Midwife — Subclass 494 Pathway
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa · 5 years provisional → PR pathway via Subclass 191
At a glance
- Visa
- Subclass 494 — Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional 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
- ~9-18 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 494 — pathway overview
Midwife (ANZSCO 254111) is eligible for the Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa, enabling approved regional employers to sponsor skilled overseas workers where local candidates are unavailable. Regional providers facing genuine shortfalls of midwifery professionals supporting maternity and perinatal care across hospitals, birth centres, and community settings can use this pathway to address staffing needs. The nominating employer must be in a designated regional area, hold approved business sponsor status, conduct labour market testing, and pay at or above the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT). 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. Applicants must generally be under 45 at time of invitation, meet English language requirements, and satisfy health and character standards. Government fees and skills assessment charges apply. The visa is valid for five years, with a pathway to the permanent Subclass 191 after three years of compliant regional residence and work. 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 494. Verify every requirement on immi.gov.au before applying.
- Under 45 years of age at application
- Competent English (IELTS 6 or equivalent)
- Positive skills assessment in the nominated occupation
- Three years of relevant work experience in the nominated occupation
- Nominated by an approved regional employer in a designated regional area
- Health and character requirements
Other visa pathways for Midwife
- 186Details →Employer Nomination Scheme visa
Permanent employer-sponsored visa for workers nominated by an approved sponsor.
- 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.
State nominations for Midwife
States currently nominating this occupation — see the dedicated pages for state-specific criteria.