Automatic Mutual Recognition
Work in NSW or other states and territories using a single licence or registration under the Automatic Mutual Recognition (AMR) scheme.
Key information
The Automatic Mutual Recognition (AMR) scheme was introduced in NSW on 1 July 2021 for some occupations.
More occupations have since been added to the scheme enabling a wide range of licensed people to work in NSW under AMR.
Most interstate licensees will be required to notify the regulator of their intention to work in NSW, before they start work.
Workers from Queensland cannot work in NSW under AMR and vice versa, as Queensland is not currently participating in the AMR scheme.
Working in NSW
Under AMR, there is no need to obtain a local licence in a second state or territory or pay any licensing fees, as long as there is a home state licence in force.
You can check if your occupation is included in the AMR scheme, and if necessary, how to meet notification requirements.
Find out if your occupation is included in AMR
You can also use the link above to check if your occupation is excluded or temporarily exempt from the AMR scheme.
Some occupations have been excluded from the AMR scheme because the Minister of a state has determined that it presents a significant risk to consumer protection, the environment, animal welfare, or the health or safety of workers or the public.
Some occupations are temporarily exempt and may be included in the AMR scheme at a later date. For exempted occupations, individuals may still be able to apply to work in NSW under the mutual recognition scheme.
Requirements when working in NSW
Eligibility
To be eligible to work in NSW under the AMR scheme, you must hold a current licence or registration in your home state or territory for the activity covered by an occupation that you intend to do in the second state or territory.
The AMR scheme only applies to individual occupational licences, not licences held by companies.
Depending on your occupation, you may need to meet additional requirements before working in NSW. You may need to:
notify the regulator in NSW of your intent to work in NSW
meet public protection requirements (PPR)
satisfy and maintain a vulnerable person character test.
A PPR is a requirement relating to insurance, fidelity funds, trust accounts, minimum financial requirements or similar. PPRs are designed to protect the public, clients, customers, and licensees.
There are some circumstances that may prevent you from taking part in the scheme, such as:
you are the subject of criminal, civil, or disciplinary proceedings, or preliminary investigations or actions leading to proceedings, in relation to your occupation, and you are aware of those proceedings
your home state licence or registration is cancelled or currently suspended as a result of disciplinary action
you are prohibited from carrying on the activity or occupation that covers the activity
you are subject to any conditions in carrying on the activity that were imposed because of criminal, civil, or disciplinary proceedings
you have been refused registration for the occupation that covers the activity in any state or territory
you fail to give the local registration authority evidence about your place of residence and place of work, if required.
If you are still unsure about whether you are eligible to work in NSW under AMR, contact Service NSW on 13 77 88.
Notifying the regulator
Some occupations are required to notify the regulator of their intention to work in NSW under AMR. There is no fee to submit an AMR notification.
Visit the occupations page where you can find details on the occupation/s you want to carry out in NSW including a link to the notification platform.
The notification will require you to provide documentation such as a copy of your home state licence and proof of address such as your driver’s licence.
The notification process starts by creating a Service NSW account, which will require proof of identity. You will then be guided through the steps required to notify the regulator relevant to your occupation.
You can save your notification and return within 60 days to complete it.
Once you submit the notification you are entitled to begin working in NSW. You can submit notifications for more than one occupation if you hold a licence for each of these occupations in your home state.
The regulator will contact you should it require further details or there is an issue with you working under AMR in NSW.
You will not be issued with a registration, licence or certificate to work in NSW. In some cases, you may be provided with identification for the purposes of carrying out work in NSW.
Once you notify the regulator of your intent to work in NSW, some of the details provided will appear on a public register, if a register exists in NSW for that occupation.
If you fail to notify prior to carrying out an activity in NSW where required to, you will not be authorised to carry out that activity and penalties will apply.
After you have completed your notification, you must inform the regulator in the future if your home state changes, or you renew your home state licence or registration. You can do this by updating your notification.
While working in NSW
When working, you’ll need to have evidence of your licence or registration in your home state. Your home state licence or registration conditions will continue to apply unless the NSW regulator waives them.
Under AMR:
- licensees working interstate are subject to all relevant laws in the second state or territory
- their home state licence is considered a local licence in the second state or territory
- the second state or territory cannot impose specific conditions on an interstate licensee if they are not conditions that would be imposed on a local licensee
- any conditions on a licensee’s home state licence still apply while working in the second state or territory
- licensees may appear on the second state’s public register – this depends on the state or territory.
If you are eligible to work in NSW under AMR, you can only undertake activities in NSW that you are allowed to perform under your licence or registration in your home state or territory. This is the case even if the occupation in NSW allows licensed or registered workers to perform a wider range of activities than you can perform under your home state licence or registration.
However, NSW laws may restrict the type of activities you can perform under your home state licence or registration. For example, an activity that is covered by an occupation may be legal in Victoria but may not be legal in NSW.
You should familiarise yourself with all requirements of relevant regulations before undertaking activities in NSW.
While undertaking an activity in NSW under AMR, you may be subject to NSW disciplinary action, which can result in your entitlement to work in NSW under AMR being suspended or cancelled.
Suspension or cancellation of your entitlement to work in NSW under AMR will also result in your registration or licence in your home state being suspended or cancelled. This may also affect your access to the AMR scheme in the future.
More information on complying with NSW laws can be found on our occupations page and at the websites of regulators:
Duration of work
If you are entitled to work in NSW under AMR, you can continue to work in NSW until:
your home state licence or registration expires
you become registered in NSW for that occupation
your licence or registration is cancelled or suspended by the local regulator or your home state regulator
you no longer meet the eligibility criteria.
If you are no longer entitled to work in NSW under AMR, you must stop working in NSW immediately. You do not need to notify the local regulator that you have stopped working in NSW under AMR.
Moving permanently to NSW
Your home state is where your primary place of residence or work is located.
If you change your home state or territory to NSW, and you mainly work in NSW, you must apply through the existing mutual recognition arrangements for a new substantive registration or licence in NSW and pay any applicable fees.
You are still entitled to work in NSW under AMR while your application for a substantive registration is being progressed.
Working outside NSW
If you are licensed or registered in NSW and want to work in another state or territory you will need to check if AMR is available for your occupation in that state or territory. You will also need to check that you are eligible for AMR.
The AMR scheme has commenced in:
The AMR scheme does not extend to New Zealand occupational registrations and licences. The processes under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangements continue to apply.