Pathway hub
Philippines to Australia registered nurse pathway
Jurisdiction scope
Australia-wide Stream A assessment
Last verified
Relevant official-body pillar
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia / Ahpra

Purpose

Why this decision point exists

Work through Stream A as its own branch; the streamlined pathways have different rules.

Who needs it

Check whether it applies

Applicants whose Self-check result assigns Stream A.

Requirements

What to check at this step

Common mistakes

Where applicants trip up

  • Treating Stream A as automatic registration.

One fact at a time

Official facts

Each value appears with its effective date and cited source. We never assume an optional fact applies to you, and we never convert currencies.

No confirmed numeric fact is shown for this page. Check the linked official pages for current fees, timing, and requirements; a missing value is not zero.

The order of decisions

Where this step sits in the reviewed pathway

Work through the decision points in this order, and expect the responsible body to change, add, or remove requirements for your circumstances.

  1. Step 1

    Keep professional registration and immigration separate

    NMBA registration and Australian immigration are separate decisions. Success in one does not guarantee the other, and NMBA advises against irreversible moves or employment decisions before registration is approved.

  2. Step 2

    Complete the mandatory Ahpra Self-check

    Enter your own qualification and registration history in Self-check. Its result can identify streamlined Pathway 1 or Pathway 2, or assign Stream A, Stream B or Stream C. The tool reads your whole history, so a Philippines qualification does not land you in Stream B by default. Self-check settles routing only; the registration decision comes later.

  3. Step 3

    Follow streamlined Pathway 1 if Self-check identifies it

    Pathway 1 requires a relevant qualification from an approved comparable jurisdiction that led to general RN registration in that same jurisdiction, at least 1,800 hours of RN practice in an approved comparable jurisdiction since 2017-01-01, and the core registration standards.

  4. Step 4

    Follow streamlined Pathway 2 if Self-check identifies it

    Pathway 2 requires a relevant qualification obtained outside an approved comparable jurisdiction on or after 2017-01-01, passage of an IQRN regulatory examination in an approved comparable jurisdiction that led to general RN registration there, holding that registration, and at least 1,800 hours of RN practice in an approved comparable jurisdiction after that registration. An NCLEX-RN pass alone is not enough.

  5. Step 5

    Complete Stream A assessment if assigned

    If Self-check assigns Stream A, pay the applicable assessment fee, complete Orientation Part 1 and proceed through the Ahpra stages shown in the portal. Stream A indicates a qualification considered substantially equivalent or based on similar competencies.

  6. Step 6

    Complete the Stream B portfolio and examinations if assigned

    For Stream B, complete Orientation Part 1 and the portfolio. You only need registration evidence if your qualification assessment asks for it. Pass the NCLEX-RN MCQ before the OSCE unless Ahpra accepts a qualifying earlier result. An earlier NCLEX pass does not by itself establish Pathway 2.

  7. Step 7

    Obtain qualification upgrading if Stream C is assigned

    If Self-check assigns Stream C, follow the official post-Self-check process and wait for Ahpra's individual direction before deciding whether or how to upgrade a qualification.

  8. Step 8

    Meet English, recency, criminal-history and document standards

    Meet the applicable core registration standards, including English language skills, recency of practice, criminal history, professional indemnity and other requirements. Use an Ahpra-approved international criminal-history supplier and acceptable translations where the triggers apply.

  9. Step 9

    Submit the registration application and complete orientation

    After the required assessment stages, apply online with the identity, qualification, English, employer and registration-status evidence Ahpra requires. Ahpra assesses for NMBA; outcomes can include registration, conditions or refusal. Complete Orientation Part 2 after registration within the official period.

  10. Step 10

    Choose a separate lawful immigration and work route

    Hold a visa that permits the work you intend to do. Employer-sponsored and points-tested subclasses each carry their own occupation, sponsor or nomination, skills-assessment, points, health, character and registration conditions. There is no universal nurse visa, so nobody can quote you a fee or processing time from your origin country alone.

Evidence record

Official source ledger

Each entry records who published the source, what it covers, and when it was last checked.

  1. Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia

    Fees for nurses and midwives

    Scope
    Australia-wide professional registration; schedule effective 2025-09-18
    Last verified
    Open official source (external site)
  2. Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia

    Steps after Self-check

    Scope
    Australia-wide internationally qualified nurse routing
    Last verified
    Open official source (external site)