Every destination has its own regulator and its own route. Below is what each regulator's official pages say, as checked on 9 October 2026. Rules and contact details change, so confirm with the official source before you act. The United States is not covered here: we have not yet verified its steps against official sources.
At a glance
| Destination | Who you register with | The gate |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | SCFHS (Saudi Commission for Health Specialties) | Professional classification and registration, then licensure exam eligibility |
| UAE | MOHAP, DOH Abu Dhabi, DHA or Sharjah Health Authority | One shared set of Professional Qualification Requirements, assessed by each authority |
| Qatar | Department of Healthcare Professions (MOPH) | Primary source verification with an approved provider |
| Germany | Recognition authority via Anerkennung in Deutschland | Equivalence assessment, then authorisation to use the title (German B2 on the page checked) |
| United Kingdom | NMC | Test of Competence: CBT and OSCE, plus English, health and character checks |
| Australia | NMBA, assessed by Ahpra | Self-check, then for Stream B the NCLEX-RN and an OSCE |
| New Zealand | Nursing Council of New Zealand | TruMerit verification, criminal history check, competence assessment for some |
Gulf: Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar
Saudi Arabia. The SCFHS lists Professional Classification and Registration, Professional Practice Licensure Exams Eligibility, and checking request status in Mumaris+. Its call centre is 920019393.
UAE. The health regulators share one set of Professional Qualification Requirements, and each assesses applicants in its own jurisdiction. In Dubai, the DHA's Sheryan portal starts with a Self-Assessment Tool, then primary source verification by Dataflow and, where required, a computer-based test by Prometric. A DHA registration is valid for one year and a healthcare facility must activate it into a licence before you can practise.
Qatar. The Department of Healthcare Professions says practitioners should complete primary source verification with an approved provider before applying for registration or evaluation.
Germany
Nursing (General nurse, German: Pflegefachperson) is regulated, so your qualification must be recognised. There are two procedures: an assessment of equivalence, then authorisation to use the professional title, which also checks personal aptitude, medical fitness and German language. The North Rhine-Westphalia page we checked names level B2. You can apply from abroad, and if differences are found you can usually complete a compensation measure such as an adaptation period or a knowledge test.
United Kingdom
Unless you hold a qualifying European qualification, you take the NMC's Test of Competence: a multiple-choice computer-based test (CBT) and a practical exam (OSCE), passed within two years of each other. The NMC also checks English language, health and character, and requires a face-to-face ID check at a test centre.
The NMC's own data shows how quickly this market moves: in 2025-26, 26.4% of professionals joining its register were internationally educated, compared with 39.1% the year before and a high of 49.4% in 2023-24. Check current demand before you commit money or time.
Australia
Nurses register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), and Ahpra assesses applications on its behalf. Everyone starts with the Self-check, which the Board says cannot be completed by a third party or agent on your behalf. In Stream B, registered nurses complete the NCLEX-RN, then an OSCE held in Adelaide or Melbourne. The Board advises against irreversible decisions, such as resigning or moving, until registration is approved. Registration and visas are separate processes.
New Zealand
You must first verify your documents with TruMerit, including evidence of 1,800 hours of post-registration nursing experience. All applicants have a criminal history check and some need a competence assessment. The Council says it has no role in recruitment and that demand is currently lower than before except in some specialities, such as mental health and addiction.
Next step
Free nurse eligibility and licensing checklist
One checklist for Germany, the Gulf, Australia and New Zealand: who decides, the language gate, the exams and the documents. Read it free; the printable PDF has a progress tracker.
What to do next
Pick one destination, find its regulator's page, and start the first official step yourself. Then use the country-fit checker to see which destinations fit your profile today, and the red-flags checklist before you pay anyone.
Sources: the regulator pages named in the route timeline, and the NMC register data report for 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.
General information only, not legal or immigration advice. Confirm every step with the official source.