Nurse eligibility checklist: Germany, the Gulf, Australia and NZ compared
What a nurse needs for Germany, the Gulf, Australia or New Zealand: who decides, the language rule, the exams to expect and the documents to collect.
Home / Nurses abroad
Nurses abroad: choose the route before you spend money
A destination-by-destination guide built from regulator pages, plus the training that prepares you for each route. Placement abroad goes through licensed recruitment agents, never through us.
We train and prepare youExam, documents and interview readiness for your chosen route.
Licensed RAs place abroadRegistered in India, the Philippines and Germany. You verify each one yourself.
We place in India onlyDirect placement abroad is not something we do.
Country routes
What the official regulators say, destination by destination
Select a destination. Each tab shows the stages in order, the official sources, and the B&M track that prepares you. Facts last checked 9 October 2026.
Gulf: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar
Each Gulf regulator runs its own registration. The common thread is verification of your documents at source, then a licensing exam where required.
- 1
Check the offer is genuine
UAE private-sector offers use the MOHRE-approved job offer form with a serial number and barcode (contact centre 600590000). Verify before you resign or travel.
Gulf News, UAE MOHRE warning on fake job offers, 2 Oct 2026
- 2
Start your professional registration with the regulator
Saudi: SCFHS Professional Classification and Registration, then Professional Practice Licensure Exams eligibility, tracked in Mumaris+ (call centre 920019393). UAE: MOHAP, DOH Abu Dhabi, DHA and the Sharjah Health Authority share one set of Professional Qualification Requirements. Qatar: DHP.
Saudi Commission for Health Specialties, services guide
- 3
Primary source verification
Dubai: Sheryan self-assessment tool, then Dataflow primary source verification. Qatar: complete verification with an approved provider before applying for registration or evaluation.
Dubai Health Authority, Sheryan "Get Registered"
- 4
Licensing exam where required
Dubai: a computer-based test by Prometric where required. A DHA registration is valid for one year and must be activated into a licence by a healthcare facility before you can practise.
Dubai Health Authority, Sheryan "Get Registered"
- 5
Emigration clearance (India)
ECR passport holders and nurses travelling for work to the 18 designated countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, obtain emigration clearance through eMigrate. For nurses this applies whatever the passport category.
Embassy of India, Riyadh, FAQs on ECR and non-ECR
- 6
Staying licensed
Qatar from 1 October 2026: at least 40 CPD points per two-year cycle (20 Category 1, 20 from Categories 2 or 3, minimum 20 per year) as a condition of renewal.
Lexis Middle East, Circular DHP/2026/38, 6 Oct 2026
Germany
Nursing is a regulated profession in Germany, so your qualification must be recognised. German language is the main gate.
- 1
Assessment of equivalence
The federal portal Anerkennung in Deutschland describes an assessment of equivalence of your qualification with the German one.
Anerkennung in Deutschland, recognition procedure for General nurse (Pflegefachperson)
- 2
Authorisation to use the professional title
This also checks personal aptitude, medical fitness and German language (level B2 on the North Rhine-Westphalia page checked).
Anerkennung in Deutschland, recognition procedure for General nurse (Pflegefachperson)
- 3
Compensation measure if needed
If differences are found you can usually complete a compensation measure such as an adaptation period or a knowledge test. You can apply from abroad.
Anerkennung in Deutschland, recognition procedure for General nurse (Pflegefachperson)
United Kingdom
Applicants trained outside the UK take the NMC Test of Competence unless they hold a qualifying European qualification.
- 1
Apply to the NMC
The NMC checks English language, health and character, and requires a face-to-face ID check at a test centre.
Nursing and Midwifery Council, register if you trained outside the UK
- 2
Test of Competence: CBT
A multiple-choice computer-based test (CBT).
Nursing and Midwifery Council, Test of Competence
- 3
Test of Competence: OSCE
A practical exam (OSCE). Both parts must be passed within two years of each other.
Nursing and Midwifery Council, Test of Competence
- 4
Staying registered
The NMC annual registration fee rose from £120 to £143 on 1 October 2026. If you do not pay on time your registration lapses automatically.
Nursing and Midwifery Council, paying your annual fee
Australia
Nurses register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA); Ahpra assesses applications on its behalf.
- 1
Self-check
Everyone starts with the Self-check. The Board says it cannot be completed by a third party or agent on your behalf.
