Registered Nurse (Aged Care) Visa Pathway to Australia: Complete 2026 Guide
Updated: 13 May 2026
Australia classifies Registered Nurse (Aged Care) under ANZSCO 254412. The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) conducts the skills assessment and AHPRA handles registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. The occupation sits on the MLTSSL, unlocking subclasses 189, 190, 491, 482 and 186. Typical 2026 salaries range AUD $90,000-$100,000, with sustained shortages across every state and territory driving Royal Commission-funded wage growth.
Quick Facts: Registered Nurse (Aged Care) Migration Pathway
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| ANZSCO Code | 254412 (Registered Nurse — Aged Care) |
| Skill Level | 1 (Bachelor degree or higher) |
| Skills Assessment | ANMAC (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council) |
| Occupation List | CSOL and MLTSSL |
| Visa Options | 189, 190, 491, 482, 186 |
| Demand Level | Critical — recurring national shortage; aged care sector wage rises landing through August 2026 |
| Salary Range | AUD $90,000-$100,000 (SEEK, April 2026) |
| Typical 189 Score | 65-75 (clears at lower scores than ICT) |
| Key Challenge | Many aged care RN roles fall below the Specialist Skills 482 threshold, forcing Core Skills stream or 186 Direct Entry |
What Aged Care Registered Nurses Do in Australia
Aged Care RNs deliver clinical care in residential aged care facilities, retirement villages, in-home care services and transition care programs. Day-to-day work includes medication administration, wound care, chronic disease management, behaviour management for residents with dementia, end-of-life care, and clinical leadership of personal care workers.
Demand has grown sharply since the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. The mandated requirement for a registered nurse on-site 24/7 in every residential aged care facility — phased in across 2023-2024 — and the funded sector-wide wage increases (with the final tranche scheduled for 1 August 2026) have made aged care RN one of the fastest-recruiting healthcare occupations.
The work is concentrated in residential providers (Bupa, Regis, Estia Health, BlueCross, Allity, Bolton Clarke) and in-home community providers. Geographic spread is broad — most aged care facilities sit in metropolitan suburbs and regional towns rather than CBDs, which makes regional 491 pathways particularly viable.
ANZSCO Code 254412 — What's Covered
Code 254412 covers registered nurses who provide nursing care to elderly patients in residential, in-home and community settings. Tasks include comprehensive nursing assessment, care planning, medication management, infection control, dementia and palliative care, supervision of enrolled nurses and personal care assistants, and family liaison.
The code is distinct from 254499 Registered Nurses nec (used as a fallback for nurses without a clear specialty match) and from other RN specialty codes (254413 Child and Family Health, 254414 Community Health, 254415 Critical Care, 254416 Developmental Disability, 254417 Disability and Rehabilitation, 254418 Medical, 254421 Medical Practice, 254422 Mental Health, 254423 Perioperative, 254424 Surgical, 254425 Paediatrics).
If your career has straddled aged care and another specialty, nominate the code that matches your most recent and most documented experience. ANMAC assesses based on the documented work, not the title in your employment contract.
Skills Assessment
ANMAC Skills Assessment
ANMAC Modified Skills Assessment (AUD $395)
For applicants with in-principle AHPRA approval. Processing 6-8 weeks.
ANMAC Direct Care Skills Assessment (AUD $545)
For applicants who completed an AHPRA-approved Outcomes Based Assessment and need ANMAC to confirm outcome for migration.
ANMAC Full Skills Assessment (AUD $595)
For applicants without Australian or New Zealand registration who hold a Bachelor of Nursing (or higher) from Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland, the UK or the US, with current home-country registration.
Common rejection reasons: Insufficient evidence of aged care-specific clinical responsibilities (rather than general medical-surgical experience); employment references that describe personal care worker tasks rather than RN-scope tasks; gaps in registered practice over five years.
AHPRA Registration (NMBA)
Required for all registered nurses regardless of specialty. Internationally qualified nurses typically complete the Outcomes Based Assessment (OBA) — MCQ then OSCE.
Initial registration fee: Approximately AUD $500 Annual renewal: AUD $193 (June 2026-May 2027) English: IELTS Academic 7.0 each band, OET B grade, or equivalent
Submit AHPRA and ANMAC in parallel. The bodies do not share information; running them sequentially adds six months of dead time.
Visa Pathways for Aged Care Registered Nurses
Subclass 482 — Skills in Demand Visa (Most Common Pathway)
Aged care is one of the highest-volume 482 sponsorship sectors. Most large residential aged care providers hold accredited sponsor status and run rolling international recruitment.
