Saudi Arabia employs tens of thousands of international nurses in government hospitals, military hospitals and private facilities. For Nigerian nurses, the Kingdom can offer tax-free salaries, free accommodation and the chance to build experience before moving elsewhere. But the process takes planning, and recruitment scams are common. This guide explains what you need.
Requirements are set by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS), the Saudi Ministry of Health, employers and Saudi visa authorities, and they change. Always check official sources and verify any job offer directly with the hospital.
Who hires international nurses in Saudi Arabia?
- Ministry of Health (MOH) hospitals and health clusters
- Military and National Guard hospitals, which often offer strong packages
- Specialist and university hospitals, such as King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre
- Private hospital groups
Employers recruit directly through their websites and international recruitment campaigns, or through licensed agencies.
Basic requirements
- Qualification: a nursing diploma or BNSc from a recognised school. Many employers now prefer a bachelor’s degree, especially for registered nurse roles.
- Licence: current NMCN registration and practising licence.
- Experience: usually at least two years of recent post-registration hospital experience. Specialist areas such as ICU, NICU, emergency, theatre, dialysis and oncology are in high demand.
- English: good spoken and written English. Some employers may ask for an English test.
- BLS and often ACLS/PALS/NRP certificates depending on your unit.
The licensing process
1. SCFHS registration and classification
All healthcare workers must be classified and registered with the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties. This determines your professional title (for example, nurse technician or nurse specialist), which affects your salary grade.
2. Primary source verification (DataFlow)
SCFHS uses DataFlow to verify your certificates, licence and experience with the issuing institutions in Nigeria. Start early, as Nigerian schools and hospitals can be slow to respond.
3. Saudi Prometric exam
Most nurses must pass the Saudi licensing exam, delivered by Prometric. Revise priority setting, medical-surgical nursing, maternity, paediatrics, pharmacology and infection control.
4. Job offer and visa
Once you have an offer, the employer processes your work visa. You’ll need a medical examination at an approved centre, police clearance and other documents.
What’s usually in a Saudi nursing package?
Packages vary by employer, classification and experience, but often include:
- Tax-free basic salary plus allowances
- Free furnished accommodation or a housing allowance
- Transport to work or a transport allowance
- Annual return flights home
- Paid annual leave (often around 30–45 days, depending on the employer)
- Medical cover
- End-of-service gratuity
Ask for the full breakdown in writing. Compare the basic salary, not just the total, because the gratuity is often calculated on basic pay.
Contract checklist
- Job title, department and SCFHS classification
- Basic salary and each allowance listed separately
- Contract length (often two years) and renewal terms
- Working hours, shift pattern and overtime
- Leave entitlement and flights
- Probation period
- Penalties for leaving early
- Who keeps your passport (employers shouldn’t confiscate it)
Life and work in Saudi Arabia: what to expect
- Culture: respect local laws and customs, including dress codes in public, behaviour during Ramadan and rules on alcohol (prohibited).
- Medicines: some medicines that are legal in Nigeria are controlled in Saudi Arabia. Check before you travel with any prescription or over-the-counter drugs.
- Climate: extremely hot summers.
- Work: diverse teams, often with nurses from the Philippines, India, Malaysia, Jordan and Africa. Hospitals are generally well equipped.
- Career: Saudi experience can help you later move to the UK, US, Canada or Australia.
Recruitment scam warning signs
- Someone asks you to pay large fees for a “guaranteed” Saudi job.
- The offer comes from a free email address and the hospital can’t be verified.
- They ask for your original certificates or passport before any official process.
- The salary seems far too high for your experience.
- You’re told you don’t need SCFHS registration or the exam.
Always verify job offers by contacting the hospital directly through its official website, and check whether a Nigerian recruitment agency is licensed.
Before you leave Nigeria
- Request NMCN verification for work abroad if required.
- Collect and certify your certificates, transcripts and experience letters.
- Inform your school and employers that DataFlow will contact them.
- Prepare for the exam with daily timed practice.
- Save for initial costs: exam fees, DataFlow, medicals and travel.