Top 5 Countries for Nurses to Migrate to in 2026: Salaries & PR Ranked
Welcome back! For international nurses, relocating is not just about the salary; it’s about the total package: how easy is it to get sponsored, and how fast can you secure a life-changing Permanent Residency (PR)?
We’ve analyzed the data on the top destinations—balancing the highest salaries (like Switzerland) against the easiest PR pathways (like Canada).
Here is the definitive ranking of the best countries for IENs looking to work and migrate, based on the following weighted categories (1 = Lowest, 5 = Highest):
| Category | Description |
| Salary | Average annual take-home potential compared to cost of living. |
| PR Pathway | Speed and certainty of achieving permanent residency (PR). |
| Sponsorship | Ease of securing a visa and job offer (demand level). |
| Cost of Living | General expenses relative to major global cities. |
| Family-Friendly | Healthcare, education, and immigration policies for dependents. |
🥇 Rank 1: Canada 🇨🇦 (The Best All-Rounder)
Canada is not the highest payer, but it offers the most streamlined path from foreign worker to permanent resident on this list, making it the most secure choice for long-term settlement.
| Category | Score (Out of 5) | Justification |
| Salary | 4/5 | ($70k – $90k USD). Excellent relation to cost of living outside Toronto/Vancouver. |
| PR Pathway | 5/5 | Best in Class. Nurses are a priority in Express Entry (CEC, PNP), often securing PR within 1-2 years. |
| Sponsorship | 5/5 | Extremely High Demand. Almost all provincial health authorities actively recruit. |
| Cost of Living | 4/5 | Moderate. Salaries offset costs well in cities like Calgary and Ottawa. |
| Family-Friendly | 5/5 | Excellent. Universal healthcare and easy spousal/dependent work permits. |
| TOTAL | 23 / 25 |
🥈 Rank 2: Australia 🇦🇺 (High Salary / High PR)
Australia offers a slightly higher salary floor than Canada and a very clear PR path driven by the Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189).
| Category | Score (Out of 5) | Justification |
| Salary | 5/5 | ($77k – $95k USD). High disposable income, especially in remote areas. |
| PR Pathway | 4/5 | Very Clear. Nurses are on the Strategic Skills List, ideal for 189/190 visas. |
| Sponsorship | 5/5 | Extremely High Demand (especially Aged Care). |
| Cost of Living | 3/5 | High. Sydney/Melbourne are among the most expensive cities globally. |
| Family-Friendly | 5/5 | Excellent public safety and quality of life. |
| TOTAL | 22 / 25 |
🥉 Rank 3: United Kingdom 🇬🇧 (The Easiest Entry)
The UK’s Health and Care Worker Visa makes securing a job and entry the easiest globally. However, the path to PR is slower, and starting salaries are modest.
| Category | Score (Out of 5) | Justification |
| Salary | 2/5 | ($45k – $60k USD). Starting NHS salaries are modest but stable. |
| PR Pathway | 3/5 | Clear but Slow. Mandatory 5-year wait for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). |
| Sponsorship | 5/5 | Easiest. Thousands of NHS Trusts are approved sponsors. |
| Cost of Living | 4/5 | Moderate (outside London). |
| Family-Friendly | 4/5 | High. Universal healthcare (NHS). |
| TOTAL | 18 / 25 |
💡 The Global “Exam” Insight
Did you know? Canada (NCLEX), the USA (NCLEX), and Australia (OBA-CBT) all test essentially the same core clinical knowledge.
Don’t study three different times. Master the core concepts once. [Download our Complete Medical-Surgical Study Guide] to prepare for any of these top destinations.
Rank 4: United States 🇺🇸 (The Salary King, PR Hurdle)
The US offers the highest salary potential for experienced nurses, but the Green Card process is notoriously long and complex.
| Category | Score (Out of 5) | Justification |
| Salary | 5/5 | ($85k – $120k+ USD). World’s Highest earning potential. |
| PR Pathway | 2/5 | Difficult/Long. Visa bulletin backlogs can mean 5+ year waits. |
| Sponsorship | 4/5 | Very High, but legalistic and expensive. |
| Cost of Living | 3/5 | High (NYC/LA/SF are extremely expensive). |
| Family-Friendly | 3/5 | Moderate. Healthcare/education costs can be high. |
| TOTAL | 17 / 25 |
Rank 5: Switzerland 🇨🇭 (Specialist Challenge)
Switzerland offers massive salaries but presents the biggest barriers in language and PR access.
| Category | Score (Out of 5) | Justification |
| Salary | 5/5 | ($107k+ USD). Incredible earning power. |
| PR Pathway | 1/5 | Very Difficult. Requires up to 10 years residence + strict language fluency. |
| Sponsorship | 3/5 | Moderate. Requires German, French, or Italian proficiency. |
| Cost of Living | 1/5 | Very High. One of the most expensive countries on earth. |
| Family-Friendly | 4/5 | High safety and quality of life. |
| TOTAL | 14 / 25 |
