Easiest Countries for Nigerian Nurses to Work Abroad in 2026: UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and the USA Compared

Updated October 2026.

Nigerian nurses are wanted around the world, but no country is truly “easy”. Every destination asks you to prove your training, pass an English test and, in most cases, sit a licensing exam. What differs is how long it takes, what it costs and how much of it you can do from Nigeria.

Here’s how six of the most popular destinations compare in 2026.

At a glance

Country	Regulator	Main exam	Typical timeline
United Kingdom	NMC	CBT + OSCE (Test of Competence)	Months to a year
Canada	NNAS + provincial regulator	NCLEX-RN (most provinces)	About 1–2 years
Australia	NMBA / Ahpra	NCLEX-RN + OSCE in Adelaide	About 1 year or more
New Zealand	Nursing Council of NZ	Theory exam + OSCE in Christchurch, if directed	Several months to over a year
Ireland	NMBI	Adaptation period or RCSI aptitude test	About 18 months on average
United States	State boards of nursing	NCLEX-RN	Often several years, because of visas

1. United Kingdom

The UK is still one of the most common destinations for Nigerian nurses, and the route is well known: an English test, the NMC’s computer-based test (CBT) from Nigeria, then the OSCE practical exam in the UK.

• English: Academic IELTS 7.0 overall (6.5 in writing), or OET grade B with C+ in writing.
• Cost to stay registered: £143 a year from 1 October 2026.
• The catch: Nigeria is on the UK’s health worker “red list”, so employers and agencies shouldn’t actively recruit you. You can still apply directly for advertised NHS jobs. Fewer Nigerian nurses are joining the UK register: 1,614 in 2025-26, down from 2,363.

Read more: NMC fee rises as Nigerian nurses joining the register fall and our OET guide.

2. Canada

Canada offers something few countries do: a direct path to permanent residence. Its Express Entry system now holds draws just for healthcare workers. In 2026 there have been three so far, inviting 11,500 candidates in total, with cut-off scores of 467 to 475.

• Step 1: credential assessment through the National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS), which can take 3 to 9 months.
• Step 2: registration with the regulator in your chosen province, which may require bridging courses or supervised practice.
• Exam: most provinces outside Quebec use the NCLEX-RN. See our NCLEX 2026 guide.
• Tip: start NNAS early and run licensing and immigration at the same time. That can cut the wait to about 12 to 18 months.

Read more: How Canada is fast-tracking African doctors and nurses in 2026.

3. Australia

Nurses trained in Nigeria usually go through Australia’s outcomes-based assessment (OBA):

1. A free online self-check that tells you which steps you need.
2. Online orientation, with an assessment fee of AUD 640.
3. The NCLEX-RN, taken at a Pearson VUE centre (US$200 plus a US$150 international fee).
4. An OSCE practical exam in Adelaide, around AUD 4,000.

The NCLEX step means the same exam can open doors to Australia, Canada and the US. The trade-off is cost: with travel to Adelaide, budget several thousand dollars before your first pay cheque.

4. New Zealand

New Zealand’s Nursing Council charges NZ$485 to assess your application. Your documents are verified first through a credentials service. Many internationally qualified nurses are then directed to a competence assessment:

• An online theory exam on medication safety and nursing knowledge, taken at Pearson centres.
• A two-day preparation course and a 10-station OSCE in Christchurch.

Together, the exam, course and OSCE cost roughly NZ$3,600 plus travel. You also need an English test (IELTS or OET) unless you qualify for an exemption.

5. Ireland

Ireland is English-speaking, recruits from abroad and has a clear two-part process with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI): first recognition of your qualification, then registration.

• About 95% of overseas applicants are asked to complete a “compensation measure”: either a supervised adaptation period in an Irish hospital (usually 6 to 12 weeks) or the RCSI aptitude test (a theory exam plus an OSCE).
• You need IELTS Academic or OET, from a single sitting less than two years old.
• Recognition and registration together take about 18 months on average. Incomplete applications are the biggest cause of delay.

6. United States

The US offers some of the highest nursing pay in the world, but it’s rarely the quickest route. You’ll need a credential evaluation, a licence from a state board and the NCLEX-RN, and the nearest NCLEX centres to Nigeria are in Kenya and South Africa. Most nurses then move on an employer-sponsored immigrant visa, which can take years because of visa backlogs.

Note that the NCLEX registration fee rises from $200 to $350 on 1 February 2027.

So which is easiest?

• Quickest familiar route: the UK, if you can find a direct job offer and pass the CBT and OSCE.
• Best for permanent residence: Canada, through Express Entry’s healthcare draws.
• One exam, several doors: passing the NCLEX helps you for Canada, Australia and the US.
• Most patience needed: the US.

Whichever country you choose, start with the slowest steps: verification of your certificates by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, your school transcripts and your English test. And never pay anyone who promises a guaranteed job abroad. Genuine employers apply through official channels.

Which country are you aiming for, and how far along are you? Tell us in the comments.

Sources: NMC fees; NMC register report 2026; Express Entry healthcare draws 2026; Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia; Nursing Council of New Zealand; NCNZ costs 2026; NMBI overseas applicants FAQs; NCLEX fees. Fees and rules change often, so confirm with each regulator before paying.

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