Ireland’s nursing regulator is the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). You must be on the NMBI register before you can work as a nurse or midwife in Ireland.
This guide is for nurses and midwives who trained outside the EU. It covers the NMBI process, the fees, the English test scores, the extra steps NMBI may ask for, and the work permit for nurses. Fees and thresholds were checked in October 2026. They change, so check the official pages before you pay anything.
The process in short
- Qualification recognition. You apply to NMBI online through MyNMBI. NMBI checks your documents and compares your training with Irish standards.
- A compensation measure, if NMBI asks for one. This is an adaptation period in an Irish hospital or the RCSI aptitude test.
- Registration. Once your qualification is recognised, you apply to join the register. This is the stage where you show your English.
- Work permit and visa. Your employer in Ireland offers you a job, and you (or the employer) apply for an employment permit.
NMBI says: do not move to Ireland or resign from your job based on an approval you expect but do not have yet (NMBI).
G1, G2 and G3 applicants
NMBI puts every overseas applicant in one of three groups (NMBI):
- G1: qualified in the EU under automatic recognition. Administrative check only.
- G2: qualified in the EU under the general system. Administrative check and a qualification assessment.
- G3: not covered by the EU Directive. This is the group for nurses trained outside the EU. Administrative check and a qualification assessment.
Your group decides which documents you send and how long processing takes.
Step 1: qualification recognition
You apply in MyNMBI. The MyNMBI tool tells you which documents you need by the end of its Step 2. NMBI’s Applicant Guide lists each document and how long it stays valid (NMBI). Upload everything yourself. NMBI says you must not share your login with anyone.
For G3 applicants, an Education Assessor checks the theory and clinical content of your training against NMBI requirements. Extra courses and work experience can be considered (NMBI).
NMBI fees (checked October 2026)
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Overseas qualification recognition | EUR 350 |
| Overseas registration | EUR 145 |
| Candidate registration (during an adaptation period) | EUR 20 |
| Annual retention fee (every year once registered) | EUR 100 |
| Appeal | EUR 150 |
Source: NMBI fee schedule. You pay in MyNMBI when you submit each application.
The four possible outcomes
After the assessment, NMBI tells you one of these (NMBI):
- Your qualifications are recognised.
- NMBI needs more information.
- You must complete a compensation measure. This happens when your training falls short in some areas but you have enough hours or content to close the gap.
- Provisional refusal. Your training has significant gaps in theory or clinical content.
Step 2: compensation measures
A compensation measure lets you show that you meet the Irish standard in the areas where NMBI found gaps (NMBI). There are two kinds.
If you apply to the general nursing or psychiatric nursing division, you can choose either one. For every other division, only the adaptation period is available.
Adaptation period
- Supervised practice at an NMBI-approved Irish healthcare facility, with theory and clinical modules.
- The clinical part lasts at least 6 weeks. It can be extended to 12 weeks or more.
- You or your future employer must find the placement. NMBI does not arrange it.
- You have 12 months from the date of NMBI’s letter to secure a placement.
- During the placement, NMBI puts you on the Candidate Register and gives you a Candidate Certificate.
- At the end, the Director of Nursing or Midwifery recommends whether your qualification should be recognised.
RCSI aptitude test
The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) runs the test for general and psychiatric nurses.
| Part | What it is |
|---|---|
| Part 1: theory | 150 multiple-choice questions in 3 hours, supervised online. Pass mark 50%. You must pass it before Part 2. |
| Part 2: OSCE | A practical exam with 14 stations, 10 minutes each, in a simulated clinical setting. |
Sources: RCSI theory test, RCSI practical test.
Fee (checked October 2026): EUR 2,800, or EUR 2,500 when an eligible employer pays RCSI directly. The fee covers two attempts at each part (RCSI fees).
Rules to know (NMBI):
- You have 12 months from NMBI’s email to complete the test.
- You get two attempts. A third attempt is not allowed.
- Results go to you and NMBI within three days of the test.
- You may need a visa to travel to Ireland for the test or the adaptation period. NMBI does not handle visa questions.
- If you fail one measure after two sittings, you cannot switch to the other. You can appeal to NMBI’s Registration Committee.
Step 3: registration and English
You show your English at the registration stage, not at the qualification stage (for applications started online after 28 September 2020). NMBI accepts three pathways (NMBI):
- Trained in English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United States or the United Kingdom. Colleges in Quebec or New Brunswick must confirm the course was in English.
