Enrolled Nurse PR Pathway in Australia
Visas, ANMAC and the EN to RN Route
Updated: 28 September 2026
A Diploma of Nursing does not give you permanent residency (PR) on its own.
It qualifies you to register as an Enrolled Nurse (ANZSCO 411411). From there, the main PR routes are state or territory nomination (subclass 190 or 491) and employer sponsorship.
Enrolled Nurse is not eligible for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) or the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), according to the Home Affairs skilled occupation list.
Many enrolled nurses therefore take a second step: they study a Bachelor of Nursing through an enrolled nurse pathway (usually 2 years instead of 3) and become a Registered Nurse, which opens more visa options.
Key takeaways
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Diploma of Nursing → Ahpra registration as an Enrolled Nurse → ANMAC skills assessment → Expression of Interest (EOI) → state nomination or employer sponsorship.
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Enrolled Nurse is on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) and the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). The main visas are 190, 491, 482, 494 and 186, not 189.
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There is no 485 graduate visa for Enrolled Nurse, so plan your next visa before your diploma ends.
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The EN to RN pathway usually takes 2 years full-time and requires current registration as an Enrolled Nurse.
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State nomination rules change every program year. Check the current rules before you commit to a course.
Can an enrolled nurse get PR in Australia?
Yes, but not automatically, and not through the 189 visa.
To apply for a skilled PR visa as an Enrolled Nurse, you generally need:
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A completed Diploma of Nursing (HLT54121) from an NMBA-approved program
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Current registration as an Enrolled Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) through Ahpra
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A positive skills assessment from ANMAC, the assessing authority for Enrolled Nurse
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At least 65 points on the Home Affairs points test
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To be under 45 when you are invited to apply (for the 190 and 491)
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A nomination from a state or territory, or a sponsoring employer
Because Enrolled Nurse is on the STSOL, your skilled PR outcome depends heavily on state nomination rules in the year you apply.
Which visas can an Enrolled Nurse (ANZSCO 411411) use?
The Home Affairs skilled occupation list shows Enrolled Nurse as eligible for the 190, 491 (state or territory nominated), 494 (employer sponsored stream), 482 (Core Skills stream), 186 (Direct Entry) and 407 visas.
Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
This is a permanent visa. A state or territory must nominate you, and the nomination adds 5 points to your score.
If you are invited, you have 60 days to lodge your visa application (Home Affairs).
Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491)
This is a 5-year provisional visa. You must live, work and study in a designated regional area.
A state or territory nomination for regional Australia adds 15 points instead of 10 (Home Affairs).
After holding the visa for at least 3 years and meeting the taxable income requirement for 3 years, you may apply for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191).
Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) – Core Skills stream
An approved employer sponsors you. According to Home Affairs, you need at least 1 year of relevant work experience, and your pay must meet the market rate and the Core Skills Income Threshold.
Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) – Direct Entry stream
This is a permanent employer-sponsored visa. The Direct Entry stream generally requires you to be under 45, have at least 3 years of relevant work experience and hold a positive skills assessment.
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (subclass 494)
A regional employer sponsors you for up to 5 years. The Employer Sponsored stream generally requires at least 3 years of relevant work experience, and you can apply for PR after 3 years.
Visas that do not apply to Enrolled Nurse
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Subclass 189: This visa needs an occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). Enrolled Nurse is on the STSOL, not the MLTSSL.
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Subclass 485 (Post-Vocational Education Work stream): This stream needs a diploma relevant to an occupation on the skilled occupation list for the 485. Enrolled Nurse is not listed for the 485. See our 485 Post-Vocational Education Work stream guide.
Step by step: from Diploma of Nursing to PR
Step 1: Complete the Diploma of Nursing
The Diploma of Nursing (HLT54121) usually takes 18 months to 2 years full-time, depending on the provider.
It must be an NMBA-approved program, or you cannot register as an Enrolled Nurse. See our Diploma of Nursing course page for providers and intakes.
Step 2: Register with Ahpra as an Enrolled Nurse
You need to meet the NMBA English language standard. For IELTS Academic, Ahpra lists an overall score of 7, with at least 7 in listening, reading and speaking and 6.5 in writing (for tests taken from 23 April 2026).
Other accepted tests (OET, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT) have their own minimum scores. Check the current list on the Ahpra English language skills page.
Step 3: Get an ANMAC skills assessment
If you already hold NMBA registration, you can apply for ANMAC's modified skills assessment.
