Top 5 Countries Actively Recruiting Nurses from India in 2026

Lakshmi

6 min read

Updated On Feb 16, 2026

Germany, the UK, Canada, Australia, & the UAE, check out the countries actively recruiting nurses from India in 2026, the offered average salaries, requirements, top recruiters, and high-paying nursing jobs for Indians abroad in this complete guide

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Which Countries are Hiring Nurses from India in 2026?
1. Germany
2. The United Kingdom
3. Canada
4. Australia
5. United Arab Emirates (UAE)
High-Demand Nursing Roles Abroad for Indians
Unlock Your Nursing Career Prospects Abroad With GetGIS Assistance

The healthcare systems in the world are rapidly evolving to meet the diversifying needs of the residents, with countries actively hiring nurses from India to fill their vacancies. As per the recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO), there would be a deficit of 4.5 million nurses in the world by 2030.

Many of the advanced countries, like the UK, Canada, and Australia, rely on international nurses from India to fill their vacancies. In this article, we will explore the top countries actively recruiting Nurses from India in 2026, along with details of requirements and average salaries in this comprehensive guide.

Which Countries are Hiring Nurses from India in 2026?

The global demand for skilled nurses is rapidly increasing, with opportunities overseas in countries like Canada, the UK, Australia, and Germany, which are actively hiring skilled nurses to meet the healthcare demands in their countries. The list of top countries actively hiring Indian nurses in 2026 includes:

Country	Average Annual Salary	Average Annual Salary (INR)
Germany	EUR 30,000 - EUR 63,000	32,24,850 - 67,72,185
United Kingdom	GBP 30,000 - GBP 57,000	37,03,905 - 70,37,419
Canada	CAD 70,000 - CAD 105,000	46,57,786 - 69,86,680
Australia	AUD 70,000 - AUD 133,000	44,92,289 - 85,35,349
United Arab Emirates	AED 50,000 - AED 150,000	12,33,012 - 36,99,037

1. Germany

Considering Germany’s aging population and expanding need for elderly care, it has led to a massive shortage of nurses in the country, creating a major workforce gap. It is projected that an additional 500,000 nurses would be required to fill the healthcare system in Germany. Thanks to the bilateral recruitment programs with India, like the Triple Win Project Germany, is making it seamless for the country to hire Indian nurses in Germany.

Particulars	Details
Expected Nurse Shortage by 2030	5 Million
Top Recruiters for Nurses in Germany in 2026	Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin Helios Kliniken Group Asklepios Kliniken Sana Kliniken
Salary of Nurses in Germany	Entry-Level Nurse Salary in Germany: EUR 24,000 - EUR 30,000 Experienced Nurse Salary in Germany: EUR 45,000 - EUR 60,000
Working Hours for Nurses in Germany	38 to 40 hours per week
Requirements to work as a Nurse in Germany	Must have completed a BSc nursing degree Meet German language proficiency requirement (B!-B2 level) Must have your nursing degrees recognised in Germany (Annerkennung) Must have completed the adaptation course and exam in Germany
In-Demand Nurse Roles in Germany	Geriatric Nurses, ICU Nurses, Elderly Care Nurses, Rehabilitation Nurses

Also Read: Germany Healthcare Accelerated Programs for Nurses in 2026

2. The United Kingdom

Considering the ongoing staffing shortages in the United Kingdom, the NHS in the UK is heavily relying on foreign-trained nurses from skilled countries like India to fill the shortage and meet the rising patient demand. It is estimated that there will be a requirement of 250,000 nurses in the country by 2030. However, the feasibility of international recruitment, such as hiring Indian nurses in the UK, could significantly decrease the workforce gaps in the country.

