Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) for Medical Professionals
This stream is for Points-tested skilled workers who are not sponsored by an employer or family member or nominated by a state or territory government. To find out if you are eligible and the process for the visa, please refer to our Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) (Points-Tested) Stream page.
Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) Visas for Medical Professionals
Unlike the 189 visa, both 190 and 491 visas require skilled workers to be nominated by a state or territory government. The main difference between these two visas is that the 491 visa is a temporary visa (5 year validity). 491 visa holders have a pathway to permanent residency through the subclass 191 visa after living and working in a designated regional area for at least 3 years and meeting the minimum taxable income requirement. For more information, please visit our Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) page.
Northern Territory
Information current as at October 2026.
The Northern Territory (NT) Government, through MigrationNT, nominates skilled workers for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491). Health is one of the NT’s designated critical sectors, and most medical, nursing and allied health occupations can be nominated.
NT 2026-27 program status
- Allocation: 1,850 nomination places for 2026-27 (850 for the 190 visa and 1,000 for the 491 visa), up from 1,650 in 2025-26.
- Opening: the NT application portal opened on 21 August 2026 for onshore streams and selected offshore streams.
- Current position: the NT Government has received sufficient applications for 2026-27. New applications are only accepted by exception for the 491 visa, for onshore applicants who meet the NT Graduate or NT Resident criteria and whose substantive visa expires (and who cannot get a 485 visa), who turn 45, or whose points would fall below 65, on or before 30 September 2027.
- Offshore streams: the Priority Occupation, Job Offer and Family streams are not accepting new applications at this time.
The criteria below are the NT’s published 2026-27 criteria. They apply to exception applications now and are likely to be the starting point when the NT accepts general applications again, so you can use them to prepare.
Requirements for all NT applicants
- Under 45 at the time of nomination.
- A valid skills assessment for your nominated occupation, and an occupation on the national skilled occupation list for the visa (offshore Priority Occupation applicants must use the NT Offshore Migration Occupation List).
- At least competent English, or a higher level if your registration or licensing body requires it.
- At least 65 points on the Home Affairs points test. MigrationNT does not rank applicants by points.
- A genuine commitment to the NT: you agree to live and work in the NT in your occupation (or a closely related one) for at least three years from the visa grant, keep MigrationNT updated and take part in surveys.
- You are not eligible if you or a migrating family member currently lives interstate, or holds a student visa without having finished that course. If the NT has previously nominated you for a 489 or 491 visa, you cannot be nominated for a 190.
Financial capacity: the NT asks you to declare you can support yourself on arrival. As a guide, the NT suggests net assets of at least AU$35,000 for a single applicant, AU$50,000 for an applicant and partner, AU$60,000 with one child and AU$65,000 with two children.
NT nomination streams for health professionals
For people already living and working in the NT.
Subclass 190:
- at least two consecutive years living in the NT immediately before you apply, and you still live there;
- at least two consecutive years of full-time NT employment immediately before you apply, with the job available for at least another 12 months;
- employment in your nominated or a closely related occupation (or, in exceptional circumstances, in a regional or remote area outside Greater Darwin).
Subclass 491:
- at least 12 consecutive months living in the NT and at least six consecutive months of full-time NT employment, with the job available for at least another 12 months;
- employment in your nominated or a closely related occupation, or in exceptional circumstances in a regional or remote area outside Greater Darwin or in a designated critical sector, which includes health and aged or disabled care.
How an NT nomination application works now
The NT does not invite people from SkillSelect. You lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) and then apply directly to MigrationNT through the NT online application system.
- Check you meet the Home Affairs requirements (age, English, skills assessment, points) and the NT stream criteria.
- Lodge an EOI in SkillSelect selecting the NT and the 190 and/or 491 visa.
- Apply to MigrationNT online with every supporting document at the time you apply. Incomplete applications may be refused.
- Pay the non-refundable NT application fee of AU$300 (plus GST where applicable).
- If you are nominated, you receive a SkillSelect invitation and have 60 days to lodge your visa application.
- After the visa grant, email MigrationNT your NT contact details and live and work in the NT for at least three years.
