Registered nurses from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and India can apply for UK nursing jobs with employer visa sponsorship, provided they meet professional registration and immigration requirements. In England, NHS Band 5 nurses earn £32,073 to £39,043 annually under the 2026/27 pay scales. Applicants normally need an eligible nursing qualification, NMC registration or an employer-supported registration pathway, and a sponsored job offer. This guide explains where to apply, recruitment restrictions, visa costs and the route towards UK settlement. NHS Employers
Yes. The main immigration route is the Health and Care Worker visa, part of the Skilled Worker system. It covers eligible employment with the NHS, NHS suppliers and qualifying adult social care employers.
You need a qualifying job offer from a Home Office approved employer, a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), the required salary and acceptable English language evidence. A CoS is an electronic sponsorship record, not a visa or a guarantee of approval. Check the official eligibility requirements. GOV.UK
Registered nurse recruitment: You already hold the relevant NMC registration and apply for a suitable nursing vacancy.
Internationally educated nurse programmes: An employer recruits eligible overseas nurses and supports completion of registration, including OSCE preparation where offered.
Neither pathway means every nursing vacancy provides sponsorship. Read the advert and obtain written confirmation from recruitment.
Important Rules for Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and India
The UK’s ethical recruitment rules depend on where you live when applying, rather than your passport alone.
Country of residence
Recruitment position
Nigeria
Red list. Apply directly to specific employer vacancies.
Ghana
Red list. Apply directly to specific employer vacancies.
Kenya
Amber list. Organised recruitment must comply with the government agreement. Direct applications remain possible.
India
Not listed as red or amber in the reviewed code. Normal recruitment and visa requirements apply.
A red list classification does not prohibit an individual from obtaining a UK nursing job. However, agencies should not facilitate recruitment from red list countries. A direct application must respond to a specific advertised vacancy with the employing organisation. Read the government recruitment code. GOV.UK
UK Registered Nurse Salaries
The following are gross annual NHS basic salaries in England, effective from 1 April 2026.
NHS band
Basic annual salary
Band 5
£32,073 to £39,043
Band 6
£39,959 to £48,117
Band 7
£49,387 to £56,515
Band 5 commonly covers staff nurse positions. Senior or specialist vacancies may sit at higher bands, depending on responsibilities and experience.
London supplements and eligible unsocial hours payments can increase earnings. Tax, National Insurance and pension contributions affect take-home pay. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have separate pay arrangements. Review the NHS pay scales. NHS Employers
For visa purposes, the government usually requires at least £25,000 and the applicable going rate. Registered nursing roles must meet the relevant healthcare pay requirements, so £25,000 should not be treated as a universal acceptable nurse salary. GOV.UK
NMC Registration: Qualifications and English Requirements
The process includes qualification assessment, identity verification, English evidence, health and character checks, and the Test of Competence where required. This comprises the computer based test (CBT) and objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). The Nursing and Midwifery Council
Prepare your nursing qualification, training records and professional registration information. Do not assume that a particular diploma or degree automatically qualifies you. NMC assessment determines the applicable route.
IELTS and OET scores
Test
Required scores
IELTS Academic
7 in listening, reading and speaking, plus 6.5 in writing
OET Nursing
B, at least 350, in listening, reading and speaking, plus C+, at least 300, in writing
The NMC permits combining two test sittings under specified conditions. Other English evidence routes exist, but studying in English does not automatically establish eligibility. The Nursing and Midwifery Council
For the visa, nurses who have passed an English assessment accepted by their professional regulator do not need to prove English again through a separate assessment. Otherwise, the current visa evidence rules apply. GOV.UK
NMC registration costs
For applications opened after 1 October 2026, the published fees are:
Item
Fee
Qualification evaluation
£167
CBT, first sitting
£83
OSCE, first sitting
£794
Registration application
£182
Total
£1,226
English tests, resits, travel, accommodation and visa costs are additional. Confirm which costs an employer pays or reimburses before accepting an offer. The Nursing and Midwifery Council
NHS Employers and Where to Apply
No individual live vacancy is presented here as a verified, currently open sponsored position. These are verified employer recruitment channels. Sponsorship, specialty requirements and closing dates must be checked against the actual advert.
