Information current as at October 2026.
VIC Skilled Visas for Medical Professionals
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.
Victoria
Victorian skilled nomination for health and medical professionals in 2026-27
Victoria nominates skilled workers for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) through its Skilled Visa Nomination Program. For the 2026-27 program year, the position as at October 2026 is:
- Subclass 190: open for Registrations of Interest (ROIs) since 26 October 2026. Victoria has 900 nomination places for the 190 in 2026-27. Healthcare is one of Victoria’s priority industries, with a published list of priority health occupations (see the table below).
- Subclass 491: not yet open. Victoria has not finalised its 2026-27 491 places and will publish details once they are confirmed.
- New fees: for the first time, Victoria charges fees for 2026-27: $60 (or $66 including GST) for an ROI, and $180 (or $198 including GST) for a 190 or 491 nomination application. GST applies only if you are in Australia when you pay. These are state fees and are separate from the Home Affairs visa charge.
- New ranking system: Victoria now ranks ROIs using the Victorian Points Test, which is separate from the Home Affairs points test.
The 2021-22 settings that appeared on this page previously (the requirement to be working in a target sector with STEMM skills, and the separate Nurses List) no longer apply. Victoria’s program closes to new ROIs at a date in 2027 still to be announced. For the full Victorian criteria for all occupations, see our Victoria State Nomination page.
Victoria subclass 190: key criteria for health professionals
To submit a Victorian ROI for the 190 in 2026-27 you must:
- Residence: live in Victoria, or live overseas. Victoria does not select ROIs from people living in other Australian states or territories, apart from some border communities considered case by case.
- Commitment: be committed to living and working in Victoria. Nominated applicants are expected to stay in Victoria for at least two years, and the nomination cannot be transferred to another state.
- Occupation and skills assessment: hold a valid skills assessment in an occupation eligible for the 190, matching the occupation in your SkillSelect EOI. For health professionals, the occupation must also be consistent with your AHPRA registration.
- Points: score at least 65 points on the Home Affairs points test, including the 5 points for state nomination.
- Age: be under 45 at the time of nomination.
- English: have at least Competent English. Higher levels earn more points in both the Home Affairs points test and the Victorian Points Test.
- Work: you do not need to be working to be eligible, and there is no minimum work experience or hours requirement. Experience in your nominated occupation and skilled earnings in Victoria do, however, increase your Victorian Points Test score.
- Validity: when you apply for nomination, your English test and skills assessment should each have at least 12 weeks of validity remaining.
Meeting these requirements does not guarantee an invitation. Victoria cannot prioritise ROIs because of personal circumstances such as an expiring visa or skills assessment.
Victoria’s 2026-27 priority health occupations
Victoria does not use a closed occupation list: any occupation eligible for the 190 can submit an ROI. Instead, Victoria publishes priority occupations in four priority industries (healthcare, social assistance, education and construction), and ranks priority ROIs both in the general pool and within their industry. Only the specific ANZSCO occupations on Victoria’s list receive priority, not every job in the health industry.
The table shows Victoria’s 2026-27 priority healthcare occupations and whether each is on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL, used for the 189 and also eligible for the 190 and 491) and the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL, used for the 482 Skills in Demand visa Core Skills stream and the 186 Direct Entry stream).
