Nurse eligibility checklist: Germany, the Gulf, Australia and NZ compared

What do I need to work as a nurse in Germany, the Gulf, Australia or New Zealand? In short: your qualification and documents have to be checked by the destination's own regulator, you need to meet its language rule, you may have to pass an exam or assessment, and only then can a licence or registration be issued. The four routes look similar from far away and are quite different up close. This post puts them side by side so you can see which questions to ask first.

This is general information, not immigration or legal advice. Nobody can promise you a licence, a job or a visa, and B&M does not place nurses abroad. Placement abroad goes through licensed recruitment agents. The facts below come from our free checklist page, which was last read against official regulator pages on 27 October 2026. Rules, scores and fees change, so for anything that matters, check the official source on the day you decide.

The four routes at a glance

Treat the table as a map of questions, not as an answer for your case. Your stream, your country of training and your employer can change which row applies.

Germany

Nursing is a regulated profession in Germany. You need permission to use the professional title, which depends on four things: recognition of your qualification, German at B2, medical fitness and a clean record. You apply to the authority of the state where you plan to work.

• Confirm that you trained outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, so the third-country procedure applies
• Find your state's authority through the federal portal, Anerkennung in Deutschland, and read its own page for forms and fees
• Start German early and plan for B2
• Decide between the full assessment of your documents and opting out. Opting out cannot be changed later
• Get the doctor's certificate and the certificate of good conduct last, because each must be no more than 3 months old when you apply

If the authority finds important differences, you usually complete a knowledge test or an adaptation course. For the full walk-through, read Nurses to Germany: recognition, B2 German and the steps.

The Gulf

Do not treat the Gulf as one system. The common thread is verification of your documents at source, then a licensing exam where the regulator requires one, then a licence that your employer or facility activates.

• Saudi Arabia: start with Professional Classification through the SCFHS. Nurses are generally assessed through the Saudi Nursing Licensure Examination (SNLE), but check that it applies to your classification
• UAE: the regulators work from shared Professional Qualification Requirements. Read the current version for your category before you pay for anything. An eligibility review is not a right to practise, because a facility must activate your licence
• Qatar: complete primary source verification with an approved provider before applying. From 1 October 2026 renewal depends on at least 40 CPD points per two-year cycle
• Oman: expect verification, an experience requirement that differs by qualification level and an OMSB exam. Read the current rules before you book anything
• Verify any job offer through official channels, and check whether you need emigration clearance before you travel

Fees, exam formats and experience rules change often in the Gulf, and one regulator's report is not automatically accepted by another.

Australia

Everyone starts with the Self-check on the Board's website. It places you in Stream A, B or C, or says Ahpra must assess your qualification first. The Board says the Self-check cannot be completed by a third party or an agent for you.

• Complete the Self-check yourself and note your stream
• Meet the English requirement. For tests taken on or after 23 April 2026 the checklist lists IELTS Academic 7 overall (with 6.5 in writing) or OET 350/350/360/360
• Stream B: a multiple-choice exam (the NCLEX-RN for registered nurses) and then a practical OSCE in Australia
• Do not take irreversible steps, such as resigning or moving, until your registration is approved
• Treat the visa as a separate process. Registration does not grant a visa

New Zealand

You must be currently registered with an overseas regulator and meet the Council's requirements. Your documents are verified first, and only then do you apply to the Council.

• Document verification first: 1,800 hours of post-registration nursing experience, English evidence, an equivalent qualification, current registrations and identity
• English: OET (350 in reading, listening and speaking, 300 in writing) or IELTS Academic (7, with 6.5 in writing). Tests taken fully online are not accepted
• Complete the Council's two free online courses and expect a criminal history check
• If the Council directs it, a competence assessment: an online theory exam, then an OSCE in Christchurch
• Read the Council's current notice on demand before you commit, because it can change

Seven questions to take to every regulator

1. Which pathway or stream applies to my qualification and country of training?
2. Which documents must be verified at source, and by which verification provider?
3. Which English or German test scores do you accept today, and how long is a result valid?
4. Is an exam or competence assessment required for me, and where is it held?
5. What are the current fees, and which are refundable?
6. How long does each step take at the moment, and when does the clock start?
7. What happens after approval: who activates the licence, and is a visa a separate process?

Before you pay anyone

Nobody needs your passport or ID numbers to send you a checklist, and you should not hand them to anyone who offers to "speed up" a registration. Read how to spot a nurse recruitment agent you should not pay before you pay any agent, and use the country-fit checker to see which destinations suit your profile today.

For the UK route, see the full exam path and fees: NMC CBT and OSCE for Indian nurses.

Frequently asked questions

General information only, not legal or immigration advice. Confirm every step with the official source.