The best countries for nurses to work abroad in 2026 include Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, the Netherlands, Singapore and Switzerland.
For nurses currently working in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or elsewhere in the UAE, Australia, New Zealand and Canada stand out particularly strongly when nursing demand, salary, professional registration, skilled migration and permanent residence opportunities are considered together.
However, no single country is best for every nurse.
Your ideal destination depends on your nursing qualification, registration history, years of experience, specialty, English or local language proficiency, age, family situation and long term immigration goals.
Most importantly, professional nursing registration and immigration eligibility are two separate processes. Being a registered nurse or working in a shortage occupation does not automatically guarantee a work visa or permanent residence.
At The Global Axis Immigration Consultants, UAE based healthcare professionals can compare potential migration pathways before committing to one destination.
Our 2026 ranking considers salary, healthcare workforce demand, professional registration requirements, employer sponsorship, skilled migration opportunities, and the possibility of long term settlement.
| Rank | Country | 2026 Salary Benchmark* | Main Nursing Registration | Immigration / Residence Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | AUD 2,192 median weekly full time earnings | NMBA / Ahpra | Multiple skilled and employer sponsored visa options |
| 2 | New Zealand | Approx. NZD 75,566 – 106,739 public sector RN scale | Nursing Council of New Zealand | Nurses are Tier 1 Green List occupations |
| 3 | Canada | CAD 43.27/hour national median | Provincial regulator | RN NOC 31301 included in 2026 Express Entry healthcare category |
| 4 | Ireland | EUR 37,788 – 56,032 HSE Staff Nurse scale | NMBI | Registered Nurses are on the Critical Skills Occupations List |
| 5 | United Kingdom | GBP 32,073 – 39,043 NHS Band 5 | NMC | Health and Care Worker Visa |
| 6 | Germany | EUR 4,329 / month median gross benchmark | State recognition authority | Qualified worker and recognition visa pathways |
| 7 | United States | USD 101,420 national annual mean wage | State Board of Nursing | High salaries employer based immigration possible |
| 8 | Netherlands | Varies by employer and collective agreement | BIG Register | Healthcare career opportunities Dutch required |
| 9 | Singapore | Employer and experience dependent | Singapore Nursing Board | Employer led registration and work pass pathway |
| 10 | Switzerland | High earning potential canton dependent | Swiss Red Cross / competent authority | Strong healthcare demand but restrictive for many non EU applicants |
*Salary figures are benchmarks rather than guaranteed earnings. Sources use different methodologies weekly earnings, hourly medians, public sector scales, or national averages so figures should not be directly compared without considering tax, hours, location, experience, and cost of living.
Nursing remains one of the most internationally transferable healthcare professions, but global demand does not mean that every country follows the same recruitment process.
Common reasons nurses consider working overseas include higher earning potential, specialist clinical experience, internationally recognized healthcare systems, employer sponsorship, career progression, family migration opportunities, and long term residence.
For UAE based nurses, the biggest mistake is often choosing a country only because of salary.
A better comparison considers:
Australia ranks first because it offers one of the strongest combinations of registered nurse demand, competitive salaries, professional career development and skilled migration opportunities.
Jobs and Skills Australia reports approximately 366,200 Registered Nurses in the workforce. Median full time earnings are approximately AUD 2,192 per week, with median hourly earnings of around AUD 57.
Official Australian Registered Nurse labour market data
Multiple Registered Nurse occupations appear on Australia’s Skilled Occupation List. Current Home Affairs information links occupations including aged care, community health, critical care, medical, and other Registered Nurse classifications to pathways such as Subclass 189, 190, 491, 482, 494, and 186, depending on the occupation and visa requirements. ANMAC is listed as the relevant migration assessing authority for these Registered Nurse occupations.
Australian Skilled Occupation List Department of Home Affairs
Potential pathways may therefore include:
Occupation list inclusion does not guarantee an invitation, nomination or permanent residence. Applicants must meet the requirements for their chosen visa.
Internationally qualified nurses generally need to satisfy the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) and AHPRA registration standards before practicing.
Migration skills assessment and professional registration should also be treated separately depending on the visa strategy ANMAC requirements may apply in addition to nursing registration.
Australia may be particularly attractive for Registered Nurses seeking:
Explore The Global Axis’s Skilled Migration Programs from Dubai and the UAE before selecting a particular visa route.
Best for: Nurses seeking the strongest overall balance between salary, career development, and skilled migration.
New Zealand is particularly important for internationally qualified nurses because nurses are Tier 1 occupations on the Green List.
Health New Zealand specifically states that nurses are on Tier 1 of New Zealand’s Green List, potentially allowing eligible candidates with a job offer from an accredited employer to apply through the Straight to Residence Visa pathway.
Immigration New Zealand confirms that Tier 1 Green List employment connects to the Straight to Residence pathway.
New Zealand Green List residence pathway
Recent Health New Zealand employment material lists a Registered Nurse salary scale of approximately NZD 75,566 at Step 1 to NZD 106,739 at Step 7, depending on skills, qualifications and experience.
International nurses must register with the Nursing Council of New Zealand.
The Council’s current internationally qualified nurse pathway asks applicants about their nursing qualification, overseas registration, and experience, and requires a minimum of 1,800 hours of Registered Nurse work experience within the relevant pathway.
Nursing Council of New Zealand Internationally Qualified Nurses
Some applicants may also need a competence assessment depending on their qualifications and registration history.
The biggest advantage is not simply salary.
For an eligible Registered Nurse, having a profession connected to a Tier 1 Straight to Residence pathway can make New Zealand especially attractive for nurses prioritising long term settlement.
Best for: Nurses whose main objective is a clearly structured residence focused healthcare pathway.
Canada remains one of the strongest countries for nurses who want to combine healthcare employment with a permanent residence strategy.
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses are classified under NOC 31301.
Most importantly, they are included in Canada’s current Express Entry healthcare and social services occupations category.
Current category rules require at least 12 months of full time equivalent experience during the previous three years in one eligible occupation, and that experience can be obtained in Canada or abroad. Candidates must also satisfy the requirements of Express Entry and the particular invitation round.
Canada Express Entry healthcare category IRCC
Canada’s Job Bank currently reports national Registered Nurse wages of approximately:
Low: CAD 30.00/hour
Median: CAD 43.27/hour
High: CAD 54.37/hour.
The salary can differ considerably by province. For example, the median listed for Alberta is around CAD 47.50/hour.
Registered Nurse wages in Canada – Job Bank
Nursing is provincially regulated.
Internationally educated nurses generally need to complete the credential and registration process for the province or territory where they plan to work. Check the exact process with the relevant nursing regulator before making immigration decisions.
Eligible nurses may potentially explore Express Entry, category based selection, Provincial Nominee Programs, and employer supported work permit strategies.
Express Entry healthcare category inclusion should never be described as automatic Canada PR. Applicants still need to qualify for an Express Entry program, create a competitive profile and receive an Invitation to Apply.
For more information, see Canada Skilled Migration from the UAE – The Global Axis.
Best for: Nurses focused on permanent residence, family migration and provincial healthcare opportunities.
Ireland is one of the strongest European options for Registered Nurses in 2026.
The country’s Critical Skills Occupations List, effective from 13 May 2026, covers critical skills employment where shortages exist. Registered nursing occupations are included within Ireland’s critical skills framework.
Ireland Critical Skills Occupations List
The official HSE consolidated salary scales effective 1 February 2026 list the Staff Nurse scale from approximately EUR 37,788 to EUR 56,032, while specialized and senior nursing grades can be higher.
Overseas applicants work through the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).
NMBI separates the process into:
Stage 1 – Qualification Recognition
Stage 2 – Registration
English language evidence is required at the registration stage for relevant overseas applicants. NMBI currently recognizes pathways including qualifying English language education / practice or approved tests such as IELTS and OET.
NMBI English and overseas registration requirements
Ireland can be particularly interesting for nurses seeking:
Explore Ireland Skilled Migration from Dubai and the UAE.
Best for: Nurses looking for an English speaking career and potential long term settlement within Europe.
The United Kingdom remains one of the world’s largest destinations for internationally recruited healthcare professionals.
Registered nursing occupations remain eligible under the Health and Care Worker Visa, including community nurses, specialist nurses, nurse practitioners, mental health nurses, children’s nurses and other registered nursing professionals. Applicants require qualifying employment with an approved UK sponsor.
UK Health and Care Worker Visa – GOV.UK
For England, the 2026/27 NHS Agenda for Change scale effective from 1 April 2026 lists:
Band 5: GBP 32,073 – GBP 39,043
Band 6: GBP 39,959 – GBP 48,117
Band 7: GBP 49,387 – GBP 56,515.
Many newly registered NHS nursing positions begin around Band 5, while specialist and senior roles may sit at higher bands.
Overseas Registered Nurses must satisfy Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) registration requirements in addition to immigration requirements.
The Health and Care Worker Visa can last for up to five years, and GOV.UK states that eligible holders may be able to apply for settlement after five years if they satisfy the relevant requirements.
Best for: Nurses seeking NHS experience and a structured employer sponsored route.
Germany continues to face strong demand for nursing professionals as its population ages and healthcare workforce requirements increase. Germany’s federal skilled worker portal notes that nursing professionals remain in high demand.
The German Federal Employment Agency’s Entgeltatlas currently reports a national median gross monthly salary of approximately EUR 4,329 for qualified general nursing occupations, with regional variation.
German Federal Employment Agency Nursing Salary Data
Nursing is a regulated profession in Germany.
