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.
Western Australia
Information current as at October 2026.
Western Australia (WA) runs its State Nominated Migration Program (SNMP) for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491). The 2026-27 program year is under way: WA Migration Services issued its first 2026-27 invitations in September 2026 and a second round on 14 October 2026. WA has not published separate 2026-27 criteria, so it is inviting under its current published settings (labelled 2025-26 on the WA website), which are described below.
Health is one of WA’s priority sectors. Healthcare and social assistance occupations are ranked ahead of non-priority occupations when WA chooses who to invite, and almost all medical, nursing and allied health occupations are on WA’s lists. For health professionals there are three WA nomination streams to consider:
- General stream, WASMOL Schedule 1: most doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists and allied health professionals. You need at least one year of work experience and, for the 190 visa, a six month full-time WA employment contract.
- General stream, WASMOL Schedule 2: a different list of occupations (mainly social assistance roles for health and community workers). No work experience requirement, but a WA employment contract is needed for the 190 visa.
- Graduate stream: for international students who studied in WA for at least two years and completed a Certificate III or higher qualification in WA.
WA also runs a Defence industry stream (WASMOL Schedule 3), which does not cover health occupations.
WA nomination requirements at a glance (current settings)
| Requirement | Schedule 1 (190) | Schedule 1 (491) | Schedule 2 (190) | Schedule 2 (491) | Graduate (190 and 491) |
| Occupation on the relevant WA list | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (Graduate occupation list) |
| Age under 45, at least 65 points, positive skills assessment | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Competent English (all four components) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| At least 1 year of work experience in the last 10 years | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Full-time WA employment contract for at least 6 months | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| Two years of full-time, face-to-face study in WA and a WA qualification (Certificate III or higher) | No | No | No | No | Yes |
WA General stream and Graduate stream criteria for health professionals
Every applicant must also lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect that selects Western Australia, shows you are under 45, claims at least 65 points, includes a valid migration skills assessment for your occupation and shows competent English. WA checks the claims in your EOI, so make sure they are accurate and can be proven.
Who it suits: doctors, specialists, registered nurses, midwives, pharmacists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, radiographers, sonographers and most other health professionals.
- Occupation: the occupation in your skills assessment must be on WASMOL Schedule 1 and available for the visa you want (some occupations, such as Anaesthetist and Dentist, are currently available for the 491 visa only).
- Skills assessment: must match the occupation in your EOI. A provisional skills assessment issued for a 485 visa is not accepted.
- Work experience: at least one year of Australian work experience, or at least one year of overseas work experience, in your nominated or a closely related occupation (same first four ANZSCO digits) in the last 10 years. Australian and overseas experience cannot be combined. Only paid work after you qualified, of at least 20 hours a week, counts.
- Employment contract (190 only): a full-time contract in WA (an average of at least 35 hours a week, or two part-time contracts adding up to that) with at least six months remaining from the date you apply. Casual contracts are not accepted. For medical practitioners, WA accepts a Contracted Medical Practitioner Agreement, a private practice partnership agreement, a locum tenens agreement or a similar contract. If you have not started work, the start date must be within three months of your application unless you live offshore.
- No contract for 491: a contract is not required for the 491 visa.
English, invitations and ranking in 2026-27
English: WA requires at least competent English for all streams, for example IELTS 6 in each component, or PTE Academic 47 listening, 48 reading, 51 writing and 54 speaking for tests taken from 7 August 2025. Passport holders from the UK, Canada, New Zealand, the USA or Ireland do not need a test. See our English requirements for WA state nomination page for the full test score tables.
How WA ranks EOIs: WA expects to issue invitations each month. EOIs are ranked in this order:
- applicants currently living in WA (you must show at least three months of continuous WA residence before the invitation);
- within that group, building and construction trades first, then other priority sectors (building and construction non-trades, healthcare and social assistance, hospitality and tourism, education and training), then all other sectors;
- applicants living offshore or interstate, ranked by the same sector order;
- highest EOI points score, then the earliest EOI submission date.
If your EOI selects both visas, WA will generally invite you for the 491 first, because you score more points for 491 nomination. You only receive one invitation per EOI.
WA invitations issued in 2026-27
| Stream | Subclass 190 | Subclass 491 |
| General stream, WASMOL Schedule 1 | 236 | 47 |
| General stream, WASMOL Schedule 2 | 1,135 | 583 |
| Graduate stream, higher education | 187 | 49 |
| Graduate stream, VET | 62 | 28 |
| Total (September and October 2026) | 1,620 | 707 |
Source: WA Migration Services invitation round data, rounds of September and 14 October 2026 (2,327 invitations in total). In the 14 October round, the last invited Schedule 1 EOI for priority non-trade occupations (which include healthcare) was a WA resident with 85 points for the 190 visa. Results change every round, so treat these as a guide only.
