Doctor jobs in Australia with visa sponsorship

The occupations employers nominate

List status from the Department of Home Affairs skilled occupation lists as held in SponsorTalent's occupation data. Grant counts are Home Affairs figures, rounded to the nearest 10.

Source: Home Affairs: temporary resident (skilled) report, 31 December 2025

Your registration pathway

The Medical Board's self-assessment tool tells you which pathway fits. In outline:

• Competent Authority pathway, for doctors who passed the qualifying exam of an approved authority and practised in that system: the UK General Medical Council (PLAB), the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC), the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (USA), the Medical Council of New Zealand (NZREX), the Medical Council of Ireland and the US National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (COMLEX-USA). The doctor secures a suitable Australian position, applies for provisional registration (the Board suggests about three months before the start date), and completes 12 months of Board-approved supervised practice (at least 47 weeks full-time equivalent) before general registration. A doctor going into general practice also completes a pre-employment structured clinical interview (PESCI), unless applying for a general practice assessment on the Specialist pathway.
• Standard pathway, for other non-specialists: pass the Australian Medical Council (AMC) CAT MCQ exam; arrange AMC primary source verification and an ECFMG EPIC portfolio; apply for provisional registration (after the clinical exam) or limited registration (after the MCQ only); complete 12 months of supervised practice; and complete the AMC clinical exam or workplace-based assessment for the AMC Certificate, then general registration.
• Specialist pathway, for doctors with an international specialist qualification, assessed by the relevant specialist college; and the Expedited Specialist pathway for qualifications on the Board's accepted qualifications list.
• Short-term training in a medical specialty, usually up to 24 months of training. It does not lead to specialist or ongoing registration.

The Board advises waiting for Ahpra registration before you apply for the visa, and including your registration number in the visa application.

Sources: Medical Board of Australia: international medical graduates · Medical Board: Competent Authority pathway · Medical Board: Standard pathway

English scores

For registration the Medical Board applies the common English language skills standard, updated in March 2025: IELTS Academic overall 7, with at least 7 in listening, reading and speaking and 6.5 in writing (or an accepted equivalent), unless the doctor qualifies for an exemption. That is well above what the visa itself requires.

Source: Medical Board newsletter, March 2025: updated English language skills standard

Where you can work as a GP

Overseas-trained doctors are subject to the ten-year moratorium under section 19AB of the Health Insurance Act 1973: for at least ten years from first Australian registration, Medicare benefits are available only where they practise in a Distribution Priority Area (for GPs) or a District of Workforce Shortage (for other specialties). Separately, to provide Medicare-rebateable services to private patients as a GP, a doctor must be on a college-led training program under section 3GA or hold specialist registration. These rules govern Medicare billing, so a private general practice has to check them for the exact practice location before it recruits. Use the Department of Health's Health Workforce Locator to check an address.

Sources: Department of Health: Distribution Priority Area · Department of Health: accessing Medicare benefits (section 19AA) · Department of Health: section 19AB, Medicare provider numbers for overseas trained doctors

Finding a sponsor

Public hospitals recruit RMOs through state health services, often in an annual campaign, and regional hospitals and practices recruit year-round. Make your profile show your registration pathway and stage, because that is the first thing an employer checks. Create a free SponsorTalent profile so employers searching for resident medical officers and GPs can find you, and browse live sponsored jobs.

Frequently asked questions

Can an overseas doctor get visa sponsorship in Australia?

Yes. Resident Medical Officer and General Practitioner are on the Core Skills Occupation List and eligible for the 482, 494 and 186. You need Medical Board of Australia registration through Ahpra first.

Do I need to pass the AMC exams?

Only on the Standard pathway. Doctors from competent authority systems such as the UK, Canada, the US, New Zealand and Ireland use the Competent Authority pathway, and specialists use the Specialist or Expedited Specialist pathway.

What IELTS score do doctors need in Australia?

For registration, IELTS Academic overall 7 with at least 7 in listening, reading and speaking and 6.5 in writing, or an accepted equivalent, unless an exemption applies.

Can an overseas-trained GP work anywhere in Australia?

Not with Medicare billing at first. Under section 19AB, for at least ten years from first registration, Medicare access for GPs is generally limited to Distribution Priority Areas.