Best Countries for Nurses (2026): 8 Countries Compared

What "best" means on this page

There is no single best country for nurses, and this page does not rank countries. It compares eight countries on the same four checks, each taken from official sources: (A) registration or recognition, (B) the main work-permit route, (C) any official shortage or priority listing, and (D) any order of steps the sources themselves state. Countries are listed alphabetically. Where the official sources we read do not state something, the page says so instead of filling the gap. It does not compare salaries, fees or processing times, and it cannot say whether you personally would qualify. Canadian nurse registration is covered through Ontario only.

Check these conditions first

Registration and immigration permission are separate steps in the sources we read. Ireland’s NMBI advises waiting for a registration decision before making travel or employment plans, New Zealand’s INZ says nurses must get Nursing Council registration before applying for a work visa, and NCSBN says a visa is not within the authority of a U.S. board of nursing. Passport and place of training answer different questions. EU nationals can work in any EU country without a work permit, but Germany’s portal says the decisive factor for recognition is where the qualification was obtained, not nationality. Language evidence differs by country: the NMC lists IELTS Academic 7 in listening, reading and speaking and 6.5 in writing, and Germany’s federal portal states at least level B2 German for recognition.

NMBI: Qualified outside the EU Immigration New Zealand: check if you need occupational registration NCSBN: Nurse licensure guidance European Commission Your Europe: working abroad Make it in Germany: nursing professionals NMC: accepted English language tests

Australia: the four checks

Registration: The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia’s standard for general registration of internationally qualified registered nurses came into effect on 23 April 2025. It streamlines assessment for eligible nurses who have registered and practised as a registered nurse in an NMBA-approved comparable international jurisdiction. For applicants who do not meet the standard, the existing IQNM assessment process remains in effect. All applicants must also meet the NMBA’s core registration standards, including the English language skills standard. Work permit: the official sources we read do not state a work-permit route. Shortage or priority list: the official sources we read do not state one for nurses. Sequence: the official sources we read do not state an order between registration and immigration steps.

NMBA: general registration for internationally qualified registered nurses

Canada (Ontario): the four checks

Registration: Registering with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) is a legal requirement to practise nursing in Ontario. To start an application, your education credential documents must be validated by an approved educational credential assessment (ECA) provider. As of 12 January 2026, nursing experience used to meet CNO’s evidence-of-practice requirement must come from paid nursing employment or other paid nursing roles; volunteer or unpaid nursing no longer counts for initial registration. CNO says evidence of practice can also be nursing education completed within the past three years. Work permit: CNO asks for proof of Canadian citizenship or immigration status in a category authorised for practising nursing in Ontario. The official sources we read do not state a single main work-permit route. Shortage or priority list: the Ontario regulator pages we read do not state one; Canada’s federal immigration selection categories are not covered on this page. Sequence: CNO will not start your application until it receives the fee and your education documents from an approved ECA provider. Proof of immigration status can be submitted at any time during the application process.

College of Nurses of Ontario: applicants trained outside Canada College of Nurses of Ontario: evidence of practice

Germany: the four checks

Registration: The federal skilled-worker portal says nursing is a regulated profession and that long-term work requires official authorisation to practise. Your nursing qualification must be recognised in Germany. The portal lists, as a rule, at least level B2 German for recognition and a certificate of physical and mental fitness among the requirements to work as a nurse. If your qualification differs from the German one, you can take a knowledge test or go through an adaptation period. Work permit: EU and EFTA citizens need neither a visa nor a residence permit to work in Germany; citizens of other countries require a residence permit. The portal states that the EU Blue Card does not apply to nursing professionals. Shortage or priority list: The portal says nursing professionals remain in high demand; the official sources we read do not point to a formal shortage list for nurses. Sequence: For people who have not yet applied for recognition, the portal says the process can start after arrival on a residence title for another job; a German employment contract and a recognition partnership with the employer are among the requirements.