Particulars	Details
Expected Nurse Shortage by 2030	More than 250,000
Top Recruiters for Nurses in the UK in 2026	NHS Trusts (Guy’s and St Thomas, Manchester University NHS FT) Bupa UK Nuffield Health
Average Salary of Nurses in the UK	Entry-Level Nurse Salary in the UK: GBP 28,407 - GBP 34,581 Experienced Nurse Salary in the UK: GBP 38,000 - EUR 53,000
Working Hours for Nurses in the UK	36 to 40 hours per week
Requirements to work as a Nurse in the UK	Must have completed a BSc nursing degree Must have completed NMC registration process Must have a valid IELTS or OET score Must have secured a valid CBT & OSCE exam score in the UK Must have a valid skilled work visa
In-Demand Nurse Roles in the UK	Mental Health Nurses, ICU Nurses, Midwives, Community Health Nurses

3. Canada

Are you looking for which country is best for nurses in 2026? Canada is among the top countries actively recruiting nurses from India, considering the country’s aging population and rural healthcare gaps, which have created a major workforce shortage. It is projected that by 2030, Canada will face a nursing shortage of nearly 117,000, and to meet this growing demand, Canada is actively hiring Indian nurses to support healthcare delivery across the country.

Particulars	Details
Expected Nurse Shortage by 2030	117,000
Top Recruiters for Nurses in Canada in 2026	Alberta Health Services Ontario Health Fraser Health Authority Vancouver Coastal Health
Average Salary of Nurses in Canada	Entry-Level Nurse Salary in Canada: CAD 55,000 - CAD 70,000 Experienced Nurse Salary in Canada: CAD 85,000 - CAD 105,000
Working Hours for Nurses in Canada	36 to 40 hours
Requirements to work as a Nurse in Canada	Must have completed a BSc nursing degree Must have completed the licensing process in your destination province in Canada Must have secured the required English or French proficiency Must have an Educational Credential Assessment Canada report to prove qualification equivalency to Canadian standards
In-Demand Nurse Roles in Canada	Registered Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Geriatric Nurses, Rural and Community Nurses

Also Read: Canada Immigration For Nurses From India

4. Australia

Factors such as an aging population and rural shortages in Australia are highly influencing nurse scarcity in the country. The country is estimated to witness a persistent shortage in nurses of up to 123,000, and they are among the top priorities on the Skilled Occupation List Australia for 2026, also providing fast-track migration pathways for skilled nurses to immigrate.

Particulars	Details
Expected Nurse Shortage by 2030	123,000
Top Recruiters for Nurses in Australia in 2026	Ramsay Health Care Jealthscope Hospitals NSW Health Queensland Health
Average Salary of Nurses in Australia	Entry-Level Nurse Salary in Australia: AUD 70,000 - AUD 85,000 Experienced Nurse Salary in Australia: AUD 91,000 - AUD 131,000
Working Hours for Nurses in Australia	38 - 40 hours per week
Requirements to work as a Nurse in Australia	Must have completed the AHPRA registration process for nurses Must have secured a valid IELTS or OET score Must have secured a positive ANMAC skills assessment report Must have completed the Bridging program for nurses in Australia
In-Demand Nurse Roles in Australia	Aged care nurses, Emergency nurses, Mental Health nurses, Surgical nurses

5. United Arab Emirates (UAE)

The healthcare system in the UAE is expanding at a rapid pace, considering factors like medical tourism, resident population growth, and the requirement for chronic disease care. Dubai alone estimates to witness a need of additonal 11,000 nurses by 2030, while Abu Dhabi projects a requirement of 15,000 nurses. Currently, Indian nurses in the UAE form the largest proportion of the total foreign nurses, further highlighting the appeal of the UAE in recruiting Indian nurses

Particulars	Details
Expected Nurse Shortage by 2030	30,000
Top Recruiters for Nurses in the UAE in 2026	Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi Mediclinic Middle East Aster DM Healthcare
Average Salary of Nurses in the UAE	Entry-Level Nurse Salary in the UAE: AED 48,000 - AED 120,000 Experienced Nurse Salary in the UAE: AED 96,000 - AED 180,000
Working Hours for Nurses in the UAE	44 - 48 hours per week
Requirements to work as a Nurse in the UAE	Must have a BSc Nursing degree from a recognised university Must have a DHA, DOH, or MOH licence for nurses in the UAE Must have at least 2 years of prior relevant work experience Must have completed DataFlow verification.
In-Demand Nurse Roles in the UAE	Critical care nurses, Dialysis nurses, Emergency nurses

