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  1. Home/
  2. Professions/
  3. Care worker

Immigration routes for care workers

Care workers sit inside destination-specific sponsorship frameworks and face some of the most dynamic policy environments. UK Health and Care Worker rules have repeatedly changed since 2022; EU and Gulf routes carry specific registration requirements. Unregulated agents are a known exploitation risk in this cohort — always verify sponsor licence status and regulator credentials.

Also searched as: senior care worker, social care worker, support worker, health care assistant.

What decides which route fits

Healthcare roles are regulated almost everywhere, so a visa is only half the story: in most countries you also need to clear a separate registration or licensing step — a nursing or medical board exam, or formal recognition of your qualification — before you can practise. Each destination guide below names the body involved.

By destination

  • 🇬🇧United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

    • Skilled Worker visa
    • Health and Care Worker visa
    • Scale-up visa
  • 🇮🇪Republic of Ireland

    • Critical Skills Employment Permit
    • General Employment Permit
  • 🇩🇪Federal Republic of Germany

    • EU Blue Card (Germany)
    • Chancenkarte (Germany Opportunity Card)
    • Skilled Worker residence permit (§18a/§18b AufenthG)
    • Recognition Partnership (Anerkennungspartnerschaft)
  • 🇵🇹Portuguese Republic

    • D3 visa (highly qualified activity)
  • 🇪🇸Kingdom of Spain

    • Highly Qualified Professional (HQP) permit
  • 🇳🇱Kingdom of the Netherlands

    • Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant)
  • 🇦🇪United Arab Emirates

    • UAE Golden Visa
    • UAE Employment (Standard Residence) visa
  • 🇨🇦Canada

    • Express Entry — Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
    • Express Entry — Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
  • 🇦🇺Commonwealth of Australia

    • Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)
    • Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
    • Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)
  • 🇺🇸United States of America

    • EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW)
    • EB-3 Skilled, Professional, and Other Workers
    • J-1 Exchange Visitor
    • TN USMCA Professionals (Canada & Mexico)
  • 🇸🇬Republic of Singapore

    • Employment Pass (EP)
    • S Pass
  • 🇳🇿New Zealand

    • Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
    • Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
  • 🇫🇷French Republic

    • Talent Passport — Salaried Employee (Passeport Talent Salarié)
    • Talent Passport — Researcher (Passeport Talent Chercheur)
    • Long-Stay Visa — Salaried Worker (VLS-TS Salarié)
  • 🇮🇹Italian Republic

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Italian Republic routes.

  • 🇯🇵Japan

    • Specified Skilled Worker Type 1 (SSW-1 / 特定技能1号)
  • 🇨🇭Swiss Confederation

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Swiss Confederation routes.

  • 🇸🇦Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    • Work Visa and Iqama (Employer-Sponsored Residence)
  • 🇰🇷Republic of Korea

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Republic of Korea routes.

  • 🇸🇪Kingdom of Sweden

    • Work Permit (Arbetstillstånd)
  • 🇦🇹Republic of Austria

    • Red-White-Red Card (Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karte)
  • 🇩🇰Kingdom of Denmark

    • Positive List Scheme (Positivlisten)
  • 🇳🇴Kingdom of Norway

    • Skilled Worker Residence Permit (Oppholdstillatelse som faglaert)
    • Job-Seeker Visa (Oppholdstillatelse for aa soeke arbeid som faglart)
  • 🇫🇮Republic of Finland

    • Residence permit for an employed person
  • 🇧🇪Kingdom of Belgium

    • Single Permit
  • 🇱🇺Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

    • Residence permit for salaried workers
  • 🇨🇿Czech Republic

    • Employee Card
  • 🇵🇱Republic of Poland

    • Temporary residence and work permit
  • 🇪🇪Republic of Estonia

    • Temporary residence permit for employment
  • 🇬🇷Hellenic Republic

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Hellenic Republic routes.

  • 🇲🇹Republic of Malta

    • Single Permit
  • 🇨🇾Republic of Cyprus

    • Temporary residence and employment permit
  • 🇲🇽United Mexican States

    • Visa by job offer / temporary resident with work authorisation
  • 🇧🇷Federative Republic of Brazil

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Federative Republic of Brazil routes.

