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ANMAC Assessment for Indian Nurses: Registration and Migration
For an Indian nurse planning a move to Australia, professional registration and a migration skills assessment answer different questions. An ANMAC outcome does not authorise nursing practice, and Australian registration does not itself grant a visa. Establish the correct sequence before paying for an assessment.
This guide focuses on registered nurses. Midwifery and direct-care assessments have different eligibility rules. It complements our Australia skills-assessment guide and Australia PR overview. Current requirements below were checked on 28 October 2026.
Who decides registration, assessment and the visa?
| Decision | Responsible body and purpose |
|---|---|
| Professional registration | Ahpra manages applications on behalf of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). Registration is required to practise as a nurse in Australia. |
| Migration skills assessment | ANMAC assesses suitability for the nominated occupation for relevant migration purposes. |
| Visa eligibility and points | The Department of Home Affairs decides visa matters. An assessment does not guarantee points, an invitation or visa approval. |
For internationally qualified applicants, the NMBA Self-check identifies the assessment stages relevant to their qualifications, or the need for further qualification assessment. It does not guarantee registration. Do not assume that every Indian nursing qualification follows an identical registration pathway.
Modified assessment: current Australian or New Zealand registration
ANMAC currently offers the Modified skills assessment to applicants with current nursing registration in Australia or New Zealand. Its requirements identify NMBA/Ahpra or the Nursing Council of New Zealand for nurses. ANMAC verifies this registration directly with the authority.
An Indian nursing council registration alone does not meet that current-registration requirement. Where overseas employment is submitted, the overseas regulator must send registration verification or a certificate of good standing directly to ANMAC through the accepted official channel.
Full assessment: an Indian qualification is not enough on its own
For a Full skills assessment, nursing applicants need a relevant qualification and current or previous nursing registration in an approved country: Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland, Singapore, Spain, the United Kingdom or the United States. India is not on that list.
If the qualification is not a Bachelor of Nursing from Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland, the UK or the US, ANMAC also requires a qualification leading to general nursing registration after 1 January 2017, successful completion of the relevant regulatory examination process where applicable, and at least 1,800 hours of paid registered-nurse work since 1 January 2017 in that same approved country.
An Indian-qualified nurse with later overseas registration therefore needs an individual check of the qualification, examination and work record. Overseas registration alone should not be treated as an automatic entitlement to this assessment.
Documents and clinical references
Prepare clear colour copies of identity and qualification records, relevant registration evidence and any required employment documents. The Modified assessment asks for graduation certificates and transcripts, including commencement and completion dates, and relevant pre-registration examination or bridging records where applicable.
If work experience is to be assessed, a professional reference is required for each employment period. It must be written and signed by the direct manager or supervisor on official letterhead. Include your name, weekly hours, employment dates, position and clinical skills and competencies. Generic job descriptions do not establish the work performed.
The referee’s position, signature, official workplace email and organisation telephone number must be available. ANMAC does not accept free webmail addresses or mobile numbers for those reference contacts. Payslips, tax records and an HR service statement do not substitute for the clinical reference.
ANMAC must be able to verify the experience. Use accurate dates and duties, and resolve discrepancies before submission rather than creating a reference around an occupation title.
Occupation choice and English evidence
A specific nursing specialty needs supporting experience. ANMAC’s Modified page requires at least three months, or 260 hours, of relevant paid work within the last five years for a specific code other than the listed general categories. Work recorded for migration-points purposes has separate evidence thresholds; choosing a specialty does not establish a points entitlement.
ANMAC does not require English test results for the Modified assessment. Full assessment applicants must meet its English-test requirements. This distinction does not waive NMBA registration standards or the separate English requirements of a visa. Keep those three purposes separate when planning a test.
Current fees, timing and announced future changes
| Current assessment | Published fee |
|---|---|
| Modified skills assessment | AUD 395 |
| Full skills assessment | AUD 595 |
ANMAC states that assessment fees do not attract GST. These are assessment charges, not a complete budget for registration, examinations, translations, a visa or professional assistance. Its refund policy does not cover changing your mind about applying or the assessment type required.
The current application pages display a six-to-eight-week wait for assessment to start. This is not a promise of a completed outcome within that period. Keep document preparation and third-party verification time in your planning.
ANMAC has announced future assessment names, fees and a new portal, expected later in 2026. Its notice says the current application process can continue until launch; no precise commencement date is stated there. The announced Essential, Essential Plus and Comprehensive categories must not be treated as already operating. This guide uses the current Modified and Full categories and fees above.
Plan the next step around your actual registration history
Before committing to a migration assessment, organise a chronology of qualifications, registration jurisdictions and expiry dates, examinations and paid nursing work. It should show which requirement each record supports. This makes a consultation useful without assuming a registration, visa or job outcome.
Peerless Immigration Services can help organise the migration-assessment evidence and identify issues requiring clarification. Registration decisions remain with NMBA/Ahpra and the relevant regulator; no job placement, positive assessment or visa outcome is guaranteed.
Call +91-8595010514 or email info@peerlessimmigration.com.
Discuss Your Nursing Assessment
Frequently asked questions
Does an ANMAC assessment let me work as a nurse in Australia?
No. Professional registration and a visa with appropriate work rights are separate from the migration assessment.
Can I use Indian registration alone for a Modified assessment?
No. The current Modified route requires current Australian or New Zealand registration.
Does a positive assessment guarantee PR or migration points?
No. Home Affairs determines visa eligibility and points; an assessment does not guarantee an invitation or PR.
Do Modified applicants submit English test results to ANMAC?
ANMAC says these results are not required for Modified assessments. Registration and visa English requirements remain separate.
Have the new assessment names and fees already started?
The official notice reviewed describes a future transition without a precise launch date. The current application pages still list Modified and Full assessments.
How long is an ANMAC outcome letter valid?
ANMAC states that its outcome letters are valid for two years from the decision date. An update does not extend the original validity period.
