Hospitals that sponsor foreign nurses exist in every major destination, but they are a small share of all nursing employers, and they have to be approved by their country’s immigration authority first. The quickest way to find them is to look for job ads that state visa sponsorship, then check the employer on the official sponsor register. On Nurse Jobs World on 16 October 2026, 16 employers mentioned visa sponsorship in 66 current job ads.
This guide shows how sponsorship works in the UK, the US, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand, how to check that a hospital or agency is real, and which employers on this board say they sponsor. Visa rules change often, so check the official links before you act. This is general information, not legal advice.
Who can sponsor a nurse’s visa
In most countries, only an employer that the government has approved can sponsor a foreign worker. A recruitment agency can help you find the job, but the sponsor is usually the employer that hires you.
| Country | What the employer needs | Your visa or permit | Where to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | A sponsor licence from the Home Office | Health and Care Worker visa | Register of licensed sponsors |
| United States | Files an immigrant petition (Form I-140) for you | EB-3 green card (Schedule A) | Ask the employer who files and pays |
| Australia | Approval as a sponsor, and a nomination for your job | Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) | Ask the employer for its sponsorship status |
| Ireland | A job offer of at least 2 years | Critical Skills Employment Permit | DETE |
| New Zealand | Accreditation and an approved job check | Accredited Employer Work Visa | Immigration New Zealand |
Visa sponsorship nurse jobs in the UK
UK employers need a licence to hire overseas workers. GOV.UK says to confirm that an employer has the right licence using the register of licensed sponsors, which the Home Office updates often (the latest update when we checked was 15 October 2026) (GOV.UK). Search it for the exact legal name of the hospital, trust or care company.
The employer pays for your sponsorship. GOV.UK lists the certificate of sponsorship fee and the immigration skills charge as fees “that an employer must pay, not you”, and says agencies cannot charge you a recruitment fee (GOV.UK).
The red list and applying directly
England’s Code of Practice says countries on its red list “must not be targeted for international recruitment” unless there is a government-to-government agreement (Code of Practice). The list is based on the WHO health workforce support and safeguards list, which has 55 countries (WHO).
If you live in a red list country, you can still apply directly to an advertised job yourself. Agencies should not help you. What counts is where you live, not your nationality. The Code also says repayment clauses (money you owe if you leave early) must be written, itemised, proportionate and should taper over time.
Our guide on becoming a registered nurse in the UK covers the NMC tests and the visa in full.
US hospitals that sponsor foreign nurses
Most registered nurses go to the US on an EB-3 green card, not a temporary work visa. Nurses are a Schedule A, Group I occupation, so the employer does not need a Department of Labor labor certification. It files Form I-140 with an uncertified ETA-9089 and a prevailing wage determination (USCIS).
Few US hospitals advertise this. US health systems that mention sponsorship on this board in October 2026 include AdventHealth (“Registered Nurse International Visa Sponsorship” ads by region), Cleveland Clinic (“International RN”), Fresenius Medical Care and DaVita (dialysis nursing), and Intermountain Health and Rochester Regional Health, mostly for advanced practice roles.
Some US hospitals hire international nurses through a staffing company that files the green card and places you at the hospital. One Fresenius ad on this board is titled “International Registered Nurse - AMN”, for example. Our guide on agency vs direct hire for international nurses explains the difference, and US nursing jobs for international nurses covers the licence and green card steps.
Hospitals sponsoring international nurses in Australia
Australian employers usually sponsor nurses on the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482). Home Affairs says the Core Skills stream lets you stay up to 4 years (Home Affairs). You must also be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia before you can work; see how to become a nurse in Australia.
Australia had the most sponsoring employers on this board in October 2026: Bupa Australia, St Vincent’s Health Australia, Estia Health, Epworth HealthCare, Grampians Health, The Salvation Army Australia and UnitingCare Queensland. Many of these jobs are in aged care. On the Australia page, 3% of 835 jobs stated visa sponsorship.
Nursing jobs with visa sponsorship in Ireland
Nurses and midwives qualify for Ireland’s Critical Skills Employment Permit if they hold a qualification accepted by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). The job offer must be for at least 2 years. The processing fee is €1,000 (DETE). Family members can apply to join you straight away.
The HSE and private hospitals advertise on their own career sites. See how to become a nurse in Ireland for NMBI registration.
Visa sponsorship nurse jobs in New Zealand
New Zealand employers must be accredited and have an approved job check before they can hire you on an Accredited Employer Work Visa. The visa can lead to residence, generally ties you to that employer and job, lasts up to 5 years for most jobs, and costs from NZD 1,540 (Immigration New Zealand).
Registered nurse roles in many specialties (aged care, mental health, perioperative, critical care and others) are on New Zealand’s Green List, which can lead to residence straight away or after 2 years of work, depending on the tier (Immigration New Zealand). Read our guide on registering as a nurse in New Zealand.
Nursing agencies for foreign nurses: how to pick one
An agency can save you time, but you should never pay one to find you a job. In the UK, GOV.UK says “a recruitment agency should never ask you to pay a fee for finding you work in the UK” (GOV.UK).
Before you sign with an agency:
- Check its status. For UK jobs, look for the agency on NHS Employers’ ethical recruiters list. Being on the list means it says it follows the Code of Practice, not that NHS Employers recommends it.
- Ask which employer will sponsor you, then check that employer yourself on the official register.
- Get the contract and any repayment clause in writing before you resign from your current job.
- Refuse any fee for a job offer, a certificate of sponsorship or a visa. Optional services, such as test coaching, cannot be a condition of the job.
Read ethical nurse recruitment and how to spot scams for warning signs.
How to find sponsoring employers on Nurse Jobs World
Every job on this board comes from the employer’s own career site, and we read each ad for visa sponsorship, relocation support and whether you can apply from abroad.
- Nursing jobs with visa sponsorship: 66 open jobs on 16 October 2026.
- Employers sponsoring visas: the 16 employers behind those ads, with where they hire and for which roles. Some are marked as verified by our research.
- Jobs you can apply for from abroad: ads that accept applicants who live in another country.
A sponsorship mention in an ad is not a promise. Always confirm with the employer before you resign or pay for tests.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a hospital sponsors foreign nurses?
Look for the words “visa sponsorship” or “international nurse” in the job ad, then check the employer on the official register. In the UK that is the Home Office register of licensed sponsors. If an ad does not mention sponsorship, ask the employer before you apply.
Can I get nursing jobs with visa sponsorship in the UK from a red list country?
Yes, if you apply directly. England’s Code of Practice says red list countries must not be targeted by recruiters, but people who live there can apply on their own to an advertised job, for example through NHS Jobs or the employer’s site. Agencies should not help you.
Do I have to pay an agency to get a nursing job abroad?
No. In the UK, agencies cannot charge you a recruitment fee, a certificate of sponsorship fee or the immigration skills charge. The employer pays those. Be wary of anyone who asks for money in return for a job offer.
Which countries make it easiest to get a sponsored nursing job?
On this board in October 2026, Australia had the most employers stating sponsorship, followed by the US. Ireland gives nurses access to its Critical Skills Employment Permit, and New Zealand lists many registered nurse roles on its Green List.
Is a staffing agency the same as a sponsor?
Not always. In the UK and Australia, the hospital that employs you is usually the sponsor. In the US, some staffing companies employ you and file the green card themselves, then place you at a hospital. Ask who your legal employer will be.