Make it in Germany: nursing professionals

Ireland: the four checks

Registration: NMBI’s page for applicants qualified outside the EU describes two steps: recognition of qualifications, then registration. A compensation measure (a period of adaptation or an aptitude test) may be required before recognition, for G2 and G3 applicants only. Work permit: The Critical Skills Employment Permit is issued on a job offer of at least 2 years. For a nurse, DETE’s qualification criterion is a degree or diploma accepted by NMBI as sufficient for registration; other conditions also apply. Shortage or priority list: S.I. No. 213/2026 (13 May 2026) substitutes Schedule 3 of the Employment Permits Regulations 2024, covering employments in respect of which there is a shortage. It lists 2231 Registered Nurses. Sequence: NMBI advises waiting for a registration decision before travel or employment plans. Ireland’s immigration service says non-EEA nurses with a contract of employment who must complete a Clinical Adaptation Programme or RCSI aptitude test can apply to enter Ireland for that purpose under the Atypical Working Scheme; an AWS approval is not a permission to work, and once the nurse has the NMBI PIN the employer can apply for an Employment Permit.

NMBI: Qualified outside the EU NMBI: Outcomes of assessment DETE: Critical Skills Employment Permit S.I. No. 213/2026: Employment Permits (Amendment) Regulations 2026 Irish Immigration Service: Atypical Working Scheme for nurses

New Zealand: the four checks

Registration: The Nursing Council of New Zealand says you may apply if currently registered with an overseas regulatory authority and you meet Nursing Council requirements. For nurses without a current Australian practising certificate, it says to verify your documents with TruMerit first and lists English language evidence and 1,800 hours of post-registration nursing experience, among other documents. The Council also says some registered nurses will be required to undergo a competence assessment. Work permit: The Accredited Employer Work Visa needs, among other requirements, a job offer of at least 30 hours a week from an accredited employer with an approved job check, plus occupational registration if the job requires it. Shortage or priority list: INZ describes its Green List as jobs in demand, and its instructions, effective 23 March 2026, include Nurse Practitioners and Registered Nurse roles. The Council says demand for internationally qualified nurses is currently lower than previously, except in some areas such as mental health and addiction. Sequence: INZ says that where a job needs occupational registration, you must get your registration before you can apply for a visa; for a nurse, that is registration from the Nursing Council of New Zealand.

Nursing Council of New Zealand: internationally qualified nurses Immigration New Zealand: Accredited Employer Work Visa INZ immigration instructions: Appendix 13, Green List Immigration New Zealand: check if you need occupational registration

United Arab Emirates: the four checks

Registration: The Unified Healthcare Professionals Qualification Requirements (PQR) are presented by MOHAP and the Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah health authorities. For nurses they ask, among other requirements, for graduation from a recognised nursing college or university and, where applicable, a valid home-country or last-employment licence or registration. Professionals must pass the Authority’s examination (the PQR allows exemptions for specific categories), with three attempts across the Authorities; PQR 1.5.5 says one final attempt with a different authority may be granted after failing three times with another authority. Work permit: u.ae’s private-sector employment page says it is illegal to work in the UAE without a valid work permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation. The permit for a worker recruited from outside the UAE is valid for two years; licensed roles also need the worker to meet the conditions in the applicable legislation. Shortage or priority list: the official sources we read do not state one for nurses. Sequence: For Dubai, DHA lists self-assessment, PQR requirements, a positive primary source verification, the assessment and a registration certificate; an employer holding a valid DHA facility licence then activates the licence, and a professional may not practise before activation.

