This is a working migration guide for Paediatric Surgeons under ANZSCO 253516 in 2026. Specialised surgical practice — RACS Specialist Pathway with paediatric surgery endorsement.
For costs and timelines see the 253516 cost & timeline case study. For RACS, see the skills assessment guide.
What 253516 covers
ANZSCO 253516 covers paediatric surgery consultant practice:
- General paediatric surgery (hernia, hydrocele, undescended testis)
- Neonatal surgery (NEC, gastroschisis, atresias, CDH)
- Paediatric oncology surgery
- Paediatric urology
- Paediatric upper / lower GI surgery
- Trauma in children
- Minimally invasive paediatric surgery
- Foetal surgery (sub-specialty)
Visas open to 253516
| Visa | Open? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 189 Independent | ✅ | Full points-tested PR |
| 190 State-nominated | ✅ | Strong demand |
| 491 Regional state-nominated | ✅ | Limited regional paediatric surgery |
| 186 ENS Direct Entry | ✅ | Hospital sponsors |
| 494 Regional employer-sponsored | ✅ | Limited |
| 482 Core Skills | ✅ | 4-year stream |
See Subclass 189, 190, 491, 186, 494, and 482.
RACS Specialist Pathway (Paediatric Surgery)
Standard RACS Specialist Pathway:
- Application + qualifications + experience + procedure logbook
- RACS Specialist Assessment with paediatric surgery endorsement (6-12 months)
- Outcome: Substantially Comparable / Partially Comparable / Not Comparable
- Medical Board Specialist Registration with paediatric surgery endorsement
- 12 months supervised practice (Substantially Comparable)
- FRACS + Paediatric Surgery Fellowship granted
Expected evidence:
- Primary medical degree (MBBS / MD / equivalent)
- Paediatric Surgery Fellowship
- Origin-side specialist registration
- Comprehensive procedure logbook
- Continuing professional development records
- English language test (typically OET B grade)
RACS Specialist Pathway fees: ~AUD 8,000-15,000.
Sponsors that hire 253516
- Children's hospitals — Royal Children's Melbourne (largest), Sydney Children's Network (SCH + Westmead), Queensland Children's, Royal Children's Brisbane, Perth Children's, Women's and Children's Adelaide, Royal Hobart paediatric
- Major teaching hospitals with paediatric units — limited paediatric surgery in adult hospitals
Common mistakes
- Coding 253511 instead of 253516. Distinct paediatric specialty code
- Procedure logbook insufficient. Need comprehensive paediatric case numbers
- English test too old. OET / IELTS validity ~2-3 years
Tools
- Eligibility wizard
- ANZSCO search — verify 253516 vs 253511
- Document checklist
- Visa fee calculator
Where to verify
Next step
Want help mapping your paediatric surgery profile to RACS + Medical Board? Book a 30-minute free strategy call.
Paediatric Surgeon
ANZSCO 253516
AHPRA
RACS
FRACS
Skilled Migration
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