Life as a nurse abroad

United Kingdom

Confidence: high

• Paid leave

  NHS Agenda for Change leave: 27 days + 8 public holidays on appointment; 29 + 8 after five years; 33 + 8 after ten years (Section 13, Table 6).

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Family

  Health and Care Worker visa: your partner and children may apply to join you as dependants if they meet the eligibility rules.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Healthcare

  Health and Care Worker visa holders and their partner and children do not pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, and use the NHS.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Pension

  NHS Pension Scheme. Member contributions from 1 April 2026 are tiered by pay: 8.3% on pensionable pay of GBP 28,855-35,155 and 9.8% on GBP 35,156-52,778, so a Band 5 nurse pays 8.3% or 9.8%.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Allowances

  Staff in Inner London, Outer London and fringe areas receive a high cost area supplement on top of basic pay (amounts in Annex 9 of the NHS terms and conditions).

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Route to stay

  Route: Health and Care Worker visa (up to 5 years, extendable), then Indefinite Leave to Remain (settlement) after 5 years. The Home Office consulted on an 'earned settlement' model (20 Nov 2025 to 12 Feb 2026); the outcome is not yet published, so check before planning.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Under review

  Earned settlement consultation closed 12 February 2026; government says it is analysing feedback.

  Rules are under review. Check the official page before you plan.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Prices

  Consumer Prices Index (CPI), 12-month rate: 3.5% (September 2026 (released 21 October 2026))

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026

United States

Confidence: high

• Paid leave

  No federal legal entitlement to paid annual leave: the Fair Labor Standards Act does not require payment for time not worked, such as vacations. Leave depends on the employer contract.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Family

  Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 may apply for immigrant visas with you (accompany or follow to join).

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Route to stay

  Route: employer-sponsored immigrant visa (green card) in the Employment Third Preference (EB-3) category; the employer files Form I-140. Professional nurses are on Schedule A, Group I (20 CFR 656.5), so the employer does not need to test the US labour market, if the nurse holds a CGFNS certificate, has passed NCLEX-RN, or holds a full unrestricted licence in the state of employment.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Green card rule

  Schedule A Group I covers professional nurses with a CGFNS certificate, a passed NCLEX-RN, or a permanent full and unrestricted state licence.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Citizenship

  Naturalisation: lawful permanent residents can apply after at least five years as a permanent resident (other conditions apply).

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Prices

  CPI-U all items, 12-month change (not seasonally adjusted): 3.7% (September 2026 (released 14 October 2026))

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026

Australia

Confidence: medium

• Paid leave

  National Employment Standards: 4 weeks of paid annual leave a year, plus an extra week for some shiftworkers.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Family

  Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482): employer-sponsored, stay up to 4 years, and eligible family members can be included in the application.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Healthcare

  Medicare (public health cover) is available once you are a permanent resident; temporary visa holders should check their visa health-insurance conditions.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Pension

  Superannuation: the employer pays the super guarantee into your super fund at 12% of ordinary earnings (rate from 1 July 2025).

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Route to stay

  Route: Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482), then permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186), Temporary Residence Transition stream, with dependants included. Permanent residence gives access to Medicare and a pathway to citizenship if eligible.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Prices

  Consumer Price Index, annual rise: 4.0% (12 months to August 2026 (released 30 September 2026; a newer release exists))

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026

Canada

Confidence: high

• Family

  Spouse or common-law partner of a worker in a TEER 0 or 1 job (nursing is TEER 1) can get an open work permit if the worker's permit is valid for at least 16 more months. Since 21 January 2025, dependent children are no longer eligible for open work permits under this measure. Family members are included in a permanent residence application.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Healthcare

  Citizens and permanent residents can apply for free public health insurance (funded through taxes); in some provinces you may wait up to 3 months for it to start.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Pension

  Canada Pension Plan (CPP): in 2026 employee and employer each contribute 5.95% on earnings between the CAD 3,500 basic exemption and the CAD 74,600 maximum (outside Quebec, which runs the QPP).

