REGISTERED NURSE (AGED CARE) | ANZSCO 254412

WHAT DOES A REGISTERED NURSE (AGED CARE) DO?

A Registered Nurse (Aged Care) provides nursing care to older people in community settings, residential aged care facilities, retirement villages, and health care facilities. The role combines clinical assessment and care planning with supervision of the wider care team, and it sits at the centre of how older Australians receive safe, person-centred care. Gerontology nursing is a recognised specialisation within this occupation.

Typical day to day duties include:

• Assessing, planning, delivering, and evaluating nursing care for older people according to accepted practice and standards
• Managing complex and chronic health conditions common in older age, such as dementia, diabetes, heart disease, and frailty
• Administering medications and treatments, and monitoring residents' responses to care
• Managing wound care, pain, falls prevention, and other clinical risks
• Working with GPs, allied health professionals, and other health professionals to coordinate care
• Supervising and coordinating Enrolled Nurses, personal care workers, and other health care workers
• Promoting health and preventing illness through education and health promotion
• Answering residents' and families' questions about treatment and care, and supporting end-of-life and palliative care
• Contributing to clinical governance, quality, and compliance with aged care standards
• Maintaining accurate clinical records in line with Australian healthcare and privacy standards

Registered Nurse (Aged Care) is a nationally regulated profession in Australia. Working as a registered nurse requires registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), administered through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). This registration sits separately from the migration skills assessment, which is carried out by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC). More on both further down.

SUBCLASS 482 FOR THIS OCCUPATION – CSOL LIST

The Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID) visa replaced the older Temporary Skill Shortage visa in December 2024, bringing in a new occupation list. The Core Skills Occupation List, known as the CSOL, consolidated the previous strategic skills lists into a single list covering several hundred occupations across professional, trade, and technical fields.

Registered Nurse (Aged Care) sits on the CSOL under the code ANZSCO 254412, and this is the code an employer nominates against for a 482 visa. No caveats currently apply to this occupation, though it's always worth confirming current conditions with a migration agent before a nomination is lodged, as settings can be updated by the Department of Home Affairs from time to time.

Most Registered Nurse (Aged Care) nominations are considered under the Core Skills stream. The Specialist Skills stream carries a much higher income threshold and is generally not realistic for this occupation, which is explained in the salary section below.

SUBCLASS 482 ANZSCO REQUIREMENT FOR THIS OCCUPATION

A nominated occupation has to genuinely match the work an applicant will actually be doing for their sponsoring employer. Registered Nurse (Aged Care) sits at ANZSCO Skill Level 1, which lines up with a Bachelor degree or higher qualification, and registration is required to practise.

SC 482 VISA REQUIREMENT FOR THIS OCCUPATION

To be granted a Subclass 482 visa under the Core Skills stream as a Registered Nurse (Aged Care), applicants generally need to meet the following:

• A genuine, approved sponsor. Your employer must be an approved Standard Business Sponsor, or in the process of becoming one
• An approved nomination for ANZSCO 254412, with a salary at or above the relevant income threshold and the market rate for the role
• At least one year of full time equivalent relevant work experience within the past five years
• English requirements as outlined below, unless an exemption applies
• A clear health examination through an approved panel physician
• Police clearance certificates from every country lived in for twelve months or more
• Registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, or eligibility for it, as required for the role

The visa can be granted for a period of up to four years (up to five years for Hong Kong passport holders), and a partner and dependent children can be included as secondary applicants. Salary and income thresholds are indexed annually, so it's always worth confirming the current figure before an employer lodges a nomination.

SALARY THRESHOLDS — CSIT, SSIT, AND AMSR EXPLAINED

Three separate salary concepts apply to a nomination for this occupation, and all three need to be satisfied at once — employers must pay whichever figure is highest.

• Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) — the minimum guaranteed annual earnings for a Core Skills stream nomination under Subclass 482, and for Subclass 186 nominations. The current CSIT is AUD $79,423, up from AUD $76,515. For Registered Nurses (Aged Care), the CSIT is the threshold that matters most. The aged care award minimum for a first-year registered nurse sits only slightly above it, so employers should confirm how guaranteed annual earnings are calculated for the role before nominating.
• Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) — the higher minimum guaranteed annual earnings that applies to the Specialist Skills stream of Subclass 482. Registered Nurse (Aged Care) salaries typically sit below this threshold, even at the top of the aged care award classifications, so nominations are generally made under the Core Skills stream. The current SSIT is AUD $146,576, up from AUD $141,210.
• Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) — the rate an equivalent Australian worker would be paid in the same role, location, and industry, based on enterprise agreements, awards, job advertisements, or remuneration survey data. For Registered Nurses (Aged Care) employed under the Nurses Award aged care stream or an enterprise agreement, the applicable award or agreement rate for the role is the usual benchmark. The AMSR has no fixed dollar figure; it is assessed case by case.

These thresholds are indexed each year against Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings (AWOTE), so the applicable figure depends on when a nomination is lodged, not when it's decided. Existing visa holders and nominations lodged before an indexation date are not affected by a later increase. It's always worth confirming the current threshold with a migration agent, or on the Department of Home Affairs website, before a nomination is lodged.