Foreign nurses need their professional qualification recognized and require authorization to practice under the professional nursing title.
Recognition guidance currently indicates German at approximately B2 level for professional authorization.
For third country nationals, Germany provides different pathways depending on recognition status.
A nurse with full professional recognition, a license to practice, and a qualifying job offer may be eligible for the work visa for qualified professionals under Section 18a. Where only partial recognition has been obtained, a Section 16d recognition pathway may be relevant.
Important for accurate immigration content: the EU Blue Card does not apply to nursing professionals.
Best for: Nurses prepared to develop strong German language skills and complete professional recognition.
The United States offers one of the largest nursing labor markets and some of the strongest salary potential in this comparison.
The latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational wage release reports approximately 3.4 million Registered Nurse positions and a national annual mean wage of USD 101,420. Hospitals remain the largest employer of Registered Nurses.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics nursing wage data
The United States does not operate one single national nursing license.
Individual state Boards of Nursing control licensing, and foreign nurses generally must meet the requirements of the state where they intend to work. The NCLEX-RN is a central part of the Registered Nurse licensing process.
Qualified foreign nurses may have access to employer sponsored immigration strategies, including employment based cases.
The U.S. can therefore be attractive for experienced nurses, but professional licensing, credential evaluation, and immigration can be more complex than the pathways available in countries such as New Zealand.
Best for: Nurses prioritizing salary and advanced clinical career opportunities who are prepared for a more complex licensing and immigration process.
The Netherlands has a highly developed healthcare system, but professional recognition and language skills are major considerations for nurses trained outside the EU.
Foreign healthcare qualifications must be officially recognized where required, and nursing is one of the professions for which BIG registration is mandatory before practicing independently under the protected professional title.
Netherlands BIG Register Foreign Diploma Recognition
The BIG Register states that overseas healthcare professionals generally need sufficient Dutch language proficiency. For the relevant nursing professional level, current guidance identifies Dutch language requirements as part of the recognition registration process.
This makes the Netherlands less straightforward for nurses seeking an English only destination, but potentially attractive for professionals who are prepared to invest in Dutch.
Best for: Nurses interested in European healthcare who are prepared to complete qualification recognition and Dutch language requirements.
Singapore offers a highly developed healthcare system and is particularly attractive to nurses who want to remain closer to Asia.
Foreign trained nurses must be registered or enrolled with the Singapore Nursing Board (SNB).
Importantly, SNB states that an overseas nurse must first have an offer of employment from an eligible healthcare institution with inpatient services before the Board will consider the registration application. The employing institution’s HR team submits the application.
Singapore Nursing Board Foreign Trained Nurses
Applicants must generally demonstrate an appropriate nursing qualification, overseas registration, a current practicing license and relevant recent clinical practice.
The process may also involve the SNB Licensure Examination, competency assessment, and /or provisional registration.
Unlike Australia, New Zealand or Canada, Singapore should not be marketed as providing a simple automatic PR pathway. Long term immigration outcomes depend on the individual’s employment and immigration circumstances.
Best for: Nurses seeking a modern Asian healthcare career through employer led recruitment.
Switzerland can be attractive because of its healthcare system, working conditions, and earning potential, but it is generally more challenging for third country nationals than many other destinations on this list.
Foreign nursing qualifications must be recognized before working in the regulated profession.
The Swiss Red Cross operates the recognition process for nursing and other regulated healthcare qualifications. The process begins with a mandatory PreCheck.
The Swiss Red Cross currently accepts:
German – B2
French – B2
Italian – B2
depending on the language relevant to the applicant’s employment location.
Switzerland continues to experience significant demand for healthcare professionals; the Swiss Red Cross reported that around 5,000 foreign nursing qualifications were recognized in 2025, although most were held by professionals trained in Europe.
For UAE based applicants who are not EU / EFTA nationals, work permit rules can make Switzerland considerably more selective.
Best for: Highly qualified nurses who meet recognition and language requirements and can secure suitable employment.
If long term migration is more important than headline salary, the strongest destinations in this comparison are generally:
New Zealand: particularly attractive because Registered Nurses are connected to the Tier 1 Green List Straight to Residence pathway.
Canada: Registered Nurses under NOC 31301 remain included in the 2026 Express Entry healthcare and social services category.
Australia: Multiple Registered Nurse occupations interact with points tested, nominated, and employer sponsored visa programs.
Ireland: Registered Nurses have access to Ireland’s critical skills employment framework, subject to occupation, job, salary, and permit requirements.
United Kingdom: Eligible sponsored nurses can use the Health and Care Worker route and may potentially progress to settlement after the qualifying residence period.
There is still no universal “easiest PR country for nurses.” The result depends on the nurse’s individual professional and immigration profile.
International recruitment opportunities can be particularly relevant across areas such as:
The exact occupation code, professional registration, and immigration treatment vary by country.
