Australia to fast-track registration for internationally qualified nurses

Processing times will be reduced by up to 6-12 months.

Starting in March, Australia will streamline the registration process for internationally qualified nurses from selected countries, reducing processing times by up to 6–12 months.

The standard will apply to internationally qualified registered nurses who have practised for at least 1,800 hours since 2017 in comparable countries including Ireland, Singapore, Spain, the UK, the US, and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Ontario.

Nurses from these countries will no longer need additional exams or qualification upgrades for registration.

However, they are still required to meet the same regulatory standards as Australian-trained nurses to ensure patient safety and quality care.

The initiative aligns with recommendations from the Kruk Review, which called for simpler, quicker, and cost-effective pathways for internationally qualified healthcare workers to practise in Australia.