According to ANMAC, this assessment costs AUD 395, takes up to 6 weeks, and the outcome letter is valid for 2 years.
Step 4: Submit an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect
Lodge an EOI in SkillSelect for the 190 and/or 491 visa.
An EOI is not a visa application. If your current visa is about to expire, you still need to apply for another visa to stay in Australia lawfully.
Step 5: Apply for state or territory nomination
Most states ask you to apply for nomination directly through their own portal. Requirements often include living in the state, working in your occupation, or holding a job offer.
Step 6: Receive an invitation and lodge your visa
If a state nominates you, you receive an invitation to apply. You then have 60 days to lodge the visa application.
State nomination for enrolled nurses: what to check in 2026–27
State nomination rules are reset every program year, and each state opens at a different time.
For example, as at 28 September 2026, Victoria's official page said its 2025–26 program had closed and that details of the 2026–27 program will be published later (Live in Melbourne).
Before choosing where to study or work, check these points on each official state page:
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Is Enrolled Nurse eligible this program year?
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Do you need to live in the state, and for how long?
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Do you need to work in your occupation, and for how many months?
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Is there a minimum points score or English level?
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Is the 190, the 491, or both available to you?
Official state and territory nomination pages:
A rule that applied last year may not apply now. RACC's registered migration agents review the current rules against your profile during a consultation.
Does studying in a regional area help?
It can, but only if you meet the conditions.
The points test awards 5 points for study in regional Australia. To claim them, your qualification must meet the Australian study requirement, and you must have lived and studied at a campus in a designated regional area.
The Australian study requirement means at least 2 academic years (92 weeks) of CRICOS-registered study, completed in Australia over no less than 16 calendar months.
Some Diploma of Nursing courses are registered for less than 92 weeks. In that case, the diploma alone will not earn these points. Check the course's CRICOS duration before you choose it for regional points.
Most locations outside Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are designated regional areas. This includes Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Newcastle, Wollongong, Geelong and Hobart (Home Affairs).
What happens to your visa after the Diploma of Nursing?
Your student visa ends shortly after your course finishes, and you cannot move onto a 485 visa as an Enrolled Nurse.
Common next steps are:
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Continue studying, for example a Bachelor of Nursing (Enrolled Nurse pathway), on a new student visa
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Apply for state nomination if you are already eligible
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Find an employer who can sponsor you once you meet the work experience requirement
Plan this before your final semester. Leaving it until your visa is about to expire limits your options.
Enrolled Nurse vs Registered Nurse: what is the difference?
An Enrolled Nurse (EN) holds a Diploma of Nursing and works with a Registered Nurse as part of the health care team. The NMBA states that an EN must have a named and accessible Registered Nurse at all times for support and guidance (NMBA Enrolled nurse standards for practice).
A Registered Nurse (RN) holds a Bachelor or Master of Nursing and takes on a wider clinical role, including planning and coordinating care.
For migration, the difference matters:
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Enrolled Nurse (411411) is on the STSOL and CSOL, so the main routes are 190, 491 and employer sponsorship.
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Registered Nurse occupations, such as Registered Nurse (Aged Care) 254412, are on the MLTSSL and CSOL. This opens the 189 visa as well.
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A Bachelor of Nursing can also lead to the 485 Post-Higher Education Work stream if you meet its requirements, including the age limit.
Read more in our guide on how to get PR as a Registered Nurse in Australia.
Enrolled Nurse to Registered Nurse pathway (EN to RN)
The EN to RN pathway is a Bachelor of Nursing that gives you credit for your Diploma of Nursing.
It usually takes 2 years full-time instead of 3. For example, ACU's Bachelor of Nursing (Enrolled Nurses) runs for 2 years and requires current registration as an Enrolled Nurse with Ahpra.
What to expect:
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Entry requirement: a completed Diploma of Nursing and current EN registration
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Duration: usually 2 years full-time
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Cost for international students: about AUD 26,000 to AUD 45,000 per year, depending on the university (RACC partner course data, 2026)
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Where: RACC's partner universities offer this pathway in Victoria, New South Wales, the ACT and Queensland
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After graduation: you can apply for registration as a Registered Nurse, which opens the RN visa options above
Not every university accepts international students into its EN pathway, and intakes differ between universities.
Planning your study: nursing and care courses on this pathway
Choosing the right course is the first migration decision you make. The course decides your occupation, your skills assessment and which visas you can use later.
