Key takeaway: A nurse who trained outside the UK registers with the NMC and, for the visa, needs an eligible job with a Home Office-approved employer and a certificate of sponsorship. English evidence is needed for both, and Nigerian nationality does not remove it. This page gives no salary figure.

NMC registration comes first in your planning

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) registers nurses and midwives. People who trained outside the UK use its Test of Competence to show their skills and knowledge. The NMC page also covers English, health and character, a face-to-face ID check at one of its Test of Competence centres, and a professional indemnity arrangement. Its English requirement is the same for all applicants, so do not assume Nigerian nationality removes the need for English evidence. The NMC accepts three types of English evidence: a recent result in an accepted English language test, a nursing, midwifery or nursing associate qualification taught and examined in English, or one year of recent practice in a country where English is the majority-spoken language.

Nursing and Midwifery Council: Register as a nurse or midwife if you trained outside the UK Nursing and Midwifery Council: English language requirements

Confirm the sponsored job

GOV.UK says that to qualify for a Health and Care Worker visa you must be a qualified doctor, nurse, health professional or adult social care professional, work in an eligible job and work for a UK employer approved by the Home Office. Your employer gives you a certificate of sponsorship with information about the role. You must have a confirmed job offer before you apply. The offer must come from the NHS, an organisation providing medical services to the NHS, or an organisation providing adult social care. The eligible occupation codes include 2231 to 2237 for midwifery and registered nursing roles. If you have a job offer, ask your employer for your occupation code.

GOV.UK: Health and Care Worker visa (overview) GOV.UK: Health and Care Worker visa, your job

Where the minimum pay rule is found

You must be paid the minimum salary or the going rate for the work, whichever is higher. GOV.UK lists some occupation codes that have different salary requirements; check whether yours is one of them. For any other health and care job, GOV.UK says to check the table of national pay scales for eligible healthcare jobs. The table lists salaries by NHS pay band and area of the UK. Ask your employer if you are not sure what your role or pay band will be. That table was last updated on 22 July 2025. This article gives no salary figure, so check the current table and your written offer.

GOV.UK: Health and Care Worker visa, your job GOV.UK (UK Visas and Immigration): National pay scales for eligible healthcare jobs

English evidence for the visa

For the visa, GOV.UK says you usually prove English with a UK school qualification, a UK degree, a degree taught in English outside the UK, or an approved English test. Without those, you pass a Secure English Language Test with an approved provider, showing at least level B2 in reading, writing, speaking and understanding. A nurse who has already passed an English assessment accepted by their regulated professional body does not need to prove English again for the visa. Nigeria is not on the GOV.UK list of nationalities that do not need to prove English.

GOV.UK: Health and Care Worker visa, knowledge of English

Applying and timing

Your employer’s certificate of sponsorship is an electronic record with a reference number you need for the visa application. You must apply within 3 months of getting it. You can apply up to 3 months before the start date on the certificate. GOV.UK says that once you have applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents you will usually get a decision within 3 weeks. You and your partner or children do not pay the healthcare surcharge.

GOV.UK: Health and Care Worker visa (overview) GOV.UK: Health and Care Worker visa, your job

Questions before acting

Are Nigerian nurses automatically exempt from English evidence?

No. The NMC says its English requirement is the same for all applicants. For the visa, the GOV.UK list of nationalities that do not need to prove English does not include Nigeria. A nurse who has already passed an English assessment accepted by their regulator does not need to prove English again for the visa.

Is every nursing offer enough for this visa?

No. The job must be eligible, the employer must be approved by the Home Office, you need a certificate of sponsorship, and you must be paid the minimum salary or the going rate for the work, whichever is higher.

Does this page give a nurse salary?

No. GOV.UK points to a table of national pay scales by NHS pay band and area of the UK, last updated on 22 July 2025. Check the current table and your written offer.

Corrections in this revision

The previous version included statements without sufficient direct support. This revision removes or corrects:

  • Unsourced advice on pay terms, NHS versus private pay systems, NMC and visa checklists, and not paying for packages: removed
  • Warning not to turn a nursing job title into automatic visa eligibility: replaced by the official eligibility conditions
  • Title promising salary content: corrected; the page gives no salary figure
  • Universal Nigerian salary range, and tax and net-savings estimates: removed
  • Visa processing promises, nationality-based English assumptions and blanket recruitment guarantees: removed

Review scope: legal and financial statements in this revised article. Recheck on a provider, professional, immigration or tax-rule change; reuse of dated figures requires a new check.

See recorded sources

These primary references have the jurisdiction, product and scope stated above. A source link is not proof of personalised eligibility.

Compare nursing salaries across 200+ countries & territories

Explore recorded pathways and source links. This questionnaire does not determine eligibility or recommend a destination.

Get your free results

You might also find useful

UK Skilled Worker Visa from Nigeria 2026→ Cost of Moving from Nigeria to UK→ Best Countries for Nurses to Emigrate→ Nigeria Emigration Guide→

Visa and WTE updates by email.

No fixed schedule is promised. Unsubscribe at any time.

About the author

António Mira is the founder of whereTOemigrate. For over a decade he has worked at the intersection of Portuguese real estate and overseas business, helping international clients navigate the cross-border decisions that come with relocating. He sits on the board of CCIAP (Portuguese-Arab Chamber of Commerce), the Portuguese-Saudi Business Council, and the Portugal-Hong Kong Business Association — always with one focus: enabling overseas business and human mobility into and out of Portugal.

How we verify our data · Editorial standards · About whereTOemigrate