Most nurses, midwives and direct care workers who migrate to Australia need a skills assessment from the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council. ANMAC has announced that its assessment names, fees and application portal are all changing. The start date has not been confirmed. This article explains what is changing and what to do in the meantime.
It is written from ANMAC’s own announcement of 14 September 2026 and from MIA Notice 22 of 9 October 2026, which reported the new assessment names and fees.
What is changing
- A new online portal for lodging, tracking and managing skills assessment applications.
- New assessment types and names, intended to make clearer what each service covers.
- Revised fees, which ANMAC says better reflect the complexity of each assessment.
- Electronic consent for anyone using a migration agent or other representative. Applicants will give consent through the portal, and will be able to see and revoke a representative’s authority.
- Dedicated profiles for migration agents and agencies, with agencies able to add staff and see client applications from one dashboard.
The new assessment names and fees
| New assessment | Fee |
|---|---|
| Essential | $395 |
| Essential Plus | $495 |
| Comprehensive | $695 |
| Care | $545 |
| Care Plus | $645 |
ANMAC has also revised its additional fees. The ANMAC website explains what each assessment includes, and which one a particular applicant needs will depend on their registration, qualifications and the visa they are applying for.
When it starts
ANMAC has said the changes take effect when the new portal launches, which it expects by the end of 2026. It will confirm the launch date before the changes come into effect. Until then, the current portal and the current process remain in use.
What happens to applications already lodged
This is the part most applicants want to know, and ANMAC has been clear.
- Applications still in progress when the portal launches will be moved to the new system.
- Applicants will not need to reapply or resubmit documents.
- Where the assessment fee has already been paid, the new fee does not apply and there is no additional fee for the transition.
- Migration agents with active applications will receive instructions for accessing them in the new portal before launch.
In other words, there is no penalty for applying now under the current process, and no reason to wait for the portal.
Why this matters for a visa plan
The skills assessment is usually the step that sets the timing for everything else in a nursing migration pathway. It is required before a points tested expression of interest is credible, and most employer sponsored applications need it too. Healthcare occupations now sit in the top processing priority group under Ministerial Directions 121 and 122, as our guide to the new priorities explains. That priority only helps once the assessment is in hand.
For nurses working out which visa fits, our article on choosing a skilled visa is the place to start.
What to do now
- If a skills assessment is on your plan, apply under the current process. Paid applications are protected from the new fees.
- If you use a representative, expect to confirm that authority electronically once the portal launches.
- Watch for ANMAC’s launch date announcement, and for the activation email if you have an application in progress.
Frequently asked questions
What are the new ANMAC assessment names?
Essential, Essential Plus, Comprehensive, Care and Care Plus.
How much will an ANMAC skills assessment cost?
Essential $395, Essential Plus $495, Comprehensive $695, Care $545 and Care Plus $645. ANMAC has also revised its additional fees.
When does the new ANMAC portal start?
ANMAC expects to launch it by the end of 2026 and will confirm the date before the changes take effect.
Will I pay the new fee if I have already applied?
No. ANMAC has said that where the fee has already been paid, the new fee will not apply and there is no additional charge for the transition.
Sam Kanjo, Migration Lawyer, Skyline Migration Lawyers, Melbourne.
Sources: ANMAC, New Skilled Migration Portal and service changes coming soon, 14 September 2026, and MIA Notice 22 of 9 October 2026.
Planning a nursing migration pathway?
We can map the assessment, the visa and the timing together. Call 03 8108 8748 or email info@skylinemigrationlawyers.com.au.
This article is general information only. It is not legal advice. Please seek advice about your own circumstances before you act.