These RACC course guides explain fees, duration and entry requirements for each option.
Diploma of Nursing
Best for: starting your nursing career in Australia as an Enrolled Nurse.
Leads to registration as an Enrolled Nurse (ANZSCO 411411). Tuition for international students starts from about AUD 24,000 for the full course.
Read the Diploma of Nursing guide
Bachelor of Nursing
Best for: becoming a Registered Nurse, either from the start or through the EN pathway after your diploma.
Leads to registration as a Registered Nurse, an occupation on the MLTSSL.
Read the Bachelor of Nursing guide
Conversion program for overseas Registered Nurses
Best for: nurses already registered overseas who want to practise as a Registered Nurse in Australia.
A 1-year program designed to align overseas nursing qualifications and experience with Australian standards.
Read the conversion program guide
Certificate III in Individual Support + Certificate IV in Ageing Support
Best for: people who want to work in aged care or disability support rather than nursing.
This is not a nursing qualification and does not lead to an ANMAC skills assessment. Some aged care employers can sponsor workers through the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement.
Read the aged care course guide
Diploma of Community Services
Best for: people interested in care and support work outside a clinical setting.
Leads to the Community Worker occupation (ANZSCO 411711), which is assessed by Community Work Australia. Like Enrolled Nurse, it is on the STSOL and CSOL (Home Affairs).
Read the Diploma of Community Services guide
Not sure which course fits your plan?
RACC's education consultants compare providers, intakes, fees and locations for you, and check how each option fits your visa timeline. There is no service fee for onshore student visa applications or for changing schools.
Talk to an education consultant
How much does the Diploma of Nursing cost?
Tuition for international students starts from about AUD 24,000 for the full course, depending on the provider and state.
Budget separately for:
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Student visa application fee
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Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
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Ahpra registration fees after graduation
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ANMAC skills assessment (AUD 395)
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English test fees
Frequently asked questions
Does a Diploma of Nursing give you PR in Australia?
No. A Diploma of Nursing qualifies you to register as an Enrolled Nurse. You still need Ahpra registration, an ANMAC skills assessment, at least 65 points, and state nomination or employer sponsorship to apply for PR.
Is Enrolled Nurse on the skilled occupation list?
Yes. Enrolled Nurse (ANZSCO 411411) is on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List and the Core Skills Occupation List. It is eligible for the 190, 491, 482, 494 and 186 visas, but not the 189.
Can I get a 485 visa after a Diploma of Nursing?
No. The Post-Vocational Education Work stream needs a qualification relevant to an occupation listed for the 485. Enrolled Nurse is not listed for the 485 on the Home Affairs skilled occupation list.
Who assesses enrolled nurses for migration?
ANMAC (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council). Nurses already registered with NMBA through Ahpra can apply for ANMAC's modified skills assessment, which costs AUD 395 and takes up to 6 weeks.
How many points does an enrolled nurse need for PR?
The minimum is 65 points, including state nomination points. Meeting the minimum does not guarantee an invitation, because each state sets its own priorities every program year.
How long does it take to go from Enrolled Nurse to Registered Nurse?
Usually 2 years full-time through a Bachelor of Nursing (Enrolled Nurse pathway). Most programs require current registration as an Enrolled Nurse.
Is the enrolled nurse or registered nurse route better for PR?
The Registered Nurse route opens more visa options, including the 189 visa and, after a Bachelor degree, the 485 graduate visa. The Enrolled Nurse route is shorter and cheaper but depends more on state nomination and employer sponsorship. The right choice depends on your age, English score, budget and visa timeline.
Why choose RACC for your nursing pathway
Every nursing pathway depends on your visa history, English score, age, budget and the state you want to live in.
RACC's registered migration agents (MARN 1572961, 1172003) and education consultants work together, so your course choice and your visa plan are checked at the same time.
We can help you:
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Compare Diploma of Nursing and Bachelor of Nursing providers, intakes and fees
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Check whether your course meets the Australian study requirement
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Plan your student visa so it covers your course and your next step
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Prepare for Ahpra registration and the ANMAC skills assessment
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Review current state nomination rules against your profile
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Assess employer-sponsored options (482, 186, 494) if you have work experience
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Prepare and lodge your visa application
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This page provides general information only and is not migration advice. Visa and nomination rules change often. Check the official sources linked above or speak with a registered migration agent about your situation.
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