  • 🇦🇷Argentine Republic

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Argentine Republic routes.

  • 🇨🇱Republic of Chile

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Republic of Chile routes.

  • 🇺🇾Oriental Republic of Uruguay

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Oriental Republic of Uruguay routes.

  • 🇿🇦Republic of South Africa

    • Critical Skills Work Visa
    • General Work Visa
    • Intra-company Transfer Work Visa
  • 🇲🇺Republic of Mauritius

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Republic of Mauritius routes.

  • 🇰🇪Republic of Kenya

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Republic of Kenya routes.

  • 🇭🇰Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China

    • General Employment Policy (GEP)
    • Technology Talent Admission Scheme (TechTAS)
  • 🇹🇼Taiwan (Republic of China)

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Taiwan (Republic of China) routes.

  • 🇲🇾Malaysia

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Malaysia routes.

  • 🇹🇭Kingdom of Thailand

    • Non-Immigrant Visa "B" + Work Permit
  • 🇮🇳Republic of India

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Republic of India routes.

  • 🇶🇦State of Qatar

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all State of Qatar routes.

  • 🇮🇱State of Israel

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all State of Israel routes.

  • 🇹🇷Republic of Türkiye

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Republic of Türkiye routes.

  • 🇮🇩Republic of Indonesia

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Republic of Indonesia routes.

  • 🇵🇭Republic of the Philippines

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Republic of the Philippines routes.

  • 🇻🇳Socialist Republic of Vietnam

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Socialist Republic of Vietnam routes.

  • 🇨🇴Republic of Colombia

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Republic of Colombia routes.

  • 🇨🇷Republic of Costa Rica

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Republic of Costa Rica routes.

  • 🇵🇦Republic of Panama

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Republic of Panama routes.

  • 🇳🇬Federal Republic of Nigeria

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Federal Republic of Nigeria routes.

  • 🇪🇬Arab Republic of Egypt

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Arab Republic of Egypt routes.

  • 🇬🇭Republic of Ghana

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Republic of Ghana routes.

  • 🇧🇭Kingdom of Bahrain

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Kingdom of Bahrain routes.

  • 🇴🇲Sultanate of Oman

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Sultanate of Oman routes.

  • 🇬🇪Georgia

    • Work Residence Permit
  • 🇭🇷Republic of Croatia

    • EU Blue Card (Croatia)
    • Stay-and-Work Permit (single permit)
  • 🇭🇺Hungary

    • Hungarian Card
    • EU Blue Card (Hungary)
  • 🇷🇸Republic of Serbia

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Republic of Serbia routes.

  • 🇰🇳Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis routes.

  • 🇦🇬Antigua and Barbuda

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Antigua and Barbuda routes.

  • 🇩🇲Commonwealth of Dominica

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Commonwealth of Dominica routes.

  • 🇬🇩Grenada

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Grenada routes.

  • 🇱🇨Saint Lucia

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Saint Lucia routes.

  • 🇧🇧Barbados

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Barbados routes.

  • 🇧🇸Commonwealth of The Bahamas

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Commonwealth of The Bahamas routes.

  • 🇩🇴Dominican Republic

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Dominican Republic routes.

  • 🇰🇾Cayman Islands (British Overseas Territory)

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Cayman Islands (British Overseas Territory) routes.

  • 🇨🇳People's Republic of China

    • Z Work Visa (with Foreigner Work Permit and Residence Permit)
  • 🇧🇬Republic of Bulgaria

    • Single Permit for Residence and Work
    • EU Blue Card (Bulgaria)
  • 🇷🇴Romania

    • Single Permit for Work and Residence
    • EU Blue Card (Romania)
  • 🇱🇰Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

    • Residence Visa (Employment Category)
    • Residence Visa (Approved-Project / BOI Professional)
  • 🇪🇨Republic of Ecuador

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Republic of Ecuador routes.

