Primary Criteria

All primary applicants must meet both the common criteria and their stream-specific criteria.

Mandatory Registration, Licensing or Professional Membership

Where a State or Territory mandates it, the primary applicant must hold — or be eligible to hold — a relevant registration, licence or professional membership at the time of application (clause 186.211).

Registration is considered mandatory only if every person in that occupation must hold it. If the work can be done without it — even under supervision — it is not mandatory for visa purposes. Where mandatory, the registration must allow the applicant to perform the full range of tasks at the required skill level.

The following situations may not satisfy the requirement:

• Conditional or provisional registration requiring supervision or additional training before independent work
• Conditions placed on registration limiting who services can be provided to, or how, as a result of disciplinary action

Standard continuing professional development for fully registered practitioners is acceptable. Applicants with limited or provisional AHPRA registration may still qualify in certain circumstances.

Assessing "holding" registration: The ANZSCO dictionary is the starting point. Where requirements vary by state or task, extensive investigation is not expected. The nominator certifies in the nomination that the nominee holds required registration, and this is generally relied upon.

Assessing "eligible to hold" registration: In some jurisdictions, it is not mandatory to actually hold registration but mandatory to be eligible for it. The applicant must show they have completed all required study or training, or hold a recognised equivalent overseas qualification. For example, a social worker must be eligible for full AASW membership — even though actual registration is not legally required.

Types of registration: The registration, licence or membership must reflect the ability to perform all tasks of the occupation. Limited licences or student memberships may not satisfy the requirement.

Validity of registration: Evidence obtained after the application date can still be accepted if it confirms eligibility at the time of application. Where registration was applied for before lodgement but approved afterwards, the person is considered eligible at the time of application.

When the skills assessing authority is also the registration authority: Evidence of full registration is sufficient evidence of skills — no separate skills assessment is needed. For example, for General Medical Practitioners (ANZSCO 253111), AHPRA registration (in partnership with the Medical Board of Australia) is accepted as evidence of skills. However, where the two authorities are different — for example, for Registered Nurses (ANMAC assesses, AHPRA registers) or Dentists (ADC assesses, AHPRA registers) — both registration evidence and a positive skills assessment must be provided separately.

Cannot be waived: If registration is mandatory, this requirement cannot be waived under any circumstances.