1. Devon Partnership NHS Trust
The trust’s overseas professionals programme explicitly describes issuing a CoS after successful recruitment checks. It also describes OSCE reimbursement and support on arrival.
A suitable current UK nursing placement and its sponsorship terms must be confirmed. Applicants resident in Nigeria or Ghana should use direct employer applications because of the red list rules. KCR
NHS Professionals International currently states that overseas recruitment for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals is temporarily paused. Do not interpret older promotional pages as confirmation that applications are open. NHS Professionals
Your CoS reference, employer name and sponsor licence number.
Job title, occupation code and salary.
Acceptable English language evidence.
Maintenance evidence, unless exempt.
A tuberculosis certificate where required.
Criminal record certificates where required.
Relationship evidence for dependants.
Certified translations of documents outside English or Welsh.
Your employer may separately request references, registration evidence and occupational health information. GOV.UK
Visa fees and maintenance funds
The Health and Care Worker application fee is £324 for up to three years or £628 for more than three years, per applicant.
You usually need £1,270 in maintenance funds unless exempt or your sponsor certifies support. The required funds normally must be held for 28 consecutive days. Eligible Health and Care Worker applicants do not pay the Immigration Health Surcharge. GOV.UK
Steps to Get Nursing Visa Sponsorship
Start your NMC assessment. Establish your qualification, English and testing requirements.
Find suitable vacancies. Search NHS Jobs and employers’ own careers pages.
Check the vacancy carefully. Confirm nursing field, required experience, NMC status and sponsorship availability.
Submit a tailored application. Address the person specification with clear clinical examples.
Complete interviews and checks. Verify correspondence through the employer’s published recruitment contacts.
Review the written offer. Check salary, working hours, registration support, accommodation charges and repayment clauses.
The application process tells you whether to use the identity app or attend a visa application centre for biometrics. Decisions normally take around three weeks after identity verification and document submission, although checks can take longer. GOV.UK
Embassy Contacts and Work Visa Verification
For these countries, the relevant British diplomatic missions are High Commissions.
Country
Official mission address and contact
Nigeria
Abuja, Plot 1137, Diplomatic Drive, Central Business District. Telephone: +234 (0)20 12770780.
Ghana
Accra, Julius Nyerere Link, off Gamel Abdul Nasser Avenue, PO Box 296. Official contact form available.
Kenya
Nairobi, Upper Hill Road, PO Box 30465-00100. Official contact form available.
India
New Delhi, Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021. Official contact form available.
These are diplomatic contacts, not walk-in nursing visa application counters. Public access is by appointment. Start visa applications online and use the designated application centre when instructed. GOV.UK
The relevant UK settlement route is indefinite leave to remain (ILR). Express Entry and the Rural Community Immigration Pilot are Canadian programmes and do not provide UK residence.
Current GOV.UK guidance allows eligible Health and Care Worker visa holders to apply for ILR after five qualifying years. Requirements include qualifying residence, applicable salary conditions and employer confirmation that you remain needed. Check the complete settlement rules when applying.
ILR permits living, working and studying without a time limit, access to benefits where eligible, and a potential later citizenship application. It is not automatic after five years. GOV.UK
Eligible registered nurses can generally apply to bring qualifying partners and children. Dependants require separate applications and supporting evidence. The restrictions specifically affecting care workers should not be assumed to apply to registered nursing roles. GOV.UK
Immigration Errors to Avoid
Paying for a guaranteed job, CoS or visa approval.
Using agency recruitment contrary to country restrictions.
Assuming a sponsor licence means every vacancy offers sponsorship.
Submitting inconsistent dates, false references or altered financial records.
Ignoring registration deadlines, accommodation deductions or repayment terms.
Buying unnecessary English tests before checking your accepted evidence.
Using unverified immigration consultants.
UK government guidance says applicants should not pay UK-based agencies to find work. If you need an immigration lawyer or visa adviser, verify their regulatory status through the official adviser directory. GOV.UK
Conclusion
UK nursing sponsorship is possible through an eligible employer, but professional registration and immigration permission are separate requirements. Begin with the NMC checklist, apply to suitable advertised roles and confirm sponsorship in writing. Compare the full employment package before paying for relocation services, and use official channels to verify every offer.
