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Immigration routes for social workers

Social work is regulated and shortage-listed in most destinations. UK Skilled Worker SOC 2442 with Social Work England registration, Canada Express Entry NOC 41300 with provincial-college registration, Australia subclass 482 (272511) with AASW assessment, Ireland via CORU social-work registration. Trafficking and child-protection sub-streams have additional safeguarding clearances on top of the visa.

Also searched as: child protection worker, mental health social worker, healthcare social worker, community social worker.

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

Frequently asked questions

Do social 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 social workers?+

We map social worker routes across all 178 full-coverage destinations we cover, and 58 currently have at least one route that fits social workers directly. Open any country below for its specific routes and official sources.

Do social workers need to requalify to work in another country?+

Usually, yes. Social 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.