Am I eligible to work in Australia?

Check the minimum requirements an international medical graduate must meet to be eligible to work as a doctor in Australia. Find out whether a degree is recognised and who can help confirm eligibility.

What are the minimum requirements?

To work as a doctor in Australia, you must have:

  • a recognised medical degree
  • a job offer
  • your skills assessed and be on a registration pathway
  • English proficiency
  • a visa to work in Australia or permanent residency

Recognised medical degrees

Your primary medical qualification must come from a school that is recognised by both the:

This applies even if you were a permanent resident or citizen of Australia or New Zealand when you enrolled.

Securing a job

You must receive a job offer before you can apply for registration or a visa.

In Australia, you can find and secure a job as a:

  • non-specialist
  • specialist
  • doctor-in-training

Skills assessment and registration

The Australian Medical Council will assess your skills as part of your application for registration.

English language skills

To be eligible to apply for registration, you will need to demonstrate a certain standard of English language skills.

This standard applies to everyone working in the medical profession in Australia.

Getting a visa

You will need to get a visa to work in Australia.

After you have had your skills assessed and secured a job, you can apply for a visa.

Who can help me?

Contact a Rural Workforce Agency for help with finding work.

The Medical Board of Australia can help you with medical registration and skills assessments.

The Department of Home Affairs has information about immigration and citizenship.

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