Moving from the Philippines to Australia (2026): Visas, Nursing Pathway and Costs
The main visa pathways for Filipino citizens moving to Australia, the nursing registration sequence through AHPRA's IQNM pathway, what it costs, and where the Filipino-Australian community is concentrated. Figures as at September 2026.
Read the full guide, with official sources →
Watch
Chapters
- 0:00 Healthcare visas get first-priority processing
- 0:16 The main pathways
- 0:35 The nursing sequence
- 0:55 AHPRA's English standard,
- 1:11 English and points
- 1:26 What it costs
- 1:50 Document prep
- 2:01 Where the community is
- 2:12 The Self-check and the English test
- 2:23 Where to read more
Transcript
Thinking about moving from the Philippines to Australia? Healthcare visa applications — including nursing — get first-priority processing under the rules that took effect 19 September 2026.
There are several routes in. A subclass 189 needs no employer or state sponsor. A subclass 190 adds 5 points for state nomination. A subclass 482 can lead to a subclass 186. And a subclass 500 student visa can lead to a subclass 485.
Nursing isn't a single skills assessment. You start with AHPRA's Self-check, which assigns Stream A, an orientation module, or Stream B, which adds an outcomes-based assessment — a multiple-choice exam and an OSCE. Only once NMBA registration is granted does ANMAC's Modified assessment become available.
AHPRA's English standard for registration changed on 23 April 2026. IELTS Academic now needs 7.0 overall, with 7.0 in listening, reading and speaking, and 6.5 in writing.
English also affects your points score. IELTS 7.0 in each band is Proficient English, worth 10 points. IELTS 8.0 in each band is Superior English, worth 20 points.
On cost: the subclass 189 charges $6,135 for the primary applicant. ANMAC's Modified assessment is $395. NMBA registration is $332 to apply plus $193 for the first year. A partner visa, subclass 309 and 100, is $11,710.
The Philippines has been a member of the Hague Apostille Convention since 2019, so documents for Australia now need a DFA apostille rather than the older red-ribbon authentication.
The Filipino-Australian community is concentrated in a few places: Blacktown in Western Sydney, Dandenong in Melbourne's south-east, and Mandurah south of Perth.
For nurses, the Self-check, the English test and the AHPRA sequence are the steps that take the longest — starting them early matters more than any other part of the process.
The full guide, with the official sources, is on migratio.com.au. The link is in the description. And if you'd like to talk it through, you can compare registered migration agents there, and see their fees before you book anything.
Talk it through with a registered agent
Every agent on Migratio is on the official OMARA register. Compare agents and their consultation fees.