| Occupation (ANZSCO code) | Victoria priority 2026-27 | MLTSSL | CSOL |
| Medical Diagnostic Radiographer (251211) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Medical Radiation Therapist (251212) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Nuclear Medicine Technologist (251213) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sonographer (251214) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Optometrist (251411) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hospital Pharmacist (251511) | Yes | No | Yes |
| Orthotist or Prosthetist (251912) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Occupational Therapist (252411) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Physiotherapist (252511) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Podiatrist (252611) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Audiologist (252711) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Speech Pathologist (252712) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Specialist physicians (2533), for example General Medicine (253311) and Cardiologist (253312) | Yes (listed specialties) | Yes | Yes |
| Psychiatrist (253411) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Surgeons (2535), for example Surgeon (General) (253511) | Yes (listed specialties) | Yes | Yes |
| Emergency Medicine Specialist (253912) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Obstetrician and Gynaecologist (253913) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ophthalmologist (253914) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pathologist (253915) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist (253917) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Midwife (254111) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Nurse Manager (254311) | Yes | No | No |
| Nurse Practitioner (254411) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Registered Nurse (Aged Care) (254412) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) (254415) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Registered Nurse (Mental Health) (254422) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Registered Nurse (Perioperative) (254423) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Registered Nurse (Paediatrics) (254425) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Other registered nurse specialisations (2544) and Registered Nurse nec (254499) | Yes (listed specialisations) | Yes | Yes |
| Clinical Psychologist (272311) | Yes (social assistance priority) | Yes | Yes |
| Dental Technician (411213) | Yes | No | Yes |
Victoria’s healthcare priority list also includes nurse educators and nurse researchers, and further specialist physician and surgical specialties (such as medical oncology, intensive care, neurology, paediatrics, cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, orthopaedic surgery and urology). General practitioners do not appear on Victoria’s published 2026-27 priority list, but can still submit an ROI if their occupation is eligible for the 190. Occupations not on the MLTSSL may still be eligible for state nomination through the Short-term Skilled Occupation List or the Regional Occupation List. See also our Core Skills Occupation List page.
Sources: Victoria’s 2026-27 priority occupations as published by Live in Melbourne and reported by migration agencies, checked October 2026; MLTSSL from the Migration (Specification of Occupations) instrument, compilation dated 14 December 2024; CSOL from the subclass 482 occupation instrument, compilation dated 7 November 2025.
Priority processing for health occupations
Victoria’s priority industries closely match the federal processing priorities. Under Ministerial Direction 121 (for the 482 visa) and Ministerial Direction 122 (for the 186, 189, 190, 191, 491, 494 and other skilled visas), which took effect on 19 September 2026 and replaced Direction 119, applications for occupations in the priority sectors (construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing and resources) and for law enforcement and defence interests are placed in the highest processing tier. Healthcare is defined by ANZSCO codes and includes all Health Professionals (sub-major group 25) and Health and Welfare Support Workers (minor group 411). A health applicant is in the top tier whether they apply in or outside Australia. Priority processing does not guarantee a particular processing time or a visa grant.
Employer sponsored options for health workers in Victoria
If you have a job offer from a Victorian hospital, health service, clinic or aged care provider, employer sponsorship can be faster and more certain than waiting for a state nomination invitation. The main options are:
Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)
The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) replaced the TSS visa on 7 December 2024. A Victorian employer approved as a Standard Business Sponsor nominates you for a position, and the visa can be granted for up to 4 years.
- Core Skills stream: your occupation must be on the Core Skills Occupation List (most nursing, medical and allied health occupations are, see the table above) and the salary must be at least the Core Skills Income Threshold, which is $79,423 from 1 July 2026, and no less than the market salary rate.
- Specialist Skills stream: for highly paid roles, such as many specialist doctors, with earnings of at least the Specialist Skills Income Threshold of $146,576 from 1 July 2026.
- You generally need at least one year of relevant work experience, and you must hold the registration needed to work in your occupation (AHPRA registration for registered health professions).
- Healthcare occupations are in the top processing tier under Ministerial Direction 121.
- After two years of work with your sponsor (time with any approved sponsor on a 482 can count), you can generally apply for permanent residence through the 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream.
Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)
The 186 visa is a permanent employer sponsored visa.
- Temporary Residence Transition stream: for 482 (and former 457 or TSS) holders who have worked for their sponsor for the required period, usually two years.
- Direct Entry stream: for people who have not worked in Australia on a 482, or who are moving directly to permanent residence. Since 7 December 2024 the occupation must generally be on the Core Skills Occupation List, and you usually need a positive skills assessment and at least three years of relevant experience.
- You generally need to be under 45 when you apply. Some exemptions apply, including for certain medical practitioners and high income earners.
- Healthcare occupations are in the top processing tier under Ministerial Direction 122.