DOH Abu Dhabi: introduction to the Professional Qualification Requirement (PQR) Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR), 3rd version DHA: Manual for Licensing Healthcare Professionals, Version 1.1 u.ae: Work permits

United Kingdom: the four checks

Registration: The NMC offers a checklist for applicants trained outside the United Kingdom and uses a Test of Competence for people applying from overseas. An adult nurse whose EU qualification meets the automatic recognition requirements can be recognised without it; EU specialist nurse qualifications need it. The NMC accepts IELTS Academic scores of 7 in listening, reading and speaking and 6.5 in writing. Work permit: The Health and Care Worker visa’s listed occupation codes include registered community, specialist, nurse practitioner, mental health and children’s nurses, and other registered nursing professionals. Registered nurse codes are not among the codes with different salary requirements; for any other health and care job, GOV.UK says to check the table of national pay scales for eligible healthcare jobs. Shortage or priority list: the official sources we read do not state one for nurses. Sequence: A job offer from an approved UK employer is required before you apply, and the employer gives you a certificate of sponsorship. The NMC pages we read do not say whether registration or the visa comes first.

NMC: registration for nurses trained outside the United Kingdom NMC: internationally trained applicants and EU qualifications NMC: accepted English language tests GOV.UK: Health and Care Worker visa job conditions

United States: the four checks

Registration: NCSBN says each state licenses nurses within that state, with variations among the states; every board of nursing requires candidates to pass an examination, and all use the NCLEX-RN for registered nurses. Work permit: the main route in the sources we read is employment-based immigration: USCIS’s EB-3 page says Schedule A petitions are not required to have a DOL-approved labor certification, but need an application for Schedule A designation and a permanent, full-time job offer from a U.S. employer. Under 8 CFR 212.15, registered nurses seeking admission to work need a credentialing-organization certificate or certified statement; it is not professional authorization to practise. Shortage or priority list: 20 CFR 656.5 sets out Schedule A, for which the Department of Labor determined there are not sufficient U.S. workers; it names professional nurses. Sequence: For the NCLEX you first apply to the nursing regulatory body, then register with Pearson. For a Schedule A nurse petition, USCIS requires the employer to submit evidence of a full, unrestricted permanent licence to practise nursing in the state of intended employment, a TruMerit (formerly CGFNS) certificate, or an NCLEX-RN pass as of filing.

NCSBN: U.S. nursing licensure for internationally educated nurses USCIS: Employment-based immigration, third preference EB-3 8 CFR 212.15: certificates for foreign health care workers 20 CFR 656.5: Schedule A NCLEX: how to register USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 6, Part E, Chapter 7: Schedule A

What changed recently or is about to change

Dated items in the sources we read: Australia: the NMBA standard for internationally qualified registered nurses came into effect on 23 April 2025. Canada: as of 12 January 2026, nursing experience used to meet CNO’s evidence-of-practice requirement must come from paid nursing employment or other paid nursing roles; volunteer or unpaid nursing no longer counts for initial registration. CNO says evidence of practice can also be nursing education completed within the past three years. Ireland: DETE announced that from 1 March 2026 the minimum salary for Critical Skills Employment Permits would increase from €38,000 to €40,904, that further threshold adjustments would be phased in through 2030, and that critical skills roles in the public service would be exempt where the relevant qualification is held. S.I. No. 213/2026 was made on 13 May 2026. NMBI assesses UK-educated nurses graduating since 1 January 2021 as non-EU applicants. New Zealand: INZ’s Green List instructions are effective 23 March 2026. United Arab Emirates: DHA’s licensing manual is effective 20 November 2024, and on 12 May 2025 the Dubai Media Office reported directives to grant golden visas to nursing staff at Dubai Health who have served for more than 15 years. United States: USCIS says that on 12 May 2026 the Department of Health and Human Services approved new English proficiency tests and scores for health care workers.

NMBA: general registration for internationally qualified registered nurses College of Nurses of Ontario: evidence of practice DETE press release: roadmap for employment permit salary thresholds S.I. No. 213/2026: Employment Permits (Amendment) Regulations 2026 NMBI: Applications for recognition with UK qualification INZ immigration instructions: Appendix 13, Green List USCIS: Health Care Worker Certification DHA: Manual for Licensing Healthcare Professionals, Version 1.1 Dubai Media Office: golden visas for nursing staff at Dubai Health

Official pay for nurses, where a public figure exists

The figures below come from different kinds of official source (a pay scale or a published median), so they are not comparable with each other.

