The United States alone is projected to face a shortage of over 450,000 nurses by 2026, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. With domestic nursing schools unable to meet demand, major hospital systems — including HCA Healthcare, Kaiser Permanente, Mayo Clinic, and Ascension Health — have launched international recruitment programs offering end-to-end sponsorship.
The UK’s NHS is similarly recruiting nurses from the Philippines, India, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe under the Health & Care Worker Visa, with no application fee for the worker and accelerated 3-week processing.
Sponsored Healthcare Roles & Salaries
| Role | USA Salary | UK Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse (RN) | $75,000–$115,000 | £32,000–£48,000 |
| ICU / Critical Care Nurse | $90,000–$130,000 | £38,000–£58,000 |
| Nurse Practitioner (NP) | $105,000–$140,000 | N/A (US specific) |
| Physician / Medical Doctor | $200,000–$350,000 | £55,000–£120,000 |
| Radiologic Technologist | $65,000–$90,000 | £30,000–£45,000 |
| Physical Therapist (PT) | $80,000–$105,000 | £32,000–£50,000 |
| Medical Laboratory Scientist | $60,000–$85,000 | £28,000–£42,000 |
What the Full Sponsorship Package Includes
- EB-3 or H-1B visa filing paid by hospital (employer legal fees: $5,000–$10,000)
- NCLEX-RN exam preparation support and exam fee reimbursement (USA)
- State nursing licence endorsement assistance and fees covered
- Housing stipend of $1,500–$2,500/month for first 90 days
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance from day one
- Sign-on bonus: $3,000–$10,000 for critical shortage specialties
- Continuing education allowance: $1,500–$3,000/year
- Green Card (EB-3) sponsorship pathway after 12–18 months of employment
Which Countries Can Apply?
US hospitals actively recruit from the Philippines, India, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, the UK, Ireland, and Australia. Nurses from these countries are prioritized due to English proficiency and compatible nursing education standards recognized by the CGFNS (Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools).