Nurse pay and benefits, 2026

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).

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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

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.