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494)
The 494 visa suits health workers sponsored by an employer in regional Victoria, which is everywhere outside the Melbourne metropolitan area. It is a five year provisional visa. You usually need a positive skills assessment and at least three years of relevant experience, and you must be under 45 unless an exemption applies. After three years living and working in regional Australia and meeting the income requirement, you can apply for permanent residence through the subclass 191.
Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMA) in Victoria
A Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) lets employers in a specific region sponsor workers with concessions, for example on English, age or salary, that are not available under the standard program. Regional Victoria has had DAMAs for the Goulburn Valley and the Great South Coast. DAMA terms, occupation lists and concessions change from time to time, so check that the DAMA is current and covers your health or care occupation before relying on this option. Sponsorship under a DAMA is through the 482 or 494 visa.
Doctors: Medicare and provider numbers
Health Workforce Certificates are no longer required for employer sponsored nominations (the requirement was removed on 16 September 2023). Overseas trained doctors who want to bill Medicare generally need to work in a Distribution Priority Area or meet another exemption. See our guide for medical practice and hospital sponsors.
AHPRA registration: a key step for health professionals
Whichever visa you choose, you will need to be registered to practise in Australia if your profession is regulated. Registration is managed by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and the National Board for your profession, such as the Nursing and Midwifery Board, the Medical Board, the Physiotherapy Board or the Psychology Board. Victoria checks that a health applicant’s nominated occupation is consistent with their AHPRA registration, so it is important to get this right.
- Check your registration pathway: doctors may be assessed through the standard pathway, the competent authority pathway or a specialist pathway (including the expedited specialist pathway for some specialists trained in comparable countries such as the United Kingdom, Ireland and New Zealand). Nurses and midwives are assessed by the Nursing and Midwifery Board against its requirements for internationally qualified nurses and midwives.
- Meet the English standard: the National Boards set their own English requirements, which are usually higher than the Competent English needed for the visa.
- Obtain your skills assessment for migration: for example ANMAC for nurses and midwives, the Medical Board of Australia for medical practitioners, the Australian Physiotherapy Council, the Occupational Therapy Council, the Australian Pharmacy Council, the Australian Dental Council or the Australian Psychological Society.
- Keep your details consistent: the occupation in your EOI, ROI, skills assessment, registration and employment contract should line up.
Read more in our guide to International Medical Graduates and Registration in Australia.
Do I need to work in the health sector to get Victorian nomination?
No. For 2026-27 you do not need to be working to be eligible for the 190, and the old requirement to be working in a target sector with STEMM skills no longer applies. Skilled earnings in Victoria and experience in your occupation do add to your Victorian Points Test score.
Can overseas nurses and doctors apply for Victorian nomination?
Yes. You can submit an ROI if you live in Victoria or overseas, as long as you are committed to living and working in Victoria. ROIs from people living in other Australian states and territories are not selected, apart from some border communities.
Is general practice a Victorian priority occupation?
General practitioners do not appear on Victoria’s published 2026-27 healthcare priority list, but GPs can still submit an ROI and compete in the general pool. Many GPs also use employer sponsorship through the 482 or 186, particularly in Distribution Priority Areas.
How much does Victorian nomination cost in 2026-27?
$60 for the ROI and $180 for the nomination application, plus 10% GST if you are in Australia when you pay ($66 and $198). The nomination fee is only payable if you are invited and apply. Home Affairs visa charges are separate.
Is the Victorian 491 open in 2026-27?
Not yet. As at October 2026, Victoria has not finalised its 491 places and is not accepting 491 ROIs. Health workers with a job offer in regional Victoria can also consider the 494 visa.
Are health occupations processed faster?
Healthcare is in the top processing tier under Ministerial Directions 121 and 122, which took effect on 19 September 2026. This applies to visa applications lodged with Home Affairs. Within Victoria’s program, priority healthcare occupations are also ranked separately, which can improve your chance of an invitation.
Previous criteria (2021-22)
These images show the Victorian 2021-22 criteria (employment in a target sector and the nurses focus list). They no longer apply; see the current criteria above.
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
- VIC state nomination requirements
- Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
- Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491)
- Visa options for medical professionals
- Book a video consultation
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