A practical migration process usually follows this sequence:
Review your nursing degree or diploma, current professional license, years of post registration experience, specialty, age, and language ability.
Do not choose Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland or another country purely because friends or colleagues migrated there.
Compare your eligibility.
Confirm whether your qualification is accepted by the destination’s nursing regulator and whether you need credential verification, examinations, adaptation training or a competence assessment.
Depending on the country, this may involve IELTS, OET, another English assessment or a local language such as German, Dutch, French or Italian.
Check points, occupation lists, employer sponsorship, job offer requirements, nomination criteria and residence options independently of nursing registration.
Create a destination specific nursing CV and prepare evidence of clinical experience, registration, good standing, education and specialist training.
Only proceed after confirming the current rules with the relevant immigration authority and professional regulator.
Explore The Global Axis Skilled Migration Programs and Work Permit Programs from the UAE for more information.
For many UAE based nurses, a practical 2026 shortlist is:
Australia if you want a strong combination of salary and skilled migration possibilities.
New Zealand if a residence focused Green List strategy is a priority.
Canada if Express Entry and long term permanent residence are central to your plan.
Ireland if you want an English speaking European healthcare career.
United Kingdom if securing sponsored NHS or healthcare employment is your preferred strategy.
Germany if you are willing to learn German and complete professional recognition.
The right answer can be completely different for two nurses with similar job titles because registration, age, experience, language ability and family circumstances can change immigration eligibility.
At The Global Axis Immigration Consultants, UAE based skilled professionals can compare immigration pathways according to their qualifications, experience, occupation, language ability, and migration objectives.
For a nurse, the ideal order is:
Profile Assessment → Nursing Registration Eligibility → Immigration Eligibility → Suitable Country → Suitable Pathway
Rather than choosing a country first, identify where your professional and immigration profile offers realistic options.
Explore:
The Global Axis Immigration Consultants
Skilled Migration Programs from the UAE
Canada Skilled Migration Program
Ireland Skilled Migration Program
The Global Axis Immigration Blog
Get your profile assessed and compare potential nursing migration pathways for Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, the UK, and other destinations.
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Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, and the UK are among the strongest destinations when you consider nursing salaries, healthcare demand, professional registration, and immigration pathways together. Australia offers strong overall migration options, while New Zealand stands out because nurses are Tier 1 Green List occupations.
Among the countries with directly comparable official data used in this guide, the United States has particularly high Registered Nurse earnings, with a national annual mean wage of approximately USD 101,420 in the latest BLS occupational wage release. Australia also offers strong earnings, with median full time Registered Nurse pay of approximately AUD 2,192 per week.
Gross salary alone should not determine your choice because taxation and cost of living vary substantially.
There is no universally easiest country. New Zealand can be particularly attractive for eligible Registered Nurses because nursing is Tier 1 on the Green List and can connect to the Straight to Residence pathway. Canada and Australia also provide strong skilled migration possibilities, subject to individual eligibility.
Yes. Registered Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses NOC 31301 are currently included in Canada’s Express Entry healthcare and social services category. Applicants must still qualify under Express Entry, meet the category requirements, and receive an Invitation to Apply.
Yes. Health New Zealand states that nurses are Tier 1 Green List occupations, which may give eligible nurses with qualifying employment access to the Straight to Residence Visa.
Potentially, yes. Several Registered Nurse occupations are connected to skilled and employer sponsored visa options, including Subclasses 189, 190, 491, 482 and 186. However, professional registration, skills assessment, points, nomination, sponsorship and visa eligibility must all be considered separately.
Registered nursing occupations are included within Ireland’s current Critical Skills employment framework. The latest occupation list took effect on 13 May 2026. Applicants must also satisfy the applicable employment permit and NMBI registration requirements.
Yes. Registered nursing occupations are eligible for the UK’s Health and Care Worker Visa where the nurse has an eligible job with an approved sponsor and satisfies immigration and professional registration requirements.
Many countries require evidence of English or local language proficiency for professional registration, immigration or both. IELTS and OET are commonly used for English speaking destinations, while countries such as Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland require local language competence in many nursing pathways. The exact requirement depends on the regulator and applicant’s background.
Yes. Nurses currently working in Dubai or elsewhere in the UAE can potentially apply for professional registration and immigration programs overseas. UAE nursing experience can be valuable, but applicants still need to meet the destination country’s qualification, registration, language, employment and immigration requirements.
Potentially, yes. Eligibility is determined by qualifications, professional registration, experience, language results and immigration criteria rather than simply the applicant’s current UAE residence. Each country assesses overseas trained nurses under its own rules.
Many healthcare employers in countries such as the UK, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Germany, Singapore and the United States recruit internationally and may support qualifying employment based immigration. Employer sponsorship is always subject to the employer’s status and the applicable immigration rules.
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