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Route to stay

  Route: Express Entry permanent residence. Registered nurses (NOC 31301, TEER 1) are in the 'Healthcare and social services occupations' category for category-based draws; you need at least 12 months of full-time (or equal part-time) experience in an eligible occupation within the past 3 years.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Citizenship

  Citizenship: permanent residents must have been physically in Canada for at least 1,095 days (3 years) during the 5-year eligibility period.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Prices

  Consumer Price Index, year-over-year change: 3.1% (September 2026 (released 19 October 2026))

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026

Ireland

Confidence: high

• Paid leave

  Statutory minimum: most employees get 4 working weeks of paid annual leave a year (public holidays are extra).

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Family

  Critical Skills Employment Permit holders: spouse or de facto partner can get a Stamp 1G permission, which gives the right to work without a work permit; children aged 16 and over must also register.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Healthcare

  Once you are ordinarily resident (living, or planning to live, in Ireland for at least a year) you can use public hospital services free or at reduced cost; a medical card gives free GP and hospital care if you qualify.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Pension

  HSE staff joining the public service for the first time since 1 January 2013 are in the Single Public Service Pension Scheme: lump sum and pension on retirement, spouse and children's pension, ill-health retirement, pension increases linked to CPI.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Route to stay

  Route: Critical Skills Employment Permit (nurses qualify with an NMBI-recognised qualification), then Stamp 4 permission 21 months after starting work, then citizenship by naturalisation after 5 years' legal residence.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Prices

  Consumer Price Index, annual change: 4.1% (12 months to September 2026 (released 8 October 2026))

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026

New Zealand

Confidence: medium

• Paid leave

  All employees become entitled to 4 weeks of annual holidays after 12 months of continuous employment (public holidays are extra).

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Family

  Straight to Residence Visa: you can include your partner and dependent children aged 24 or younger in the application.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Healthcare

  Publicly funded healthcare if you are in New Zealand on a work visa valid for 2 years or more (counted from your first day in NZ), and as a resident.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Pension

  KiwiSaver: default employee contribution and matching employer contribution rose to 3.5% on 1 April 2026, and rise to 4% on 1 April 2028.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Route to stay

  Route: Straight to Residence Visa. Registered Nurse roles (ANZSCO 2544xx) are Green List Tier 1; requirement is registration with the Nursing Council of New Zealand (Appendix 13, effective 9 March 2026). You need a job or job offer with an accredited employer, paid at least the listed rate. The resident visa lets you live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitely.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Citizenship

  Citizenship by grant: you must have lived in New Zealand as a resident for at least the last 5 years, spent enough time in NZ in those years, and intend to keep living here.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Prices

  Consumers price index, annual change: 3.7% (12 months to the September 2026 quarter)

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026

Germany

Confidence: medium

• Paid leave

  Legal minimum leave is 24 Werktage a year (Werktage count Monday to Saturday), which is four weeks; collective agreements often give more.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Family

  Spouses and minor children can join a skilled worker or EU Blue Card holder. Spouses of skilled workers do not need to prove German before entry, and proof of living space is not required. Family members who come for family reunification may work.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Healthcare

  Health insurance is compulsory. A spouse without work and children can be included in your statutory health insurance at no extra charge; long-term care insurance is included.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Pension

  Employees pay into the statutory pension insurance (Deutsche Rentenversicherung); 36 months of contributions are one condition for the settlement permit.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Route to stay

  Route: settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis). Skilled workers: after 3 years on a skilled-worker residence title, 36 months of pension contributions and German at B1. EU Blue Card holders: after 27 months with German A1, or 21 months with German B1.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Citizenship

  Naturalisation (Einbürgerung) needs a minimum of five years' residence for everyone; the 3-year fast track was abolished by a law in force since 30 October 2025.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Prices

  Consumer price index, year-on-year inflation rate: +3.3% (September 2026 (released 13 October 2026))

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026

Saudi Arabia

Confidence: medium

No official pay scale published; pay is set in your contract.

• Paid leave

  Labor Law Article 109: paid annual leave of not less than 21 days, rising to not less than 30 days after five consecutive years with the same employer.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Healthcare

  The employer must buy health insurance for non-Saudi employees and their family members and may not ask staff to share the premiums for family members.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Family healthcare

  If a female nurse sponsors her non-working husband and children in Saudi Arabia, her employer's mandatory policy must cover the husband and children (daughters who are unemployed and unmarried, sons under 25).

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• End-of-service pay

  Labor Law Article 84: end-of-service award of half a month's wage for each of the first five years and one month's wage for each later year, based on the last wage (reduced if you resign early).

