Australia Visas for Dentists
We have a large number of opportunities available for dentists and specialist dentists that require a visa throughout Australia. Your circumstances and the area where you work and live will determine what visas can be offered. Please see below for further information.
Please note, all of our Australia dentist job adverts will advise of candidate prerequisites, in terms of visas, qualifications, registration, and experience. Please see individual job adverts for details, but as a rule, we can provide visas for all locations throughout Australia with the exception of Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. We do have dentist jobs in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, but visa legislation does not currently provide options for long-term overseas candidates. We do though have plenty of excellent opportunities for dentists and specialists requiring visas throughout the rest of Austraia.
Applicable visas for dentists are 482, 494, 491, 417, and 186. There may be other pathways, so please consult your visa expert. Please also bear in mind that if applicable, a partner visa may be a possibility dependent on your partner's circumstances.
The majority of our visa positions are applicable to the 482 (186) and 494 visas.
Australian visa legislation is currently managed via the options detailed below. Information correct as of January 2025. *Please seek professional visa advice as information is subject to change due to current policy changes planned with the (Australian) Department of Home Affairs https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/.
Visa Subclass 494 - Regional Employer Sponsored (Provisional) Visa.
This allows a pathway for dentists and specialists dentist to work and live in Regional Australia. Regional Australia is all of Australia, except Metro Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne.
This is a five year provisional visa where you will be nominated and sponsored by an employer. It offers a pathway to Permanent Residency which can be applied for after three years. There are some restrictions, such as age and experience. As a rule, you will be aged 45 or under and have at least two years post qualification experience.
Further information can be found here Visa subclass 494 Regional Employer Sponsored Visa.
Visa Subclass 491 - Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa.
Similar to the 494, this is a five year provisional Regional visa providing a pathway to Permanent Residency. Whilst the 494 is an employer sponsored visa, the 491 is an individual visa where are you invited to apply and nominated by the specific state in Australia and sponsored by that State.
Further information can be found here Visa Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa.
Visa Subclass 482 - Skills in Demand Visa.
On December 7 2024, the Skills in Demand (SID) visa replaced the Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) visa.
Further information can be found here Visa Subclass 482 - Skills in Demand.
The 482 Skills in Demand visa is a four-year visa that provides a pathway to permanent residency. After two years, you may transfer to a 186 visa (details below), provided your employer nominates you. Currently, this visa is only available for dentistry roles in Regional Australia, which includes all areas of the country except Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane.
Although there is no upper age limit to apply for the 482 visa, applicants must be under 45 years of age if they wish to pursue permanent residency.
Visa Subclass 186 - Employer Nomination Scheme visa.
This visa lets skilled workers, who are nominated by an employer, live and work in Australia permanently.
Further information can be found here Visa Subclass 186 - Employer Nomination Scheme visa.
This visa can be actioned following two years working and living in Australia via the 482 visa.
Visa Subclass 417 - Working Holiday visa.
This visa lets people 18 to 30 years old (or 35 years old for some countries including UK and Republic of Ireland) have their first extended holiday in Australia and work here to help fund their trip.
During their 12 month stay, 417 visa holders can work as much or as little as they choose in full-time, part-time, casual, paid or voluntary work. These visas can be extended in some circumstances.
Further information can be found here Visa Subclass 417 - Working Holiday visa.
Please contact us for further information or view current opportunities for job-specific criteria.