- Registered and practised in English for 3 years after registration, within the last 5 years, in one of those five countries. You need a letter from your employer or nursing authority.
- An English test, IELTS or OET.
Minimum test scores (checked October 2026)
| Test | Minimum scores |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic (or IELTS Academic for UKVI) | Overall 7.0, with 7.0 in any three skills and 6.5 in the fourth |
| OET (Nursing) | Grade B (350 to 450) in any three sub-tests and C+ (300 to 340) in the fourth |
Test rules:
- Results must be less than two years old when you submit the registration application.
- NMBI accepts one test result only. It does not combine results from two sittings.
- NMBI does not accept the IELTS One Skill Retake, IELTS online or OET at home.
- If you apply and your scores are too low, the assessment fee is not refunded.
For scores in other countries, see OET or IELTS for nurses.
Step 4: the Critical Skills Employment Permit
Nurses from outside the EEA usually need an employment permit to work in Ireland. Nurses and midwives qualify for the Critical Skills Employment Permit. The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment runs it (DETE). Checked October 2026:
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who qualifies | A nurse or midwife with a degree or diploma that NMBI accepts for registration |
| Minimum salary | EUR 40,904 a year, or EUR 36,848 if you got your qualification in the 12 months before the application |
| Public sector jobs | The pay rate of the public sector pay agreement applies |
| Job offer | At least 2 years |
| Fee | EUR 1,000. If the application fails, 90% is refunded to the applicant |
| When to apply | At least 12 weeks before the start date |
| Labour market test | Not required |
Other points from the same page:
- Either you or the employer can apply. If the employer applies, the law says it may not take back any permit fee or cost from your pay.
- You are expected to stay with your first employer for at least 9 months. You can change earlier only in limited cases, such as redundancy.
- Your spouse, partner or dependants can apply to join you straight away. Once they live in Ireland, they can apply for a free Dependant/Partner/Spouse Employment Permit.
- An employment permit is not a residence permission. After you arrive, you must register your immigration permission. If you need a visa to enter Ireland, you apply for it after the permit is granted.
After the permit: Stamp 4
When your Critical Skills permit and immigration registration card are due to expire, you do not renew the permit. You apply to the Department of Justice for a Stamp 4 permission instead. Since 30 November 2023 you no longer need a support letter from the Department of Enterprise. Stamp 4 lets you live and work in Ireland without an employment permit. It is granted for 2 years and can be renewed. After 60 months of residence permission, you can apply for long-term residence (DETE).
The exact point when you can apply for Stamp 4 is set by Immigration Service Delivery. Confirm it on irishimmigration.ie before you plan your dates.
Finding a job
Hospitals and nursing homes in Ireland post jobs on their own career sites. On this board, every job links to the employer’s own page, so you apply to the employer directly. Never pay anyone for a job offer or a permit. See ethical recruitment and how to spot scams.
Frequently asked questions
How much does NMBI registration cost for a nurse trained outside the EU?
NMBI charges EUR 350 for overseas qualification recognition and EUR 145 for overseas registration, checked October 2026. Once you are on the register, the annual retention fee is EUR 100. If NMBI asks you to take the RCSI aptitude test, that costs EUR 2,800, or EUR 2,500 when an eligible employer pays.
Can I combine two IELTS or OET results for NMBI?
No. NMBI accepts one test result only and does not combine results from two sittings. It also does not accept the IELTS One Skill Retake, IELTS online or OET at home. Your result must be less than two years old when you submit your registration application.
What is the difference between the adaptation period and the aptitude test?
The adaptation period is supervised practice at an approved Irish hospital, with at least 6 weeks of clinical work. The RCSI aptitude test is a 150-question theory exam followed by a 14-station OSCE. General and psychiatric nurses can choose either one. Other divisions can only do the adaptation period.
What salary do I need for a Critical Skills Employment Permit as a nurse?
At least EUR 40,904 a year, or EUR 36,848 if you qualified in the 12 months before applying, checked October 2026. For public sector jobs covered by a pay agreement, the agreed pay rate applies. You also need a job offer of at least 2 years and a qualification NMBI accepts.
Can my family come with me to Ireland?
Yes. Critical Skills Employment Permit holders can apply for immediate family reunification. Once your spouse, partner or dependants live in Ireland, they can apply for a Dependant/Partner/Spouse Employment Permit, which is currently free. Check the family rules on irishimmigration.ie before you apply.