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Allowances

  Employer pays recruitment fees, residence (iqama) and work permit fees and renewals, and the return ticket to your country when the contract ends (not if you leave without valid reason).

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Route to stay

  No permanent residence or citizenship route for employed nurses was found on official sites; the long-term option is Premium Residency. In October 2024 the Health Minister granted Premium Residency to 2,645 exceptional healthcare professionals.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Prices

  Consumer Price Index, annual inflation rate: 1.8% (August 2026 (released 15 September 2026))

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026

United Arab Emirates

Confidence: medium

No official pay scale published; pay is set in your contract.

• Paid leave

  Private sector: 30 days of fully paid annual leave after one year of service; 2 days per month for service between six months and one year.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Family

  To sponsor family you need a minimum salary of AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation. You can sponsor your spouse, unmarried daughters, sons under 25 and children with special needs.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Healthcare

  Health insurance is mandatory for private sector employees in all Emirates from 2025, paid by the employer; dependants can join the same scheme at the same prices.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• End-of-service pay

  Gratuity (on basic salary): none under 1 year; 21 days' pay per year for years 1 to 5; 30 days' pay per year after 5 years; capped at 2 years' wage. Employers may instead use the voluntary savings scheme (5.83% of basic salary a month under 5 years' service, 8.33% after 5 years).

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Route to stay

  No permanent residence or citizenship route for nurses was found; the long-term option is the 10-year Golden Visa (categories include exceptional talent and 'Frontline Heroes', e.g. at least 5 years of service).

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Golden Visa

  On 12 May 2025 Dubai granted golden visas to Dubai Health nursing staff who had served more than 15 years.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Prices

  Abu Dhabi Consumer Price Index, annual inflation: 0.3% (2025 (released 28 February 2026))

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026

Qatar

Confidence: low, still being confirmed

No official pay scale published; pay is set in your contract.

• Paid leave

  Private sector (Labour Law No. 14 of 2004): at least 3 weeks of annual leave, rising to at least 4 weeks after five years of service.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Healthcare

  The law requires mandatory private health insurance for expatriates, but the ILO notes (Dec 2023) that it was not yet being implemented and employers were not yet required to provide it; check your contract.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• End-of-service pay

  End-of-service gratuity of at least three weeks of basic salary for each year of service, for workers employed one year or more.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Changing jobs

  Workers may change employer at any time while the residence permit is valid, giving notice through the Ministry of Labour electronic system (one month during probation; one or two months after, depending on service).

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Prices

  Consumer Price Index, year-on-year change: 2.98% (Q1 2026 versus Q1 2025 (reported 12 May 2026))

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026

Kuwait

Confidence: low, still being confirmed

No official pay scale published; pay is set in your contract.

• Paid leave

  Private sector (Law No. 6 of 2010): 30 days of paid annual leave after six months of completed service.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Healthcare

  Private health insurance (basic tariff) is mandatory for all expatriates and tied to residency; the employer or sponsor must arrange and pay for it. Public clinics charge fees (since Dec 2022, KWD 5 for medicines at primary clinics and emergency rooms, KWD 10 at outpatient clinics).

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• End-of-service pay

  Private sector, monthly paid: end-of-service indemnity of 15 days' wages for each year in the first five years of service, with the total capped at 18 months' wages.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Changing jobs

  Private sector workers can generally transfer to another employer after one year of continuous employment with the employer's approval; without approval, only three years after the work permit was issued, with three months' notice.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026

Oman

Confidence: low, still being confirmed

No official pay scale published; pay is set in your contract.

• Paid leave

  Private sector (Labour Law, Royal Decree 53/2023): 30 days of paid annual leave after six months of service; you must take at least 30 days at least once every two years.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Healthcare

  The 2019 Unified Health Insurance Policy requires employer-provided private medical insurance, but as of the ILO's December 2023 summary it was being phased in and the Labour Law did not oblige employers to provide it; check your contract.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• End-of-service pay

  Gratuity of one month's basic wage for each year of service, until the savings scheme under the Social Protection Law comes into force.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Changing jobs

  Since 2020, workers may move to a new sponsor without the first employer's permission after completing a two-year contract.

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026
• Prices

  Consumer Price Index, annual inflation (year on year): 3.2% (July 2026 (report issued August 2026))

  Source Checked 29 Oct 2026