  • 🇦🇲Republic of Armenia

    • Temporary Residence for Employment
  • 🇦🇱Republic of Albania

    • Unique Permit (Leje Unike)
  • 🇵🇾Republic of Paraguay

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Republic of Paraguay routes.

  • 🇲🇦Kingdom of Morocco

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Kingdom of Morocco routes.

  • 🇷🇼Republic of Rwanda

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Republic of Rwanda routes.

  • 🇧🇼Republic of Botswana

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Republic of Botswana routes.

  • 🇰🇿Republic of Kazakhstan

    • Work Permit and Residence (employer-sponsored)
  • 🇰🇭Kingdom of Cambodia

    • EB Business Visa (E-class ordinary visa, business/employment)
    • EP Employment Visa (E-class qualified-worker sub-class)
  • 🇺🇿Republic of Uzbekistan

    • Work Visa (E) with work-permit confirmation
  • 🇳🇵Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal

    • Working (Non-Tourist) Visa
  • 🇲🇪Montenegro

    • Temporary Residence and Work Permit
  • 🇲🇩Republic of Moldova

    • Temporary Residence for Employment (Moldova)
    • IT Specialist Residence (Moldova IT Park)
  • 🇸🇮Republic of Slovenia

    • Single Residence and Work Permit (Slovenia)
    • EU Blue Card (Slovenia)
  • 🇵🇪Republic of Peru

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Republic of Peru routes.

  • 🇸🇻Republic of El Salvador

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Republic of El Salvador routes.

  • 🇯🇴Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan routes.

  • 🇫🇯Republic of Fiji

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Republic of Fiji routes.

  • 🇯🇲Jamaica

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Jamaica routes.

  • 🇹🇿United Republic of Tanzania

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all United Republic of Tanzania routes.

  • 🇦🇿Republic of Azerbaijan

    • Work Permit and Temporary Residence Permit
  • 🇹🇹Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Republic of Trinidad and Tobago routes.

  • 🇮🇸Iceland

    • Residence Permit for Qualified Professionals (Iceland)
    • Temporary Work Permit due to Labour Shortage (Iceland)
  • 🇱🇹Republic of Lithuania

    • Temporary Residence Permit for Employment (Lithuania)
    • EU Blue Card (Lithuania)
  • 🇧🇿Belize

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Belize routes.

  • 🇬🇹Republic of Guatemala

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Republic of Guatemala routes.

  • 🇳🇦Republic of Namibia

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Republic of Namibia routes.

  • 🇱🇻Republic of Latvia

    • Temporary Residence Permit for Employment (Latvia)
    • EU Blue Card (Latvia)
  • 🇸🇰Slovak Republic

    • Temporary Residence for Employment / Single Permit (Slovakia)
    • EU Blue Card (Slovakia)
  • 🇻🇺Republic of Vanuatu

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Republic of Vanuatu routes.

  • 🇲🇳Mongolia

    • Work Permit and Residence (HG employment)
  • 🇰🇼State of Kuwait

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all State of Kuwait routes.

  • 🇧🇳Brunei Darussalam

    • Work Pass (employer-sponsored employment)
  • 🇱🇮Principality of Liechtenstein

    No closely-matching routes indexed yet — see all Principality of Liechtenstein routes.

Frequently asked questions

Do care workers need a job offer to work abroad?+−

It depends on the route. Many countries offer skilled-migration or self-employment routes that do not require a job offer up front, while employer-sponsored work visas do. The country guides below flag which of each destination's routes need a sponsor.

Which countries have visa routes for care workers?+−

We map care worker routes across all 109 destinations we cover, and 54 currently have at least one route that fits care workers directly. Open any country below for its specific routes and official sources.

Do care workers need to requalify to work in another country?+−

Usually, yes. Care workers must typically pass a destination-specific registration or licensing step — a board exam or formal qualification recognition — in addition to the visa. The exact body and process vary by country, and each destination guide below names them.

This is not legal advice

We publish neutral, sourced information about immigration routes. Rules and thresholds change often — always verify details on the official government source linked on this page and consult a regulated immigration advisor before applying.