Key documents: skills assessment, CV, qualifications and transcripts, passports, current visa, English results, your EOI and points breakdown, evidence for extra points claims, and a letter of commitment in your own words (no longer than two pages) explaining why you chose the NT and your research into jobs, housing and services. Onshore applicants also provide 12 months of bank statements showing day-to-day spending in the NT, evidence of NT residence and employment records. Offshore applicants provide evidence of at least two years of full-time work in the last five years and, for registered health occupations, evidence of registration or eligibility.
If your application for a 190 is not successful, MigrationNT will consider you for a 491 if your EOI includes the 491. You can only have one application at a time and the NT only nominates each person once. Priority processing is only considered for NT residents facing a visa expiry, turning 45 or losing points within 30 days. For the visa stage see our 190 visa, 491 visa and Northern Territory 190 visa requirements pages.
Ahpra registration for health professionals moving to the NT
Before you can work in a registered health profession in the NT you need registration with the relevant National Board through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra). For many health occupations on the NT Offshore Migration Occupation List, MigrationNT asks for evidence of Australian registration or a statement showing you are eligible to obtain it. Onshore applicants need NT employment in their occupation, which in practice also requires registration.
- Doctors: international medical graduates follow the Medical Board of Australia and Australian Medical Council pathways (competent authority, specialist or standard pathway). See our International Medical Graduates and Registration in Australia page.
- Nurses and midwives: registration through the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia; the migration skills assessment is done by ANMAC.
- Allied health: physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, pharmacists, podiatrists, optometrists, dental practitioners and medical radiation practitioners register with their National Board. Speech pathologists, audiologists, dietitians and sonographers are not registered by Ahpra but usually need professional association membership.
- English for registration: most National Boards require a higher English level than competent English, so check your Board’s English language standard before you book a test.
Plan registration first: it often takes longer than state nomination, and without it you cannot start work in the NT.
Employer sponsored options for health workers in the NT
With general NT nomination closed for most applicants in 2026-27, employer sponsorship is often the most reliable route for health workers. Healthcare is a top priority sector for visa processing under Ministerial Direction 121 (subclass 482) and Ministerial Direction 122 (subclasses 186, 190, 491, 494 and others), which commenced on 19 September 2026.
The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) lets an approved sponsor employ you for up to four years.
- Core Skills stream: occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) and a salary of at least $79,423 (from 1 July 2026) and the market rate.
- Specialist Skills stream: salary of at least $146,576 (from 1 July 2026).
- Generally a pathway to permanent residence through the 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream after two years with your sponsor.
Health occupations for NT nomination in 2026-27
Onshore applicants (NT Residents and NT Graduates) can nominate any occupation on the national skilled occupation list for their visa. Occupations on the Regional Occupation List, such as Dentist, Anaesthetist and Dental Therapist, are available for the 491 visa only. Offshore Priority Occupation applicants must use the NT Offshore Migration Occupation List (NTOMOL). Information current as at October 2026.
Sources: MigrationNT eligibility criteria and NT Offshore Migration Occupation List (checked October 2026); national lists as published by Home Affairs (CSOL from 7 December 2024), checked October 2026.
Jamie Lim
Jamie is an Australian Regulated Migration Advisor (RMA 1799460). Jamie has extensive immigration services experience across multiple visa subclasses and specialises in employer sponsored visas. He has a wide range of experience in corporate migration, including employer-sponsored visas and immigration compliance, and has managed small to large multinational corporate clients. Jamie also has specific experience with medical professionals, skills assessments, state sponsorships as well as partner visas. Book a time with Jamie here.
Jamie holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from Monash University. Jamie speaks Mandarin Chinese as a second language.
His specialities include but not limited to:
Related guides
- Industries We Work With: Health
- Employer Sponsored Visas Comparison for Registered Nurses
- Health Practitioners: Visa Options to Travel and Work in Australia
- International Medical Graduates and Registration in Australia
- Medical Practice and Hospital Sponsors Visa Options for Overseas Trained Medical Professionals
- Registered Nurse Pathway to PR
- NT state nomination requirements
- Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
- Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491)
- Visa options for medical professionals
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