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, Completing the Self-check
- 2
Outcomes-based assessment (Stream B)
If placed in Stream B, registered nurses complete the NCLEX-RN multiple-choice exam, then an OSCE held in Adelaide or Melbourne.
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, information for registered nurses (examinations)
- 3
Registration before big decisions
The Board advises against irreversible decisions such as resigning or moving until registration is approved. Registration and visas are separate processes.
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, immigration and employment in Australia
New Zealand
The Nursing Council of New Zealand registers nurses and has no role in recruitment.
- 1
Verify your documents with TruMerit
Including evidence of 1,800 hours of post-registration nursing experience.
Nursing Council of New Zealand, internationally qualified nurses
- 2
Criminal history check
All applicants have a criminal history check.
Nursing Council of New Zealand, internationally qualified nurses
- 3
Competence assessment if needed
Some applicants need a competence assessment.
Nursing Council of New Zealand, internationally qualified nurses
United States
We have not yet verified the US licensing, screening and visa steps against official sources, so we do not publish them here.
To be verified We will publish the US route once its steps are checked against official sources. Ask us on WhatsApp if you are considering it.
Not sure which destination fits you? Take the country-fit checker. See the route timeline for stages side by side.
The placement model
Who does what
Being clear about this protects you.
B&M: training and readiness
Exam preparation, document checks, language or interview preparation, and a readiness assessment for your chosen route.
Licensed RAs: placement abroad
Recruitment agents licensed in India or the Philippines place nurses with employers. We introduce trained candidates to them where it suits you.
You: verify, then decide
You look up every agent yourself in the eMigrate list of registered recruiting agents (India) or the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers list of licensed agencies, and start your licence with the regulator directly.
We do not place nurses abroad ourselves, and we do not promise a job, a visa or a licence.
Two kinds of route
Contract roles and permanent routes
They look similar in an advert but work differently.
| Contract employment (typical in the Gulf) | Permanent registration route (UK, Australia, NZ, Germany) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it starts with | An employer and a licensed recruiting agent | The national regulator. You register first or in parallel. |
| Main gate | Regulator registration, document verification, sometimes an exam | Registration exams and language, then a visa as a separate process |
| Biggest risk | A fake or unlicensed offer | Spending on a route that does not fit your profile or the current market |
| Timeline | To be verified | To be verified |
Sources, checked 9 October 2026: Saudi Commission for Health Specialties, services guide · Qatar MOPH Department of Healthcare Professions, Primary Source Verification · Nursing and Midwifery Council, Test of Competence · Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, information for registered nurses (examinations) · Anerkennung in Deutschland, recognition procedure for General nurse (Pflegefachperson)
Safety first
Eight checks before you pay anyone
The most common loss for a nurse abroad is money paid for a job that does not exist. Our free checklist is built from MEA, eMigrate and regulator guidance. It is a page and a PDF, so you can print it or forward it to family.
- Is the agent registered or licensed, and can you find them on the official list?
- Do you have the paperwork before you pay?
- Are you keeping your own passport?
Questions
What nurses ask us most
Do you place nurses abroad?
No. Placement abroad is handled by licensed recruitment agents. B&M is the training and readiness layer, and places candidates in India only.
Can you guarantee a job or a licence?
No, and be wary of anyone who does. Licences are decided by regulators, visas by governments, and jobs by employers.
How long will it take?
It depends on the destination, your documents, language level and the regulator's queue. We show timelines as "to be verified" until each one is confirmed from an official source.
What does training cost?
We do not publish fees on this website. Ask us and we will explain what each track includes before you decide.
Should I travel on a visit visa and look for a job there?
Be very careful. India's Ministry of External Affairs says your visa should match the category you were recruited for, and treats being told to go on a tourist visa and "convert" it later as grounds for a complaint. See the checklist.
I already have an offer. Can you check it?
We can walk you through the verification steps. We cannot verify an employer for you, and the final check is always against the official source.
Talk to us
Tell us where you are in the process
Share your country of interest and what you have done so far. We reply within two working days, or message us on WhatsApp.
From the blog
Read more on this topic
DHA vs MOH vs DOH: which UAE nurse licence do you need?
The UAE has three nurse licensing bodies. Which one issues your licence depends on the emirate you will work in. Compare DHA, MOHAP and DOH side by side.
Nurse destinations compared: what the official regulators say
Gulf, Germany, UK, Australia and NZ in one place. For each, the first official step, the exams or checks involved, and the one thing most people get wrong.