Regional medical practitioner applicants and visas

Regional medical practitioner applicants and visas

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

Complete a qualification and training in the relevant field.
Apply for registration.
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.

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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:

Age
Educational Qualifications
Points for Professional Year
Points for NAATI- Credentialled Community Language
Points for 2 Year Study
Points for English
Points for Regional Study
Points for Work Experience
Points for Specialist Educational Qualifications (STEM)
Points for Partner

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. However, based on the previous round of invitation, you would need to achieve a score of at least 90 points to increase your chance of obtaining an invitation.

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 will come into effect 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 a taxable income at or above $53,900. 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 Subclass 186 after working for your employer for at least 3 years.

491 Skilled Regional Visa (Provisional)