The Visa Landscape for Overseas Doctors

Australia's visa system offers multiple pathways for overseas doctors, ranging from temporary employer-sponsored visas to direct permanent residency options. The right visa for you depends on your qualifications, your employer, your location in Australia, and your long-term goals.

Doctors are in high demand across Australia, and the government has historically provided favourable visa arrangements for medical professionals — particularly those willing to work in regional and underserved areas. Understanding your visa options early in the process allows you to align your registration pathway, job search, and family plans for the best outcome.

This guide provides a comprehensive overview. For detailed information on each visa type, follow the links to the dedicated pages in our Visas section.

Key Visa Options for Doctors

The three most common visas used by overseas doctors coming to Australia are:

  • Subclass 482 — Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa

    The 482 visa is the primary employer-sponsored temporary work visa. It allows you to work for an approved Australian employer for up to four years. Doctors are listed on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), which means the 482 visa can serve as a stepping stone to permanent residency. Your employer must sponsor you and nominate you for the position.

  • Subclass 186 — Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Visa

    The 186 visa grants permanent residency through employer sponsorship. You can apply through the Direct Entry stream (if you meet skills assessment requirements) or the Temporary Residence Transition stream (after working on a 482 visa for the required period). This is one of the most straightforward paths to permanent residency for sponsored doctors.

  • Subclass 494 — Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa

    The 494 visa is designed for doctors willing to work in regional Australia. It is a provisional visa that can lead to permanent residency after three years of regional work. Regional positions often offer additional incentives, faster processing, and less competition. Visit our Regional Work page for more on the benefits and requirements.

Pathways to Permanent Residency

For many overseas doctors, permanent residency (PR) is the long-term goal. Australia offers several routes to PR for medical professionals:

  • 186 visa (Direct Entry or Transition stream) — The most common employer-sponsored PR pathway. See our 186 visa page.
  • 494 to 191 pathway — Work in regional Australia on a 494 visa, then transition to the permanent Subclass 191 visa after meeting the residency and work requirements.
  • Skilled independent and state-nominated visas — Some doctors may qualify for the Subclass 189 (skilled independent) or 190 (state-nominated) visas, depending on their occupation, points score, and state nomination availability.

The path you choose will depend on your circumstances, including whether you have an employer sponsor, your willingness to work regionally, and your points test score. For a comprehensive overview of all PR options, visit our Permanent Residency page.

If you are planning to bring your spouse, children, or other family members, our Bringing Family page explains dependent visa options and the process for including family in your application.

How Visas Connect to Registration, Pathways, and Jobs

Your visa, registration, and employment are deeply interconnected. Here is how the pieces fit together:

  • Registration first, then visa — In most cases, you need to have your AHPRA registration (or at least be well advanced in the process) before an employer will sponsor your visa. Some employers will begin the sponsorship process in parallel with your registration application.
  • Pathway determines timeline — Your chosen registration pathway affects how quickly you can obtain registration and therefore how soon you can secure a visa and start working.
  • Job offer drives visa type — Employer-sponsored visas (482, 186, 494) require a genuine job offer from an approved sponsor. Your job search strategy should therefore consider which employers are approved sponsors and which locations align with your visa goals.
  • Regional work offers advantages — Regional positions can provide faster visa processing, additional PR pathways, and financial incentives. Explore regional work options and compare regional vs metro positions.

Stay informed about migration policy changes that may affect your plans by visiting our Migration Updates page. For official links and further reading, see our Resources page.

Important Planning Note

This page is designed as practical guidance for overseas doctors and should be used alongside official requirements published by AHPRA, the AMC, relevant specialist colleges, and the Department of Home Affairs.

Rules, fees, and processing times can change. Before lodging any application, verify current criteria directly with official sources listed on our Resources page.