Guides for nurses moving abroad
Plain-English guides for internationally trained nurses: exams, registration, visas, pay and costs for the UK, Germany and the USA. Each guide is checked against the official sources and dated.
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- Work as a nurse abroad in 2026: UK vs Germany vs USA (and other options) comparedExams, language, time, cost, pay, visas, family and permanent residence for nurses moving to the UK, Germany or USA in 2026, compared side by side.
- Nurse salaries abroad compared: UK, Germany, USA, Ireland, Australia, Gulf (2026)2026 starting pay for nurses in the UK, Germany, USA, Ireland, Australia and the Gulf, from official scales, with take-home estimates, rent and savings.
- Should nurses pay recruitment fees? How to spot recruitment scamsNurses should not pay recruitment fees for UK or German jobs. Red list countries, legal repayment clauses, a red-flag checklist and where to report scams.
- Documents checklist for nurses moving abroad (UK, Germany, USA)Every document a nurse needs for the UK, Germany or USA: council verification, PCC, apostille, translations, TB test, plus timings, costs and mistakes.
United Kingdom
- How to register as a nurse in the UK (NMC) from abroad: full 2026 guideEvery step to join the UK NMC register from abroad in 2026: English scores, CBT, OSCE, new fees (£1,226 total), realistic timeline and who pays what.
- NMC CBT exam guide 2026: format, booking, retakes and how to prepareNMC CBT (Test of Competence part 1) explained: 15 numeracy + 100 clinical questions, £83 fee, Pearson VUE booking, resit rules and a 6-week study plan.
- NMC OSCE exam guide 2026: stations, test centres, resits and how to passNMC OSCE 2026: all 10 stations with official timings, the 3 UK centres still open, £794 fee, resit rules, the 8-month visa limit and a prep plan.
- IELTS or OET for nurses? Scores needed for the UK (NMC), USA and other countriesExact IELTS and OET scores for the NMC, US VisaScreen, Ireland and Australia, plus costs in INR, combining rules, traps and which test suits you.
- UK Health and Care Worker visa for nurses: 2026 rules, costs and salaryHealth and Care Worker visa for nurses in 2026: £324/£628 fees, no health surcharge, Band 5 pay, family rules, OSCE deadlines and the 5-year ILR plan.
Germany
- Nursing recognition in Germany (Anerkennung) for foreign nurses: step by stepHow foreign nurses get recognised as Pflegefachfrau/Pflegefachmann in Germany: authority, documents, Defizitbescheid, Kenntnisprüfung, costs and visas.
- Working as a nurse in Germany: language level, visa and salary in 2026B1 or B2? Which visa (§18a, recognition partnership), Triple Win, real nurse pay in 2026 (TVöD-P, minimum wage), net pay, family and permanent residence.
United States
- NCLEX-RN for international nurses: eligibility, CGFNS, booking and test centres (incl. India)NCLEX-RN from abroad: credential evaluation, choosing a state board, ATT, Pearson VUE booking, $350 fees, 15 India test cities and the NGN format.
- US green card for foreign nurses (EB-3): steps and real waiting times for India and other countriesHow foreign nurses get a US green card through EB-3 and Schedule A, with November 2026 Visa Bulletin dates for India, the Philippines and other countries.