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Relocating your medical career to Australia as a Specialist International Medical Graduate (SIMG) is an exciting professional step. Like any major life transition, having clear financial visibility early on gives you the confidence to focus on the journey ahead.<\/span><\/p>\n The total investment is divided into two distinct categories: standard regulatory fees required of every specialist, and personal relocation expenses that depend on your household, where you are relocating from, and your destination. Initial outlays naturally focus on the regulatory requirements: credential checks, college evaluations, medical registration, and visas, alongside the personal logistics of moving your household.<\/span><\/p>\n The good news is that these costs do not fall due at once. They can be planned for stage by stage. To help you prepare with confidence, we have broken down what to expect at every stage and when each fee falls due.<\/span><\/p>\n Note: All fees are in Australian dollars (AUD) unless stated otherwise, based on official October 2026 fee schedules. Fees change regularly, so always confirm the current amount with the relevant organisation before payment.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Your earliest investments happen well before the job hunt begins. Setting yourself up for success starts with a few essential early steps: confirming your English language skills, verifying your qualifications, and making sure all your paperwork is properly certified and translated.<\/span><\/p>\n The Medical Board of Australia requires all applicants to demonstrate English language competency before granting registration, and in some cases this requires sitting an exam. Doctors who completed their qualifying education in a recognised country may be exempt, so check the Medical Board\u2019s <\/span>English language skills registration standard<\/span><\/a> before booking a test.<\/span><\/p>\n If you do need to sit a test, accepted options include:<\/span><\/p>\n Test results are generally valid for two years unless you continue to live and work in a recognised English speaking country. Plan your test date carefully so your results remain valid when you apply for Ahpra registration. If your results expire, you may need to resit the exam at your own expense.<\/span><\/p>\n Specialists must have both their primary medical degree and specialist qualification verified at source through ECFMG\u2019s Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials (EPIC), as well as establish a portfolio with the Australian Medical Council (AMC).<\/span><\/p>\n Budgeting for document certification is an essential early step. Specialist medical colleges typically require certified true copies of your passport, medical qualifications, and training logbooks to begin your comparability assessment. While Ahpra now verifies routine photo identity digitally through InstaID+, you must still supply certified copies of your primary and specialist medical credentials.<\/span><\/p>\n Both Ahpra and the specialist colleges enforce exacting certification standards. Ensuring your certifier uses the official mandated wording, numbers each page, and initials every sheet will prevent rejected paperwork and repeated notary fees. For detailed instructions and approved wording, refer to<\/span> Ahpra\u2019s certifying documents guidelines<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n You will need to budget for professional English translations if any of your application materials are in a foreign language. Both Ahpra and the specialist colleges require translations completed by an accredited professional, either a<\/span> NAATI-certified translator<\/span><\/a> in Australia or an officially authorized translator overseas. This also applies to records sent directly to Ahpra by third parties (such as certificates of good standing), which must be translated at your expense by a NAATI-certified professional. Translators typically charge per page or per word, so costs vary based on document volume. Keep in mind that if the Medical Board deems any overseas translation inaccurate or incomplete, you will be required to submit a fresh translation from a NAATI-certified provider.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n College assessment is usually the single largest regulatory expense for specialist International Medical Graduates (IMGs), and it varies considerably. Total costs depend on three factors: your medical specialty (each college sets its own tariff), your assessment pathway, and your assessment outcome.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For more details, explore our<\/span> guide to registration pathways<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n The figures below illustrate the typical cost range across specialties, sourced from each college\u2019s published 2026 fee schedule (all figures in AUD).<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\nStage 1: Document Preparation & Verification Costs<\/b><\/h2>\n
English language testing<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Primary source verification (ECFMG EPIC and AMC portfolio)<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Certifying and notarising documents<\/b><\/h3>\n
Translating documents<\/b><\/h3>\n
Stage 2: How much does specialist college assessment cost?<\/b><\/h2>\n
Which pathway applies to you?<\/b><\/h3>\n
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What colleges charge: examples for 2026<\/b><\/h3>\n
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\n College<\/b><\/td>\n Fee<\/b><\/td>\n Amount (AUD)<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n RACP (Physicians and Paediatricians)<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n Application submission<\/span><\/td>\n 1,096<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n <\/td>\n Assessment of comparability<\/span><\/td>\n 6,184<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n <\/td>\n Workplace-based assessment, per year of supervised practice<\/span><\/td>\n 4,802<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n <\/td>\n Estimated total if substantially comparable \/ partially comparable<\/span><\/td>\n 12,082 \/ 16,884<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n <\/td>\n Practice visit, if required<\/span><\/td>\n 3,436<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n <\/td>\n Area of Need application<\/span><\/td>\n 2,056<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n <\/td>\n Short-term training application<\/span><\/td>\n 1,205<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n RANZCP (Psychiatry)<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n Administrative fee<\/span><\/td>\n 525<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n <\/td>\n Specialist assessment, including interview<\/span><\/td>\n 6,812<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n <\/td>\n Area of Need assessment<\/span><\/td>\n 2,971<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n <\/td>\n Substantial comparability placement<\/span><\/td>\n 12,711<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n ANZCA (Anaesthesia)<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n SIMG interview<\/span><\/td>\n 7,115<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n <\/td>\n SIMG performance assessment<\/span><\/td>\n 10,395<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n