For internationally qualified nurses, begin with the official Self-check and qualification-assessment route where applicable.
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ANZSCO 2544
Registered Nurse migration guide
One profession family, multiple nominated occupations
USE THE RIGHT ORDER
Registration, migration assessment and visa are three separate decisions
Select the assessment type that matches registration status and circumstances; do not assume every applicant uses the same stream.
Match the nominated code to actual clinical background and evidence rather than selecting only from invitation data.
Then compare lists, EOI points, state streams or employer-sponsored requirements.
REGISTERED NURSE OCCUPATION HUB01Separate Ahpra registration from the ANMAC migration skills assessment 02Select the most accurate RN code from qualifications, registration and work scope 03Then check list, EOI, state nomination or employer-sponsored requirements for that code
Is this occupation a realistic migration pathway?
Registered Nurse is not one interchangeable ANZSCO code. A migration plan must separately align Ahpra registration, ANMAC migration assessment, the applicant's actual nursing specialism and the relevant visa or nomination criteria.
Skills assessment checkpoints
- ANMAC conducts nursing migration skills assessments; Ahpra/NMBA regulate Australian registration and practice.
- Applicants with Australian/New Zealand registration, Ahpra in-principle approval, or no registration may fall under different ANMAC pathways.
- The occupation code must match qualifications, registration and relevant work; it should not be chosen only for a lower invitation score.
Evidence to prepare
- Nursing qualifications, transcripts and clinical placement evidence
- Registration status, good standing and identity documents
- Employment evidence aligned with the nominated nursing specialism
PATHWAY MAP
How to compare the visa directions
189: assess the specific RN code, invitation rounds and EOI points
190/491: nursing priorities and stream criteria differ by state
482/186/494: separately check registration, role, experience, salary and employer eligibility
CONTINUE RESEARCH
Related XIVisa guides
Common decision questions
Does Ahpra registration automatically mean a positive ANMAC assessment?
No. They serve different purposes. Registration status may affect the available ANMAC assessment type, but the relevant assessment must still be lodged and decided.
Do all Registered Nurse codes have the same migration outcome?
No. The code must match the actual specialism, and invitation, nomination and employment settings can vary by code, program year and applicant profile.
ANZSCO 2544
Choose the code that matches the nursing specialism
Open each occupation page to check current federal list membership, visa links and state nomination information. A code appearing here is not a finding of personal eligibility.
254412
registered nurse (aged care)
Open occupation data →254413registered nurse (child and family health)
Open occupation data →254414registered nurse (community health)
Open occupation data →254415registered nurse (critical care and emergency)
Open occupation data →254416registered nurse (developmental disability)
Open occupation data →254417registered nurse (disability and rehabilitation)
Open occupation data →254418registered nurse (medical)
Open occupation data →254421registered nurse (medical practice)
Open occupation data →254422registered nurse (mental health)
Open occupation data →254423registered nurse (perioperative)
Open occupation data →254424registered nurse (surgical)
Open occupation data →254425registered nurse (paediatrics)
Open occupation data →254499registered nurses (nec)
Open occupation data →Unsure which RN code fits?
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