How a WA nomination application works now
- Lodge your EOI in SkillSelect selecting WA and the 190 and/or 491 visa.
- Prepare your documents before you are invited: skills assessment, English results, work references and payslips, your WA employment contract (Schedule 1 or 2, 190 only), WA study evidence (Graduate stream) and WA residence evidence if you live in WA.
- Receive an invitation by email from WA Migration Services with a link to the application form.
- Apply through the Migration WA Portal within 28 calendar days and pay the non-refundable WA application fee of $200.
- Assessment: WA currently quotes about 28 working days for a decision ready application. WA verifies documents and may contact employers and institutions.
- Nomination: if approved, WA nominates you in SkillSelect (subject to available places) and you receive a visa invitation from Home Affairs.
- Lodge your visa application within 60 days of the invitation.
- After the grant: if you live outside WA, move to WA within three months, register your arrival, then live and work in WA for two years and complete WA settlement surveys.
You can ask WA Migration Services to review a refused nomination within 14 calendar days of the decision. Each person can only be nominated once per program year (1 July to 30 June). For the visa stage, see our 190 visa and 491 visa pages. For the 491, all of WA, including Perth, is a designated regional area, so you can live and work anywhere in WA.
Ahpra registration and skills assessment for health professionals
State nomination is only one step. To work in a registered health profession in WA you also need registration with the relevant National Board through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra). WA Migration Services makes clear that a positive skills assessment and state nomination do not guarantee that you meet registration requirements.
Registration matters early in the process because a Schedule 1 applicant for the 190 visa needs a WA employment contract, and most health employers will only finalise a contract once registration is approved or well advanced. Plan the steps in this order:
- Check whether your profession is registered by Ahpra (for example medical practitioners, nurses and midwives, pharmacists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, dental practitioners, podiatrists, optometrists, medical radiation practitioners and paramedics) or self-regulated (for example speech pathologists, audiologists, dietitians and sonographers, who usually join a professional association).
- Apply for registration with the relevant National Board, or follow the Australian Medical Council and Medical Board pathways if you are an international medical graduate. See our International Medical Graduates and Registration in Australia page.
- Obtain a migration skills assessment from the assessing authority for your occupation.
- Secure a WA job offer or contract if you are using Schedule 1 or 2 for the 190 visa.
- Lodge your EOI and apply for WA nomination when invited.
Common skills assessing authorities for health occupations
| Occupation group | Skills assessing authority |
| Medical practitioners (GPs, specialists, resident medical officers) | Medical Board of Australia |
| Registered nurses, nurse practitioners and midwives | Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) |
| Physiotherapists | Australian Physiotherapy Council |
| Occupational therapists | Occupational Therapy Council of Australia |
| Pharmacists | Australian Pharmacy Council |
| Psychologists | Australian Psychological Society |
| Dentists and dental specialists | Australian Dental Council |
| Medical laboratory scientists | Australian Institute of Medical and Clinical Scientists |
| Speech pathologists | Speech Pathology Australia |
Check the assessing authority for your exact occupation on our occupation page (linked in the table below) before you apply, as requirements and fees change.
Employer sponsored options for health workers in WA
If you do not meet the WA nomination criteria, or you want a faster path to work, an employer can sponsor you. Healthcare is a top priority sector for visa processing under Ministerial Direction 121 (subclass 482) and Ministerial Direction 122 (subclasses 186, 189, 190, 491, 494 and others), which commenced on 19 September 2026. Priority affects the order of processing only; you must still meet every visa requirement.
The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) replaced the TSS visa on 7 December 2024. It allows an approved sponsor to employ you for up to four years.
- Core Skills stream: your occupation must be on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) and you must be paid at least the Core Skills Income Threshold of $79,423 (from 1 July 2026) and the market salary rate.
- Specialist Skills stream: for highly paid roles earning at least $146,576 (from 1 July 2026). Specialist doctors may fit here.
- Most medical, nursing and allied health occupations are on the CSOL (see the table below).
- 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.
- After two years of work with your sponsor you can generally apply for permanent residence through the 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream.
