GP Jobs and Recruitment Assistance Australia

This is a FAQ BLOG and you can refer to our 19AB & IMGs blog here.

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Date Updated: 2025-09-15

Spousal exemption is available to Australian temporary residents or Australian permanent residents or citizens. If you’re an Australian permanent resident or citizen, then you must hold AHPRA Specialist Registration before applying for a spousal exemption.

You are eligible for 19AB spousal exemption if your spouse is either a:

Medical Practitioner that is unrestricted by 19AB and ordinarily resides in Australia, or a
Skilled Migrant who:
- Ordinarily resides in Australia
- Has General Skilled Migration visa
- Has been assessed by the relevant skilled body as having a General Skilled occupation in demand
- Migrated to Australia in the past 10 years with the purpose to work in the General Skilled Migration occupation, and
- Is currently working, volunteering or undertaking a training placement in that General Skilled Migration occupation

If your spouse meets the criteria above, then you may be able to work in a Non-DPA area, so that you may be close to your spouse.

How do I apply for a spousal exemption?

You can apply by completing the 6-page Application Form and send an email to 19AB@health.gov.au along with supporting documents. You can also expect an outcome after 28 business days upon receiving your completed application.

If you are granted a spousal exemption, then you will be given a Letter of Support. This should be attached to your Application for a Medicare provider number and/or prescriber number for a medical practitioner form (HW019) before you submit it to Services Australia.

You’ll also need the following supporting documentation:

Passport for both you and your spouse
Applicant’s letter of offer or employment contract from proposed place of practice
Any of the following (must be issued within the last 3 months)
- Lease/mortgage/tenancy agreement with both you and your spouse’s name and address listed
- Utility Bill with both you and your spouse’s name and address listed
- Joint bank account statement or account confirmation with both you and your spouse’s name and address listed
Marriage certificate (if married)
Visa grant notice for you and your spouse (if not an Australian citizen)

If your spouse is a Doctor

Current AHPRA Medical registration of your spouse
Copy of spouse’s unrestricted section 19AB(3) exemption or class exemption, or evidence spouse is not subject to the 10-year moratorium
Copy of spouse’s employment contract from their primary place of employment (where appointment is not full time, contract is required to state the number of hours worked at the primary place of employment).

If your spouse is a skilled migrant

Spouse’s employment contract:
- For their first position working in the General Skilled Migration visa occupation (including occupation title & physical location), or
- If working with a new employer in the General Skilled Migration visa occupation – a copy of the spouse’s signed and dated employment contract from their current employer.
Letter from your spouse’s current employer confirming:
- They are currently employed in relation to their General Skilled Migration visa, and
- If ongoing work from home arrangements are in place, the letter must state number of contracted hours per week and number of hours working from home per week
Copy of spouse’s General Skilled Migration visa
Copy of spouse’s skills assessment
Copy of spouse’s full international movement record from date of first entry into Australia (available from immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)

What are the accepted visa subclasses for spousal exemption?

Under the Spousal Exemption form, the General Skilled Migration visa as defined in the Migration Regulations 1994 are the following: 175, 176, 189, 190, 475, 476, 485, 487, 489, 491, 885, 886 or 887 visa.

Also, your spouse should have had their skills assessed by a relevant authority from the skilled occupation list which includes:

Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa (subclass 186)
Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) visa (subclass 187) – Temporary Residence Transition Stream
Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) – Points-tested stream
Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
Training visa (subclass 407)
Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) – Core Skills Stream
Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)
Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489)
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 494)

If your spouse meets the criteria above, then you are eligible for Spousal exemption.

We Can Help You

Here at People Medical Consulting, we have a passion for guiding medical practitioners through their career pathways to Australia. We have extensive experience in assisting medical facilities in recruiting doctors from local and overseas who will best suit their requirements.

We provide Document Assistance for those requiring support for their PESCI with IME, ACRRM or RACGP, registration and all other mandatory AHPRA requirements, fellowship program related forms and letters, application for Medicare provider and prescriber numbers, application for 19AB or 19AA exemptions and preparation of employment documents.

If you want to talk to someone about your pathway or practice management—book a consultation with us below, or if you need Recruitment or Document Assistance, contact us at help@peoplemedical.com.au or click the buttons below. We’d be glad to help you!

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Information from this blog has been taken directly from: