Working rights reference

How visas relate to medical pathways

Medical registration, Medicare access, and visas are regulated under separate frameworks. A doctor's registration pathway and Medicare status affect how and where they can work. This can influence which visa categories are discussed with employers or migration professionals, but visa eligibility is assessed separately under migration law.

Factors that commonly influence visa discussions

Visa categories discussed by doctors often depend on a combination of factors, including:

• current level of medical registration
• supervision requirements
• employment structure (employed vs independent)
• location of work (metropolitan vs regional)
• Medicare access and moratorium considerations
• whether an employer is willing to sponsor

These factors vary between individuals and over time. This table shows visa availability by nationality only and does not assess suitability or eligibility.

Note: Visa requirements and processing times change frequently. Always verify current information with the Department of Home Affairs or a registered migration agent.

Australian Working Rights Required: Registration does not itself grant work rights. Non-citizens must hold Australian working rights to practise, subject to migration law.

19AB and after-hours: The after-hours exemption applies to both GP and MP items, but the item numbers and rebate amounts differ. Workforce doctors on Limited Registration access MP items through 19AB, while GP-track doctors access GP items.

Timing nuance: The 19AB after-hours exemption window (when you can bill Medicare) is not the same as MBS after-hours loading periods (when items attract higher rebates). There can be periods where Medicare access exists but after-hours loading does not apply, or vice versa. Confirm specific billing windows with Services Australia.

Earning vs training: After-hours work lets you earn income via Medicare billing, but it does not count toward GP fellowship training hours. On the RACGP Fellowship Support Program, part-time program time is at least 14.5 hours/week over at least two days, 10.5 of them face-to-face, at an approved training practice. IMGs seeking both income and training may consider a split arrangement — after-hours income at a metro practice, daytime training at a rural DPA practice.