Canada (Ontario): Job Bank shows a median of $42.00 an hour for registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses in Ontario (reference period 2023-2024; wages updated 19 November 2025).

Ireland: the HSE consolidated salary scales effective 1 June 2026 start the Staff Nurse scale (grade 2135) at €38,166 a year.

United Kingdom: NHS Agenda for Change Band 5 starts at £32,073 a year in England, on the pay scales effective from 1 April 2026.

Australia, Germany, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates and the United States: no official figure is quoted here.

Government of Canada Job Bank: wages for registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses HSE: Health Sector Consolidated Salary Scales, 1 June 2026 NHS Employers: pay scales for 2026/27 (Agenda for Change)

Official lists that name nursing

Some of these are shortage lists; others list the occupations a visa route accepts. Each line says which.

Australia: the Department of Home Affairs Core Skills Occupation List names Nurse Practitioner, Registered Nurse (Aged Care) and Registered Nurses nec (list read 13 October 2026; no date printed on it).

Ireland: S.I. No. 213/2026, made on 13 May 2026, substitutes Schedule 3, the employments in respect of which there is a shortage, and lists 2231 Registered Nurses.

New Zealand: the Immigration New Zealand Green List (Appendix 13, effective 23 March 2026), Tier 1, includes Nurse Practitioners (254411), Registered Nurse (Aged Care) (254412) and Registered Nurses nec (254499).

United Kingdom: GOV.UK lists the occupation codes eligible for the Health and Care Worker visa; they include midwifery nurses and registered nurse codes 2232 to 2237. This is a list of eligible occupations, not a shortage list.

United States: 20 CFR 656.5, Schedule A, Group I, names professional nurses.

Canada (Ontario), Germany and the United Arab Emirates: no such list is quoted here.

Department of Home Affairs: The Core Skills Occupation List (PDF) Irish Statute Book: S.I. No. 213/2026, Employment Permits (Amendment) Regulations 2026 Immigration New Zealand: immigration instructions, Appendix 13 Green List GOV.UK: Health and Care Worker visa, eligible occupation codes eCFR: 20 CFR 656.5, Schedule A

English tests your nursing regulator accepts

Canada (Ontario): College of Nurses of Ontario. IELTS: total 7; listening 7, reading 6.5, writing 6.5, speaking 7. OET minimum benchmarks: listening B (350), reading C+ (330), writing C+ (320), speaking B (350). No page date printed; read 13 Oct 2026.

Ireland: Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland. IELTS Academic: overall 7.0, with a minimum of 7.0 in any three components and 6.5 in one. OET (Nursing): grade B in three components and C+ in one. The page does not accept the IELTS One Skill Retake. No page date printed.

New Zealand: Nursing Council of New Zealand. IELTS Academic: 7 for reading, listening and speaking; 6.5 for writing. OET: 350 for reading, listening and speaking; 300 for writing. The writing minimum was set on 19 August 2022.

United Kingdom: Nursing and Midwifery Council. IELTS Academic: listening 7, reading 7, writing 6.5, speaking 7. OET: grade B (350 or above) for listening, reading and speaking; C+ (300 or above) for writing. Page last updated 08/03/2024 as printed.

Australia, Germany, the United Arab Emirates and the United States: no English test score is quoted here. In the United States, nurses are licensed by state boards.

College of Nurses of Ontario: proficiency in English or French Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland: English language requirements for overseas trained nurses Nursing Council of New Zealand: requirements, English language requirements Nursing Council of New Zealand: news, English language competence policy refresh NMC: accepted English language tests NCSBN: U.S. nursing licensure for internationally educated nurses