SUBCLASS 482 SID VISA COST

On top of meeting the relevant income threshold, applicants and their employer need to budget for the government charges that apply to a Subclass 482 application.

*Figures shown are the base Visa Application Charge only, current at time of writing and reviewed annually by the Department of Home Affairs. Additional charges may apply, including the employer's $330 nomination fee per position and the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy, along with health examinations, police checks, and English testing where required. These figures do not include the second instalment charge that applies to some dependants, or any professional or agent fees. Always confirm current charges with your migration agent or the Department of Home Affairs before lodging.

SKILLS ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENT FOR THIS OCCUPATION – SUBCLASS 482

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) is the designated skills assessing authority for Registered Nurse (Aged Care) (ANZSCO 254412) for migration purposes. ANMAC assesses skills through a review of qualifications and work experience, and does not conduct face-to-face tests.

A skills assessment is not required for every Subclass 482 applicant. It is only mandatory where required under the Department of Home Affairs' mandatory skills assessment requirements, which apply to specified occupations and passport countries. Applicants should confirm current requirements for their passport country before lodging, and should keep in mind that NMBA registration is a separate and mandatory requirement for practising as a nurse.

ANMAC offers two types of skills assessment:

• The Full Skills Assessment — for applicants who are not yet registered in Australia or New Zealand. It is currently open to applicants holding a nursing qualification from specified countries, including Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, together with current registration in the country of qualification. It involves English language test results, an overseas registration verification, and work experience references
• The Modified Skills Assessment — for applicants who already hold current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia or a New Zealand nursing or midwifery regulator. It does not require an English language test, and work experience evidence is only needed where the applicant wants it assessed for the points test

This means applicants from other countries generally complete NMBA registration first and then apply for a Modified Skills Assessment. ANMAC notes that applicants should only nominate this occupation if their experience supports it, and that references should describe the specific clinical skills and competencies used, since generic references are not sufficient. Applicants should confirm with ANMAC which type of assessment applies to their circumstances.

Applicants should provide comprehensive documentary evidence, including:

• Passport identity pages and any change of name documents
• Graduation certificates and full academic transcripts from the applicant's nursing education
• Evidence of current registration and good standing, including overseas registration verification where required
• Employment references on official letterhead, signed by a direct supervisor, setting out hours, dates, position, and clinical duties in aged care settings. For a full assessment, ANMAC requires recent paid work experience that matches the nominated occupation code
• English language test results, where required for the type of assessment

An ANMAC outcome letter is valid for a limited period, and processing can take several weeks, so it helps to prepare complete, correctly formatted documents before applying. Incomplete or non-compliant documents are a common cause of delay.

SUBCLASS 186 FOR THIS OCCUPATION – EMPLOYER NOMINATION SCHEME

The Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme is Australia's main permanent employer sponsored visa, and for many Registered Nurses (Aged Care) already working in Australia on a 482 visa, it's the natural next step. The Direct Entry stream is the relevant pathway for applicants who haven't yet worked long enough with their employer to qualify for the Temporary Residence Transition stream, or who are applying from outside Australia altogether.

Unlike the 482, a grant under the 186 gives the applicant and their family permanent residency from the day it's approved, with no further visa renewals needed.

SC 186 VISA REQUIREMENT FOR THIS OCCUPATION

For the Direct Entry stream, applicants generally need to meet the following:

• A nomination from an approved Australian employer for a genuine, full time, ongoing position in this occupation
• A salary that meets or exceeds the Core Skills Income Threshold and the market rate for the role
• A positive skills assessment in the nominated occupation, unless an exemption applies
• At least three years of relevant work experience, unless exempt from the skills assessment and experience requirements
• Being under 45 years of age at the time of application, with limited exemptions
• Competent English, at an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with no band below 6.0, or an accepted equivalent
• Health and character clearances

This is a lower English bar than the Nursing and Midwifery Board's own registration standard, which means almost every applicant who can register as a nurse in Australia will already clear the visa's English requirement.

SKILLS ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENT FOR THIS OCCUPATION – SC 186 VISA

Unlike the 482, a positive skills assessment is mandatory for almost every Direct Entry 186 applicant in this occupation, and it needs to be current at the time the visa application is lodged. For Registered Nurses (Aged Care), this assessment is carried out by ANMAC.

Because the Direct Entry stream also requires three years of relevant experience on top of the assessment itself, it helps to start gathering employment evidence, reference letters, and qualification documents well before applying.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Every skilled or employer sponsored visa in Australia comes with an English language test, and the score required depends on which visa is being applied for. For Registered Nurses (Aged Care) looking at the 482 and 186 pathways, the bar is different at each stage, which catches a lot of applicants off guard.

For the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa, applicants generally need Competent English, which works out to an overall IELTS score of 5.0 with no band below 5.0, or an accepted equivalent test result.

For the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme, Direct Entry stream, the standard is higher. Competent English here means an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with no band below 6.0.

