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Regional medical practitioner applicants and visas

Key updates (October 2026)

  • The TSS visa was replaced by the Skills in Demand 482 visa on 7 December 2024. References to TSS below also apply to 482 holders.
  • Since 25 November 2023 the 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream needs 2 years of work for your sponsor (in the last 3 years), not 3.
  • Health Workforce Certificates for doctors were abolished on 16 September 2023.
  • Processing for health occupations is prioritised under Ministerial Directions 121 and 122 from 19 September 2026. See processing times.

For general practitioners who want to migrate to Australia, we have outlined the procedures involved in applying for a permanent residency visa in Australia.

Requirements

  1. Complete a qualification and training in the relevant field.
  2. Apply for registration.
  3. Upon registration you can proceed to apply for a visa in Australia.
Points Test Points for Two Year Study in AU Points for Regional Study Points for Specialist Educational Qualifications

A regional medical practitioner applicant is a person:

  • nominated in a position located in a designated regional area;
  • who is a medical practitioner (ANZSCO Minor group code 253);
  • who has been employed as a medical practitioner for the three years immediately before the ENS/RSMS visa application was lodged;
  • who spent at least two years during the three years mentioned above, employed as a medical practitioner in a designated regional area; and
  • who held a Subclass 457 or TSS visa at almost all times during the three year period.

To satisfy the requirements for the age exemption the applicant should generally have held a Subclass 457 or TSS visa (or a combination of one or more of these visas) for the whole three year period. Periods spent as the holder of a bridging visa in association with the second or subsequent Subclass 457/TSS application may also be counted toward this requirement.

The two years spent in a regional area does not have to be a consecutive period, it could be made up of two or more non-consecutive periods.

As medical practitioners in the 457/TSS programs are able to work as independent contractors, the applicant will need to provide evidence that shows where they were working during the relevant period/s – which could have been in multiple locations.

For the purposes of this exemption, an area that was located in regional Australia (as specified in a legislative instrument for subregulation 5.19(16) at a time before 16 November 2019 is taken to have been located in a designated regional area at that time.

Refer to the legislative instrument on designated regional areas for more information.

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:

[email protected]MARN 1799460
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Potential PR Pathway

General Practitioner is on the medium and long-term strategic skills list. This means there are more potential PR visas that you can apply for.

Skilled visas:

Points will be given to you based on the following:

Subclass 189 – Skilled Independent Visa

This visa allows you to live, work and study in Australia permanently. It is a points tested visa. The minimum score to apply is 65 points. Invitation cut-offs change from round to round and are usually well above 65 points, so check recent invitation rounds.

Subclass 190 – Skilled Nominated Visa

Similar to the Subclass 189 visa, this visa allows you to live, work and study in Australia permanently too. It is also a points tested visa. The minimum points to be eligible to apply is 65 points. For the subclass 190 visa, you must have a state who is willing to nominate you. States have their own occupation list. If general practitioner is on the state occupation list and you meet all the state’s eligibility criteria, you can apply to the state to nominate you.

Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa

Although this visa is not permanent. It can lead to a permanent visa (Subclass 191 – Skilled Regional Visa). The Subclass 491 visa allows you to live, work and study in a designated regional area of Australia. It is also a points tested visa. The minimum points to be eligible to apply is 65 points. Another criterion of this visa is that you are nominated by a state or sponsored by an eligible relative. To be nominated by the state, you must check the state’s occupation list and meet all the state’s requirements. To be sponsored by your eligible relative, your relative must be a usual resident in a designated regional area of Australia.

Employer Sponsored Visas:

Subclass 494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional Visa)

You can apply for subclass 494 if you have a regional employer who is willing to sponsor you. To be eligible for this visa, you must have at least 3 years of working experience in your nominated occupation and have a relevant skills assessment. With this visa, there is a requirement that you must work for the employer who is sponsoring you.

Subclass 191 -Permanent Residence Skilled Regional Visa

This visa commenced on 16 November 2022. It is for people who holds a Subclass 491 visa or Subclass 494 visa who have lived, worked or studied in the designated regional area for at least 3 years with taxable income in each of those 3 income years (there is currently no minimum dollar amount, see our 191 visa income requirements guide). This visa will allow you to live work and study in Australia permanently.

Subclass 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme Visa

If you have an employer who is willing to sponsor you, you may be eligible for a Subclass 186 visa. This visa is permanent and will allow you to live, work and study in Australia indefinitely. To be eligible for this visa, you need to have at least 3 years of working experience in your nominated occupation and a positive skills assessment. Alternatively, if you are a holder of a Subclass 457 or TSS visa, you can apply for the Subclass 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream after working for your sponsoring employer for at least 2 of the last 3 years (since 25 November 2023).

491 Skilled Regional Visa (Provisional)

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