- Visa fee: AUD $3,210
- Core Skills Income Threshold: AUD $76,515 (rising to $79,499 on 1 July 2026)
- Processing time: 2-3 months for healthcare priority
- Reality: Most aged care RN base salaries clear the Core Skills threshold but sit below the Specialist Skills threshold. Sponsors typically lodge in the Core Skills stream.
Subclass 186 — Employer Nomination Scheme
Permanent residency through employer sponsorship. Direct Entry stream is common for aged care RNs because the salary often clears the TSMIT but doesn't justify 482 first.
- Visa fee: AUD $4,910
- Processing time: 4-12 months; healthcare priority
- Streams: Direct Entry (skills assessment + 3 years experience) or TRT (after 2 years on 482)
Subclass 491 — Skilled Work Regional Visa
The dominant points-based pathway for aged care RNs given the geographic spread of facilities into regional areas.
- Visa fee: AUD $4,910
- Points boost: +15 from regional nomination
- Processing time: 12-15 months
- Quirk: Most aged care facilities outside Greater Sydney, Greater Melbourne and Greater Brisbane sit in 491-eligible regional postcodes
Subclass 190 — Skilled Nominated Visa
State nomination grants permanent residency with a 2-year commitment.
- Visa fee: AUD $4,910
- Processing time: 9-19 months
- Best states: All states nominate aged care RNs in 2026 given universal sector pressure
Subclass 189 — Skilled Independent Visa
Available because 254412 is on the MLTSSL. Less common than 491 and 482 for aged care because invitation rounds favour higher-scoring candidates.
- Visa fee: AUD $4,910
- Typical invitation score: 65-75
- Processing time: 8-12 months; healthcare priority can drop to 3-6 months
Points Test Strategy
| Points Factor | Points | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Age (25-32) | 30 | |
| Age (33-39) | 25 | |
| English (Superior — 8.0) | 20 | |
| English (Proficient — 7.0) | 10 | |
| Qualification (Bachelor's) | 15 | |
| Qualification (Master's) | 15 | |
| Overseas Experience (5-7 years) | 10 | |
| Overseas Experience (8+ years) | 15 | |
| Australian Experience (1 year) | 5 | |
| State Nomination (190) | 5 | |
| Regional (491) | 15 | |
| Partner Skills | 5-10 | |
| NAATI/CCL | 5 |
Realistic Scenarios
Scenario 1: 34-year-old Indian aged care nurse, 9 years experience, IELTS 7.0
- Age 25 + Bachelor's 15 + English 10 + Experience 15 = 65 points
- Add 491 nomination: 80 points — strongly competitive
Scenario 2: 29-year-old Filipino aged care RN, 5 years experience, IELTS 7.5
- Age 30 + Bachelor's 15 + English 10 + Experience 10 = 65 points
- Add 190: 70 points; add 491: 80 points
State Nomination for Aged Care RNs
New South Wales
NSW has the largest aged care workforce by absolute number. Western Sydney, the Central Coast, the Hunter and the Illawarra are the highest-recruitment regions. NSW 190 invitations to healthcare consistently hit 75-85 points in early 2026 rounds.
Victoria
Victoria's aged care sector covers metro Melbourne plus a heavy regional footprint in Bendigo, Ballarat, Geelong and the Latrobe Valley. The 2025-26 program closed to new EOIs on 28 April 2026 — check the next intake.
Queensland
Queensland aged care providers concentrate in the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane outer suburbs and Cairns/Townsville. Queensland 190 healthcare invitations cleared at 75-80 points through early 2026.
South Australia
SA Health's aged care nomination program is active and accepts candidates with English at IELTS 7.0 across the board (rather than Superior). Adelaide, Mount Gambier and the Limestone Coast see steady recruitment.
Western Australia
Perth metropolitan aged care plus regional WA via WA Country Health Service. WA's 190 program has historically been one of the more accessible for aged care nursing.
Tasmania
Tasmania has the highest median age of any state and the most acute aged care worker-to-resident ratio pressure. The Tasmanian 491 is one of the more achievable regional pathways for aged care RNs.
Northern Territory
NT 190 and 491 processing for offshore aged care RNs can be as quick as six to eight months. Salaries include remote allowances.
Australian Capital Territory
The ACT has a small but consistent aged care nomination program. Canberra suburbs in north and south face workforce shortages.