WA health occupations for state nomination (current lists)
This table shows medical and health occupations on the current WA Skilled Migration Occupation List (WASMOL) Schedule 1 and the WA Graduate occupation list, whether WA offers 190 and 491 nomination, whether the occupation is flagged as a WA priority occupation, and its national list status (MLTSSL for the 189 visa and Graduate visa options, CSOL for the 482 Core Skills stream and 186 Direct Entry). Information current as at October 2026.
| Occupation (ANZSCO) | WA list | WA 190 | WA 491 | WA priority | MLTSSL | CSOL |
| Acupuncturist (252211) | Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Ambulance Officer (411111) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Anaesthetic Technician (311211) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Anaesthetist (253211) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Audiologist (252711) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cardiac Technician (311212) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Cardiologist (253312) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cardiothoracic Surgeon (253512) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Chiropractor (252111) | Graduate | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Clinical Haematologist (253313) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Clinical Psychologist (272311) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Complementary Health Therapists nec (252299) | Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Dental Hygienist (411211) | Graduate | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Dental Specialist (252311) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Dental Technician (411213) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Dental Therapist (411214) | Graduate | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Dentist (252312) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Dermatologist (253911) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist (253917) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dietitian (251111) | Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Emergency Medicine Specialist (253912) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Endocrinologist (253315) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Enrolled Nurse (411411) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Gastroenterologist (253316) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| General Practitioner (253111) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Health Diagnostic and Promotion Professionals nec (251999) | Graduate | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Health Promotion Officer (251911) | Graduate | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Hospital Pharmacist (251511) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Industrial Pharmacist (251512) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Intensive Care Ambulance Paramedic (411112) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Intensive Care Specialist (253317) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Medical Administrator (134211) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Medical Diagnostic Radiographer (251211) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Medical Laboratory Scientist (234611) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Medical Laboratory Technician (311213) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Medical Oncologist (253314) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Medical Practitioners nec (253999) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Medical Radiation Therapist (251212) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Medical Technicians nec (311299) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Midwife (254111) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Naturopath (252213) | Graduate | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Neurologist (253318) | Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Neurosurgeon (253513) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Nuclear Medicine Technologist (251213) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Nurse Educator (254211) | Schedule 1 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Nurse Manager (254311) | Schedule 1 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Nurse Practitioner (254411) | Schedule 1 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Nurse Researcher (254212) | Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Nursing Clinical Director (134212) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Nutritionist (251112) | Graduate | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Obstetrician and Gynaecologist (253913) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Occupational Therapist (252411) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Operating Theatre Technician (311214) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Ophthalmologist (253914) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Optometrist (251411) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Orthopaedic Surgeon (253514) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Orthoptist (251412) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Orthotist or Prosthetist (251912) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Osteopath (252112) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Otorhinolaryngologist (253515) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Paediatric Surgeon (253516) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Paediatrician (253321) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pathologist (253915) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pathology Collector (311216) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Pharmacy Technician (311215) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Physiotherapist (252511) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon (253517) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Podiatrist (252611) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Psychiatrist (253411) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Psychologists nec (272399) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Psychotherapist (272314) | Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Radiation Oncologist (253918) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Registered Nurse (Aged Care) (254412) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health) (254413) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Registered Nurse (Community Health) (254414) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) (254415) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability) (254416) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation) (254417) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Registered Nurse (Medical Practice) (254421) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Registered Nurse (Medical) (254418) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Registered Nurse (Mental Health) (254422) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Registered Nurse (Paediatrics) (254425) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Registered Nurse (Perioperative) (254423) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Registered Nurse (Surgical) (254424) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Registered Nurses nec (254499) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rehabilitation Counsellor (272114) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Renal Medicine Specialist (253322) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Resident Medical Officer (253112) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Residential Care Officer (411715) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Retail Pharmacist (251513) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Rheumatologist (253323) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Social Worker (272511) | Schedule 1 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sonographer (251214) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Specialist Physician (General Medicine) (253311) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Specialist Physicians nec (253399) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Speech Pathologist (252712) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Surgeon (General) (253511) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Thoracic Medicine Specialist (253324) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner (252214) | Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Urologist (253518) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Vascular Surgeon (253521) | Schedule 1 and Graduate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Sources: WA Migration Services eligible occupations list (checked October 2026); national lists as published by Home Affairs (CSOL from 7 December 2024), checked October 2026. Lists can change at any time. See also our Western Australian Skilled Migration Occupation List (WASMOL) and Western Australia 190 visa requirements pages.
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
- WA state nomination requirements
- Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
- Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491)
- Visa options for medical professionals
- Book a video consultation
Offshore Visa Refused: When You Can and Cannot Appeal
Reapply or Seek Review After a Visa Refusal?
ART Decisions Explained: Affirm, Set Aside or Remit
What Happens at an ART Hearing for a Visa Refusal
ART Time Limits for Visa Refusals: When the Deadline Starts and Why It Cannot Be Extended