Also Read: Top 10 Highest Salary Countries after BSc Nursing in 2026

High-Demand Nursing Roles Abroad for Indians

As the international demand for Indian nurses continues to rise all around the world, specifically in countries like Germany, Australia, the UAE, etc., which are the highest paying countries for nurses 2026. The list of top nurse job roles and average nurse salary in Indian rupees is as follows:

Nurse Type	Germany (INR)	UK (INR)	Canada (INR)	Australia (INR)	UAE (INR)
RN (Entry/Mid)	32,24,850 - 48,37,275	37,05,231 - 51,87,323	46,57,800 - 59,88,600	44,92,600 - 64,18,000	29,59,200 - 44,38,800
LPN/Practical	30,09,860 - 3,76,23,225	27,17,169 - 37,05,231	36,59,700 - 43,25,100	4681350 - 5647450	24,66,000 - 36,99,000
NP/CNS Nurse	53,74,750 - 69,87,175	54,34,338 - 74,10,462	66,54,000 - 86,50,200	77,01,600 - 93,06,100	44,38,800 - 61,65,000
ICU/ER Specialized Nurse	42,99,800 - 59,12,225	45,69,784 - 64,22,400	56,55,900 - 73,19,400	64,18,000 - 83,43,400	36,99,000 - 54,25,200
Pediatric/Anesthesia Nurse	37,62,325 - 53,74,750	46,93,292 - 65,45,908	53,23,200 - 69,86,700	51,34,400 - 79,58,320	34,52,400 - 49,32,000

Unlock Your Nursing Career Prospects Abroad With GetGIS Assistance

In efforts to meet the severe healthcare shortage around the world, due to the ageing population and growing medical services. Countries, specifically including Germany, the UK, Canada, Australia, the UAE, Ireland, etc., are aggressively hiring Indian nurses in 2026. Exploring overseas nursing opportunities is a very fulfilling career because of their locations' strong Job market, migration pathways, competitive salaries, and eligibility to exposure to global careers.

For seamless Immigration and transition, you can reach out for professional guidance from trusted experts like GetGIS. Our immigration abroad team provides end-to-end personalised advice from selecting the right country, to meeting the visa requirements, job search guidance, and more for your successful immigration experience

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which countries are hiring the most Indian nurses in 2026?

Some of the most developed countries that are hiring the most Indian nurses include the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, the UAE, Germany, Ireland, etc. The major factors driving this rise in hiring foreign nurses Includes ageing population, rising healthcare demand, and acute shortages of healthcare personnel in the country.

Why are Indian nurses in high demand in the world?

Indian nurses are in high demand throughout the world, mainly due to their clinical expertise, fluency in English, and capacity to function under pressure. They are also important resources for a well-maintained, developed healthcare system that is dealing with a shortage of workers due to their flexibility and commitment.

Which country is offering the highest salary for Indian nurses?

Australia and Canada are some of the highest-paying countries for nurses, especially for experienced professionals and specialised goals. While countries like the UK provide stable income with good benefits, the UAE offers tax-free salaries to boost savings. The best choice of country for nursing jobs abroad depends on an individual's experience, specialisation, and long-term migration goals.

Is work experience mandatory for Indian nurses to apply for applying abroad?

Most of the countries require at least 1 to 2 years of proven clinical experience as proof to ensure practical skills. Specialised nurses like ICU, emergency care, and dialysis nurses often need extra expertise as employers generally prefer experienced nurses, which helps them to cut down on Training time while maintaining patient safety.

Which nursing specializations are most in demand globally in 2026?

Specialisations like ICU nurses, geriatric care, emergency nursing, mental health, dialysis, oncology, and operating room nurses are among the most demanded nursing jobs around the world, essential due to the ageing population and increasing chronic diseases. Indian nurses with these specialised skills usually earn higher salaries, and the prospects of getting hired is also faster compared to general nurses.

Top 5 Countries Actively Recruiting Nurses from India in 2026

Table of Contents

Which Countries are Hiring Nurses from India in 2026?

1. Germany

2. The United Kingdom

3. Canada

4. Australia

5. United Arab Emirates (UAE)

High-Demand Nursing Roles Abroad for Indians

Unlock Your Nursing Career Prospects Abroad With GetGIS Assistance

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Frequently Asked Questions

Lakshmi

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