbs in north and south face workforce shortages.

Salary and Employment Outlook

What Aged Care RNs Earn in 2026

Salary base figures from SEEK (April 2026) and align with the published 2025 Aged Care Nurses Wages Guidance from the Department of Health. Excludes superannuation (12%), shift loadings, on-call and penalty rates. The final tranche of the Fair Work Commission aged care wage decision lands 1 August 2026, lifting base rates further.

Where the Money Sits

• Not-for-profit residential providers in metro NSW and Victoria — strongest enterprise agreements
• NT and remote postings — base plus allowances frequently exceed metro packages
• Care Manager and DON roles — accountability premium reflects 24/7 site responsibility
• Locum and agency work in regional NSW, VIC, QLD — high hourly rates plus travel and accommodation

Tips for a Successful Application

1. Make Sure Your Employment References Describe RN Scope, Not Personal Care

A frequent ANMAC failure pattern: references that read like personal care worker job descriptions (showering, feeding, hygiene support) rather than registered nurse tasks (clinical assessment, care planning, medication management, supervision of staff). Work with your referees on the language well before submission.

2. Choose Between 254412 and 254499 Deliberately

If your career has spanned multiple specialties, 254412 Aged Care is the strongest code where you have at least 2-3 years of documented aged care responsibility. Otherwise 254499 RNs nec is the fallback.

3. Run AHPRA OBA and ANMAC in Parallel

Two independent processes. Submitting AHPRA first and waiting wastes months. Begin both within two weeks of each other.

4. Target Large Sponsor Networks First

The big residential providers — Bupa Aged Care, Regis Healthcare, Estia Health, BlueCross, Bolton Clarke, Allity — all have established international recruitment programs and accredited sponsor status. Apply directly through their career pages.

5. Consider Regional 491 Even With Strong Points

Aged care facilities are disproportionately located outside CBDs. A 491-eligible address is often closer to where the jobs are anyway. The +15 points are essentially "free" if you intended to live in regional Australia.

Step-by-Step Migration Roadmap

1. Confirm 254412 Aged Care matches your documented experience via the ANZSCO code finder
2. Verify Registered Nurse (Aged Care) is on the 2026 Skilled Occupation List — it is
3. Request employment references describing aged care-specific RN responsibilities
4. Sit OET or IELTS at AHPRA minimum
5. Submit AHPRA self-check via IQNM portal
6. Lodge ANMAC application in parallel
7. Complete AHPRA OBA (MCQ then OSCE)
8. Receive ANMAC outcome letter (valid 2 years)
9. Apply to large residential aged care sponsors OR submit EOI in SkillSelect for 189/190/491
10. Receive 482 sponsorship offer or state nomination
11. Lodge visa application within deadline
12. Complete health, character checks; receive grant

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I migrate as an aged care RN if I trained in general nursing?

Yes, provided you have documented experience working as an RN in aged care settings. ANMAC assesses based on the body of work, not the title in your initial qualification. Most overseas RNs who nominate 254412 have at least 2-3 years of aged care-specific employment.

Is the 482 visa easier than the points-based system for aged care RNs?

Often, yes. Large residential providers have streamlined sponsorship pipelines. For the Core Skills stream, Home Affairs reports 50% of applications processed within 4 months and 90% within 9 months. The salary almost always clears the Core Skills threshold, and direct 186 from offshore is also viable for candidates with 3+ years of experience.

Why is there a separate code for aged care nursing rather than one generic RN code?

ANZSCO splits Registered Nurses into 13 specialty codes because Australian state and federal labour data tracks each specialty separately. This is useful for migrants: the specialty codes capture different shortage signals, and aged care is among the most consistently in shortage across all states.

What's the demand outlook for aged care RNs in 2026?

Critical and structurally entrenched. The 24/7 RN mandate, the aged care wage rises, the ageing population and ongoing attrition all point to sustained shortage through at least 2030. Jobs and Skills Australia lists Registered Nurses as a national shortage occupation in every state.

Can my overseas Bachelor of Nursing be recognised?

ANMAC and AHPRA recognise nursing degrees from many countries, but the qualification must be assessed for substantial equivalence to an Australian Bachelor of Nursing. UK, Irish, Canadian and NZ qualifications are most readily recognised. Indian, Filipino and most African qualifications typically require completion of the OBA bridging assessment.

What are the most common reasons aged care RN applications fail?

Three patterns: employment references that describe personal-care-worker tasks rather than RN scope; nominating 254412 without documented aged care experience; and English results that may satisfy the visa's English requirement but do not meet the Nursing and Midwifery Board's English language skills registration standard.