Can overseas nurses work in Australia?
Daniel Johnson
Published Feb 14, 2026
Can overseas nurses work in Australia?
You can be in or outside Australia when you apply for a visa to work as a nurse or midwife. Nurses and midwives need to be in good health and of good character to meet visa requirements and work in a hospital or other health care area.
Is it easy to get a job as a nurse in Australia?
How easy did you find getting work in your profession in Australia? Fairly easy as I had to have a letter of an offer of employment as a minimum, or a definite job to arrive to in order to complete my Australian Nursing registration with the Australian Nursing Registration board.
How much does a nurse get paid in Australia?
Registered Nurses (RN) in Australia earn an average salary of $73,000 per year. Nurse wages vary based on location, qualifications, experience and seniority. A range of resources are provided below to assist in determining the pay for nurses and midwives in Australia.
Is Australia looking for nurses?
Nurses are in demand in Australia and statistics show no signs of slowing! In fact, it’s estimated that Australia will need more than 100,000 nurses by 2025. This is why Australian Nursing Agency (ANA) is looking for overseas nurses to fill the demand.
How can a nurse move to Australia?
To work as a nurse in Australia, you must be registered through AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency). If you are applying for an employer-sponsored visa, you will need to either hold registration or be eligible for registration on arrival in Australia.
What state in Australia pays nurses the most?
Highest paying cities in Australia for Registered Nurses
- Canberra ACT. 357 salaries reported. $85,462. per year.
- Cairns QLD. 97 salaries reported. $79,760. per year.
- Townsville QLD. 132 salaries reported. $78,194. per year.
- Adelaide SA. 5 salaries reported. $76,987. per year.
- Perth WA. 495 salaries reported. $76,557. per year.
Are nurses underpaid in Australia?
While it might be fair to say that nurses are always underpaid considering the demands of the job, Australia is among the highest paying countries in the world, regularly appearing in the top ten for average salary paid.
Can I immigrate to Australia as a nurse?
Australia offers great employment opportunities for Registered Nurses. Australian visa options for registered nurses include the Working Holiday Visa, Employer Sponsorship or Skilled Migrant visa. Each Visa comes with different criteria applicants must meet in order to apply for and to be granted the Visa.
What type of nurse is most in demand in Australia?
In-demand nursing jobs in Australia for overseas nurses
- Mental health nurses.
- Geriatric/aged care nurses.
- Midwifery / obstetrical and gynaecological nurses.
- Neonatal and paediatric nurses.
- Forensic nurses.
- International nurses – Australia wants you!
Do nurses get paid more in Australia than UK?
Average Salary Registered nurses on average earn £25,653 (3) ($42,535) in the UK and $65,000 (4) (£39,201) in Australia (note, numbers vary by band/tier, position, private/public workplace, location etc. )
Can a US RN work in Australia?
In order to be allowed to work as a nurse, and before you will be able be considered for a migration to Australia based on the fact that you are a nurse, you will need to meet the registration requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency ( …