Midwife — Subclass 186 Pathway
Employer Nomination Scheme visa · Permanent
At a glance
- Visa
- Subclass 186 — Employer Nomination Scheme visa
- Points test
- Not points-tested
- Sponsor
- Employer sponsor required
- Eligibility list
- MLTSSLSTSOLROLCSOL
- Base fee
- from $4,770 (check immi.gov.au for current fee)
- Processing time
- ~6-15 months (median)
Skills assessment for this occupation
Assessing Midwife for migration purposes is handled by: ANMAC.
Each occupation has a single designated assessing authority — refer to the occupation page for the body that assesses it.
Midwife × Subclass 186 — pathway overview
Midwife (ANZSCO 254111) is eligible for the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa, a permanent employer-sponsored visa enabling skilled workers to live and work in Australia when nominated by an approved employer. This occupation appears on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) or Consolidated Sponsored Occupation List (CSOL), allowing employers with genuine shortfalls of midwifery professionals supporting maternity and perinatal care across hospitals, birth centres, and community settings to access this pathway. The 186 visa is available via the Temporary Residence Transition, Direct Entry, or Labour Agreement stream. Sponsoring employers must hold approved business sponsor status, conduct labour market testing, and ensure pay and conditions meet Australian standards. A positive skills assessment from Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) is required, verifying that overseas qualifications and clinical experience meet Australian registration standards for the Midwife role. English language proficiency and health and character checks are mandatory. Government fees and skills assessment charges apply; processing times range from several months to over a year. The Subclass 186 confers permanent residence, with a pathway to Australian citizenship after the required residence period. For advice tailored to your individual circumstances, always consult a registered MARA migration agent.
Content last generated: 2026-06-26
Key requirements
High-level criteria for Subclass 186. Verify every requirement on immi.gov.au before applying.
- Under 45 years of age at application (with limited exemptions)
- Competent English (IELTS 6 or equivalent)
- Nominated by an approved Australian employer
- Positive skills assessment in the nominated occupation (Direct Entry stream)
- At least three years of relevant work experience (Direct Entry stream)
- Health and character requirements
Other visa pathways for Midwife
- 189Details →Skilled Independent visa
Permanent points-tested visa for workers not sponsored by an employer, family member, or state.
- 190Details →Skilled Nominated visa
Permanent visa for workers nominated by a state or territory government.
- 482Details →Skills in Demand visa
Employer-sponsored temporary visa (formerly TSS) for occupations on the relevant list.
- 485Details →Temporary Graduate visa
Post-study work visa for recent graduates of Australian qualifications.
- 491Details →Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa
Five-year provisional visa for workers willing to live and work in regional Australia.
- 494Details →Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa
Five-year employer-sponsored provisional visa in regional Australia, with a path to PR.
State nominations for Midwife
States currently nominating this occupation — see the dedicated pages for state-specific criteria.