This article is part of our guide: Work as a nurse in Ireland and Europe.
Part of our Nursing Councils of the World series. Last checked: October 2026.
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) regulates nurses and midwives in the Republic of Ireland under the Nurses and Midwives Act 2011. It keeps the register, approves education programmes, sets the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics, and investigates complaints. Ireland is a popular destination for nurses from India, the Philippines, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and elsewhere. It offers a two-year Critical Skills Employment Permit and family reunification.
Quick answer: Registering as a nurse in Ireland from overseas costs €350 for qualification recognition plus €145 for registration, then €100 a year to stay registered.
- RCSI aptitude test, if you choose it instead of an adaptation period: €2,800
- Certificate of Current Professional Status, if you later move abroad: €80
- English tests, document certification, the employment permit and travel are extra. Source: NMBI and RCSI fee pages (October 2026).
Two stages: recognition, then registration
- Recognition (Part 1): apply through MyNMBI with certified documents. These include your transcript, a qualification form completed by your college, a Certificate of Current Professional Status from every regulator you have been registered with, and employment forms signed by a Director of Nursing or nurse manager. An education assessor compares your theory hours, clinical hours and placements with Irish standards.
- Decision: your qualification is either recognised, or (more commonly for non-EU applicants) recognised subject to a compensation measure, or refused.
- Compensation measure: either an adaptation period, which is supervised practice at an NMBI-approved Irish hospital and is available for all divisions, or the RCSI aptitude test, which is for the general nursing division only.
- Registration (Part 2): submit English evidence and a fit-and-proper declaration, and pay the registration fee. You then receive your PIN.
The RCSI aptitude test
- The test is run by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) in Dublin. It has a theory test and a practical (OSCE-style) test.
- The fee is €2,800, or €2,500 if an eligible employer pays RCSI directly. It covers two attempts at each part. If you fail the theory test twice, the practical-test portion is refunded.
- Pay through TransferMate. Other payment methods add a €200 administration charge.
- Many employers prefer adaptation, because the nurse is already working on their wards. The test can be faster if you are well prepared.
English language requirements
| Test | Requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic (or UKVI) | 7.0 overall, with 7.0 in three skills and at least 6.5 in the fourth. You can choose which skill takes the 6.5. |
| OET (Nursing) | Grade B in three sub-tests and C+ in the fourth |
NMBI fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Overseas qualification recognition | €350 |
| Overseas registration | €145 |
| Additional division: recognition / registration | €200 / €80 |
| Annual retention fee | €100 |
| Certificate of Current Professional Status (to work abroad later) | €80 |
| Temporary and occasional registration | €45 |
| RCSI aptitude test (if chosen) | €2,800 |
Working in Ireland: the permit
NMBI does not deal with visas. Most non-EU nurses come on a Critical Skills Employment Permit. To qualify, your qualification must be recognised by NMBI, you must be employed directly by a registered Irish employer (agencies cannot sponsor), and the job offer must last at least two years. There is no labour market test. Salary thresholds and occupation lists change, so check the Department of Enterprise before you accept an offer.
Staying registered
- Pay the €100 annual retention fee on time, or you can be removed from the register.
- Keep up your continuing professional development. NMBI expects every registrant to maintain their competence, and a formal competence scheme is being developed under the 2011 Act.
- Follow the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics, and its guidance on scope of practice, social media and record keeping.
Fitness to practise
- Complaint: grounds include professional misconduct, poor professional performance, a relevant medical disability, a breach of the Act or a conviction.
- Preliminary Proceedings Committee (PPC): it reviews the complaint and the nurse’s response, and decides whether further action is needed. It can refer the case to mediation or to an inquiry.
- Fitness to Practise Committee inquiry: usually held in public, with witnesses and legal representation.
- Sanctions: advice, admonishment or censure; a fine; conditions; suspension; or cancellation of registration. The more serious sanctions must be confirmed by the High Court.
- Immediate suspension: NMBI can apply to the High Court to suspend a nurse straight away if there is a risk to the public.
Tips
- Ask every previous employer to complete the NMBI employment form. Experience without it is not counted.
- Request the Certificate of Current Professional Status from your home council early. For Nigerian applicants, see our NMCN guide.
- Use only certified copies and certified translations, as NMBI rejects uncertified documents.
Sources: NMBI registration fees; RCSI overseas aptitude test fees; Learnsignal, NMBI registration guide for employers (10 October 2026); SpeakShark, NMBI English requirements (August 2026); Nurses and Midwives Act 2011. Confirm current requirements with NMBI.
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