Salary and Employment Outlook
What Aged Care RNs Earn in 2026
| Role | Typical Salary Range |
|---|---|
| Graduate RN (Year 1) — Aged Care | AUD $75,000-$82,000 |
| Registered Nurse (3-5 years) | AUD $88,000-$100,000 |
| Clinical Nurse / Care Manager | AUD $100,000-$120,000 |
| Clinical Care Coordinator | AUD $110,000-$130,000 |
| Director of Care / DON | AUD $130,000-$170,000 |
| Aged Care Locum RN | AUD $46-$54 per hour plus casual loading |
Salary base figures from SEEK (April 2026) and align with the published 2025 Aged Care Nurses Wages Guidance from the Department of Health. Excludes superannuation (11.5 per cent), shift loadings, on-call and penalty rates. The final tranche of the Fair Work Commission aged care wage decision lands 1 August 2026, lifting base rates further.
Where the Money Sits
- Not-for-profit residential providers in metro NSW and Victoria — strongest enterprise agreements
- NT and remote postings — base plus allowances frequently exceed metro packages
- Care Manager and DON roles — accountability premium reflects 24/7 site responsibility
- Locum and agency work in regional NSW, VIC, QLD — high hourly rates plus travel and accommodation
Tips for a Successful Application
1. Make Sure Your Employment References Describe RN Scope, Not Personal Care
A frequent ANMAC failure pattern: references that read like personal care worker job descriptions (showering, feeding, hygiene support) rather than registered nurse tasks (clinical assessment, care planning, medication management, supervision of staff). Work with your referees on the language well before submission.
2. Choose Between 254412 and 254499 Deliberately
If your career has spanned multiple specialties, 254412 Aged Care is the strongest code where you have at least 2-3 years of documented aged care responsibility. Otherwise 254499 RNs nec is the fallback.
3. Run AHPRA OBA and ANMAC in Parallel
Two independent processes. Submitting AHPRA first and waiting wastes six months. Begin both within two weeks of each other.
4. Target Large Sponsor Networks First
The big residential providers — Bupa Aged Care, Regis Healthcare, Estia Health, BlueCross, Bolton Clarke, Allity — all have established international recruitment programs and accredited sponsor status. Apply directly through their career pages.
5. Consider Regional 491 Even With Strong Points
Aged care facilities are disproportionately located outside CBDs. A 491-eligible address is often closer to where the jobs are anyway. The +15 points are essentially "free" if you intended to live in regional Australia.
Step-by-Step Migration Roadmap
- Confirm 254412 Aged Care matches your documented experience via the ANZSCO code finder
- Verify Registered Nurse (Aged Care) is on the 2026 Skilled Occupation List — it is
- Request employment references describing aged care-specific RN responsibilities
- Sit OET or IELTS at AHPRA minimum
- Submit AHPRA self-check via IQNM portal
- Lodge ANMAC application in parallel
- Complete AHPRA OBA (MCQ then OSCE)
- Receive ANMAC outcome letter (valid 2 years)
- Apply to large residential aged care sponsors OR submit EOI in SkillSelect for 189/190/491
- Receive 482 sponsorship offer or state nomination
- Lodge visa application within deadline
- Complete health, character checks; receive grant
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I migrate as an aged care RN if I trained in general nursing?
Yes, provided you have documented experience working as an RN in aged care settings. ANMAC assesses based on the body of work, not the title in your initial qualification. Most overseas RNs who nominate 254412 have at least 2-3 years of aged care-specific employment.
Is the 482 visa easier than the points-based system for aged care RNs?
Often, yes. Large residential providers have streamlined sponsorship pipelines and healthcare priority processing brings 482 grants in 2-3 months. The salary almost always clears the Core Skills threshold, and direct 186 from offshore is also viable for candidates with 3+ years of experience.
Why is there a separate code for aged care nursing rather than one generic RN code?
ANZSCO splits Registered Nurses into 13 specialty codes because Australian state and federal labour data tracks each specialty separately. This is useful for migrants: the specialty codes capture different shortage signals, and aged care is among the most consistently in shortage across all states.
What's the demand outlook for aged care RNs in 2026?
Critical and structurally entrenched. The 24/7 RN mandate, the aged care wage rises, the ageing population and ongoing attrition all point to sustained shortage through at least 2030. Jobs and Skills Australia lists Registered Nurses as a national shortage occupation in every state.
Can my overseas Bachelor of Nursing be recognised?
ANMAC and AHPRA recognise nursing degrees from many countries, but the qualification must be assessed for substantial equivalence to an Australian Bachelor of Nursing. UK, Irish, Canadian and NZ qualifications are most readily recognised. Indian, Filipino and most African qualifications typically require completion of the OBA bridging assessment.
What are the most common reasons aged care RN applications fail?
Three patterns: employment references that describe personal-care-worker tasks rather than RN scope; nominating 254412 without documented aged care experience; and English shortfalls (IELTS 6.5 across the board does not clear the AHPRA 7.0 minimum even though it might satisfy the visa's English requirement).
