What is the ANMAC skills assessment, and is it the same as Ahpra registration?
Checked against official sources, October 2026
The ANMAC skills assessment confirms whether a nurse’s, midwife’s or direct care worker’s qualifications and experience meet the requirements for skilled migration to Australia. It is not registration: registration to practise is handled by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) through Ahpra.
Who this is for
Nurses and midwives planning to migrate to Australia.
What the official guidance says
- ANMAC is approved by the Australian Government to conduct migration skills assessments for nurses, midwives and direct care workers, and its outcome supports Home Affairs’ visa decisions.
- ANMAC does not assess nurses or midwives for registration to practise in Australia; registration is managed by the NMBA through Ahpra.
- Depending on the pathway, ANMAC assesses documents such as proof of identity, English language proficiency, qualifications, work experience and fitness to practise.
- ANMAC confirms that the ANZSCO occupation code you select matches your qualifications and experience.
- Home Affairs only accepts a skills assessment issued by the relevant assessing authority for your occupation, and each authority sets its own procedures, timeframes and charges.
What it does not mean
- A positive skills assessment does not let you work as a nurse; you still need registration.
- Registration with the NMBA does not replace the migration skills assessment where your visa needs one.
- It is your responsibility to check whether your visa needs a skills assessment.
What to do next
- 01Check whether your intended visa needs a skills assessment on Home Affairs.
- 02Choose the correct ANZSCO code and ANMAC pathway, and prepare clear, complete documents.
- 03Run your NMBA registration through Ahpra as its own workstream.
Questions
How long does an ANMAC assessment take?
ANMAC says processing times vary by pathway and demand, and publishes current average timeframes on its application pages.
Do I need ANMAC for an employer-sponsored visa?
Home Affairs says a skills assessment is mandatory for some visas and streams and may be requested for others. Check the specific visa.
Official sources
Checked October 2026. Immigration rules, fees and thresholds change, so confirm them on the official page before you act.
Plan the whole route, not just the visa
Migo’s plan for nurses moving to Australia keeps registration with the NMBA and the ANMAC migration skills assessment as separate stages, because they are separate processes, with links to each body’s own guidance and ANMAC’s document checklist.
Related guides
General information, not legal or immigration advice. For advice on your own case, speak to a regulated immigration adviser or lawyer.