Immigration Planning for Practices – GP Specialist Recruitment

Doctors moving to Australia on the RACGP PEP Specialist Pathway typically come on a Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482). If your practice has not gone through this immigration process before, please advise us and we can help you plan this out. This will reduce any delay in the arrival of your new team member.

Stage 1 Sponsorship Application

This is completed by the practice and submitted to the Department of Home Affairs. This involves the employer registering to be an approved business sponsor and nominator to sponsor a skilled worker, which is valid for 5 years. The responsibility and cost for this registration lies with the employer.

Stage 2 Nomination Application

This is specific to each GP and their family and again it is the employer’s responsibility and cost. This includes running suitable job advertisements for labour market testing and providing a signed contract. Doctor Connect can help you run the relevant advertisements for 30 days if you require this assistance. The practice then submits the details of the person and their family to the department, and they are then issued with your sponsorship Transaction Reference Number (TRN).

Stage 3 Visa Application

Using their AHPRA registration and the TRN (from the previous step), the doctor lodges their application Visa Application.

If your practice has not completed this process before, then engaging the services of an Immigration Solicitor can be helpful. We can not offer specific immigration advice however, we can connect you with immigration lawyers who are experienced in working with general practitioners.