Separately, and on top of these visa requirements, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia sets its own, considerably higher English standard for registration. This is a professional registration requirement, not a visa requirement, but it applies in practice to every applicant who needs to register in order to work as a nurse. The Board's accepted test scores for tests other than IELTS have been revised in recent times, and ANMAC publishes its own English test requirement for a Full Skills Assessment, which may differ from the Board's registration standard. Applicants should check the current scores on the Ahpra, NMBA, and ANMAC websites before booking a test.

EXEMPTIONS ON ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

For visa purposes, citizens of the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and the Republic of Ireland are generally exempt from formal English testing, along with applicants who have completed a set period of study conducted in English. Test results typically need to be current within three years of lodgement for visa purposes. The Nursing and Midwifery Board applies its own separate rules for demonstrating English language skills for registration, including a shorter validity period for test results, which should be confirmed directly with the Board.

REGISTRATION WITH THE NURSING AND MIDWIFERY BOARD OF AUSTRALIA

Nursing is a nationally regulated profession under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, administered through AHPRA and the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. Practising as a registered nurse in Australia, including in aged care, without current registration is not permitted.

• The NMBA assesses internationally qualified nurses according to how their qualification compares with an Australian approved qualification. Applicants with a substantially equivalent qualification may proceed to orientation and then apply for registration
• Applicants with a relevant but not equivalent qualification are generally required to complete an Outcomes-Based Assessment, which consists of a computer-based knowledge exam followed by an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)
• Applicants without a relevant qualification may need to upgrade their qualification before being reassessed
• Faster pathways have been introduced for some internationally qualified nurses, so applicants should check the current options on the Ahpra website
• Applicants must meet the Board's English language skills registration standard, criminal history, and professional indemnity insurance requirements
• Registered nurses must meet ongoing Continuing Professional Development and recency of practice requirements set by the Board

SALARY EXPECTATIONS IN AUSTRALIA

The figures above are approximate annual equivalents calculated from the weekly minimum rates in the aged care tables of the Nurses Award, before superannuation, penalty rates, and allowances. Employers operating under enterprise agreements may pay above these award minimums, and pay for any individual role varies with classification, experience, location, and employer. Employers also pay superannuation on top of base pay.

WHY THIS OCCUPATION IS IN DEMAND IN AUSTRALIA

• Registered Nurse (Aged Care) is listed in shortage across every Australian state and territory
• An ageing population is increasing demand for clinical care in residential aged care, home care, and community settings
• Older people often have complex and chronic health conditions, which require the clinical skills of registered nurses
• Registered nurses supervise and coordinate Enrolled Nurses and personal care workers, so shortages affect the whole care team
• Strong demand for nurses willing to work in regional, rural, and remote areas, where aged care services can be harder to staff
• Registered Nurse (Aged Care) is on the Core Skills Occupation List, which means eligible employers can sponsor suitable applicants through employer-sponsored visa pathways

EMPLOYER SPONSORSHIP FOR THIS OCCUPATION IN AUSTRALIA

Australian residential aged care providers, home and community care organisations, retirement villages, and health services can sponsor overseas applicants in this occupation through the Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) visa, the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) visa, and other eligible employer-sponsored visa pathways when suitably qualified Australian workers are unavailable. With shortages across every state and territory, employer sponsorship has become an important way for Australian aged care providers to recruit experienced overseas-trained Registered Nurses (Aged Care).

At Migration Republic, we assist employers with every stage of the employer sponsorship process, including Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) applications, nomination applications, visa lodgements, and ongoing sponsorship compliance. Our Registered Migration Agents ensure your organisation meets all Department of Home Affairs requirements while making the sponsorship process as straightforward and efficient as possible.

We help healthcare employers with:

• Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) applications
• Sponsoring overseas applicants under the Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) visa
• Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) applications
• Employer nomination applications and salary benchmarking against CSIT, SSIT, and AMSR
• Employer sponsorship compliance obligations
• Permanent residency pathways for sponsored employees

If your aged care service or health organisation is looking to sponsor a Registered Nurse (Aged Care) in Australia, Migration Republic can provide expert advice and manage the entire employer sponsorship process from start to finish, allowing you to focus on patient care while we take care of your migration requirements.

HOW MIGRATION REPUBLIC CAN HELP YOU

Migrating to Australia as a Registered Nurse (Aged Care) means navigating ANMAC skills assessment and Nursing and Midwifery Board registration alongside an employer-sponsored visa application, each with its own English language standard and evidentiary requirements. Our registered migration agents at Migration Republic handle this every day, and we can help you get it right the first time.

Here's what we take care of for you:

• Confirming your qualifications and experience align with ANZSCO 254412 and ANMAC's assessment criteria
• Identifying whether the ANMAC Full or Modified Skills Assessment applies to you, and preparing your application and supporting evidence
• Structuring your employment references so they meet the assessing authority's requirements
• Coordinating your English testing against both the visa standard and the Board's registration standard
• Comparing the 482 and 186 pathways to find the right fit for your circumstances
• Managing your full visa application from lodgement through to grant

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – EMPLOYER SPONSORSHIP FOR THIS OCCUPATION