International Medical Graduates in Victoria
Immigration and visa requirements
The State of Victoria, Australia, has immediate vacancies available for doctors who are looking to combine a satisfying career with a lifestyle change. Doctors can apply for either a temporary or permanent visa if they wish to work in Australia.
For immigration purposes, doctors seeking permanent residency in Australia must hold full medical registration. Comprehensive information about visas and immigration issues relating to doctors can be found on the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs website.
Temporary visas
If a doctor is not able to meet the requirements for permanent migration or prefers to enter Australia as a temporary resident, entry on the Temporary Medical Practitioner visa or the Temporary Business (Long Stay) visa may be possible.
The Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs suggests that the Temporary Business (Long Stay) visa (subclass 457) is the preferred temporary visa for doctors entering Australia. It allows applicants to take advantage of streamlined visa processing arrangements, including the ability to lodge applications online.
To obtain a temporary visa, a doctor must first find a position for which he or she is considered a suitable candidate by the employer or sponsor. Doctors applying for temporary visas must provide evidence from the Medical Practitioners Board of Victoria that they are eligible for medical registration in Australia. Doctors with such evidence may be eligible for a temporary visa for periods up to four years.
The Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs has further information about temporary visa options for doctors.
Permanent migration visas
Permanent entry to Australia for international medical graduates is available through the General Skilled Migration Program, the Employer Nomination Scheme and the Regional Sponsored Migration Program. Doctors can also enter Australia to work temporarily.
In addition to the other requirements for permanent entry to Australia, a doctor needs to provide evidence of full (unconditional or general) medical registration, or evidence of completion of the standard pathway for specialist assessment or the standard pathway for general practitioner assessment for independent/unsupervised specialist practice.
Doctors may choose to enter Australia initially as a temporary resident, and work with conditional medical registration before completing the requirements for full medical registration or specialist recognition.
The Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs has further information about permanent visa options for doctors.