Looking to emigrate as a midwife? We ranked 20 countries across five dimensions — visa accessibility, salary competitiveness, cost of living, quality of life, and career growth — to find the best destinations for midwives in 2026.
Country Rankings for Midwives
| Rank | Country | Score | Visa | Salary | Cost | QoL | Career | Best Pathway | Recognition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canada | 7.0/10 | 8.0 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | 6.0 | Express Entry | Yes |
| 2 | Netherlands | 7.0/10 | 8.0 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | 6.0 | Highly Skilled Migrant Permit | Yes |
| 3 | Germany | 6.9/10 | 8.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 9.0 | 6.0 | Skilled Worker Visa Academic | Yes |
| 4 | United States | 6.9/10 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 4.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | Eb 2 Advanced Degree | Yes |
| 5 | Switzerland | 6.8/10 | 6.0 | 9.0 | 2.0 | 10.0 | 6.0 | B Permit Skilled Worker Residence | Yes |
| 6 | Australia | 6.7/10 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | 6.0 | Skilled Independent 189 | Yes |
| 7 | Singapore | 6.7/10 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 4.0 | 9.0 | 7.0 | Employment Pass | Yes |
| 8 | United Arab Emirates | 6.7/10 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 5.0 | 8.0 | 6.0 | Employment Visa Standard Work Visa | Yes |
| 9 | Portugal | 6.6/10 | 8.0 | 4.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 6.0 | D1 Employment Visa | Yes |
| 10 | Denmark | 6.5/10 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 4.0 | 10.0 | 6.0 | Positive List For Higher Education | Yes |
| 11 | New Zealand | 6.5/10 | 7.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | 6.0 | Green List Straight To Residence Visa | Yes |
| 12 | Ireland | 6.4/10 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 4.0 | 8.0 | 6.0 | Critical Skills Employment Permit | Yes |
| 13 | Norway | 6.4/10 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 3.0 | 10.0 | 6.0 | Skilled Worker Permit | Yes |
| 14 | United Kingdom | 6.3/10 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 4.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 | Health And Care Worker Visa | Yes |
| 15 | Austria | 6.2/10 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | 6.0 | Red White Red Card Skilled Workers In Shortage | Yes |
| 16 | Sweden | 6.2/10 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | 6.0 | Work Permit Employer Sponsored | Yes |
| 17 | Spain | 5.7/10 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 5.0 | Employee Work Visa | Yes |
| 18 | Japan | 5.5/10 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 6.0 | 9.0 | 5.0 | Skilled Worker Visa Tokutei Gino | Yes |
| 19 | France | 5.4/10 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 8.0 | 5.0 | Salaried Employee Work Permit | Yes |
| 20 | South Korea | 5.3/10 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 5.0 | E 5 Professional Visa | Yes |
Top 3 Countries in Detail
#1 Canada (7.0/10)
- Cost of living from €2000/mo (Montreal)
- See all Canada visa options →
#2 Netherlands (7.0/10)
- Income requirement: €5,942/monthly
- Processing: 10-28 days
- Cost of living from €2350/mo (Rotterdam)
- See all Netherlands visa options →
#3 Germany (6.9/10)
- Processing: 60-105 days
- Cost of living from €2090/mo (Hamburg)
- See all Germany visa options →
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best country for midwives to emigrate in 2026?
Canada ranks #1 for midwives in 2026 with a composite score of 7.0/10, based on visa accessibility, salary competitiveness, cost of living, quality of life, and career growth opportunities.
Do midwives need professional recognition abroad?
It depends on the country. Some countries require license recognition or credential evaluation for midwives. Our ranking includes a recognition requirement indicator for each country.
Which countries have the easiest visa process for midwives?
Countries with high visa accessibility scores include those with dedicated skilled worker visas, shortage occupation lists, or points-based systems that favour midwives.
How are the best countries for Midwives ranked?
Our midwife rankings use five key dimensions: visa accessibility (how easy it is for midwives to get a work visa), salary competitiveness (midwife earning potential vs local cost), cost of living (affordability for immigrants), quality of life (safety, healthcare, infrastructure), and career growth (midwife job market strength). Each dimension is scored 1-10 using 2026 data.
Can I emigrate as a Midwife without a job offer?
Several countries offer points-based immigration (Canada, Australia, New Zealand) or job seeker visas (Germany Chancenkarte) that don't require a job offer. Digital nomad visas are also an option for remote midwives.
Data sourced from official government immigration portals, re-checked March 2026. Scores are indicative and should be used alongside professional immigration advice.