Skilled migration for the nursing profession is one of the most wide-open pathways for Vietnamese applicants, since nursing is a severely understaffed profession in most developed countries. The US, Australia and Germany each have their own policies to attract foreign nurses, along with many procedural advantages compared with other occupations.
This article analyzes the three most common skilled migration pathways for nurses today. The M2W team will lay out the requirements, advantages and barriers of each country to help you find your direction.
Skilled migration for nurses: the advantage Vietnamese nurses have
Nursing has been on the shortage occupation list of the US, Australia and Germany for many years. An aging population is driving fast-growing demand for healthcare, while the domestic workforce cannot keep up.
For that reason, nursing often benefits from shortcut pathways that other occupations do not have. Some countries waive the labor certification step, some award priority points, or open dedicated recruitment programs. This is a major advantage for skilled Vietnamese nurses.
However, every country requires foreign nurses to have their qualifications recognized and to meet a language requirement before practicing. These are the two main barriers you need to prepare for early.
Nurse migration to the US via EB-3 Schedule A
In the US, nurses have a special pathway called Schedule A. Under U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), registered nurses are placed in a pre-designated shortage occupation group.
The advantage of Schedule A is that the case does not need to go through the PERM Labor Certification step, which is the most time-consuming stage of EB-3. As a result, nurse cases are usually processed faster than other occupations. You can read details in the article EB-3 Schedule A.
In exchange, nurses wanting to go to the US must obtain VisaScreen certification, pass the NCLEX-RN exam and meet the English standard. You should look into VisaScreen certificationbeforehand, since this is a mandatory step before the visa interview. This pathway suits nurses ready to sit for US certification exams.
Nurse migration to Australia via AHPRA registration
Australia is a familiar destination for Vietnamese nurses thanks to high salaries and good benefits. To practice, nurses must register with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and have their skills recognized.
The process includes a skills assessment, meeting the English standard, and registering to practice. English is a demanding requirement, usually set higher than for manual labor occupations. Once qualified, nurses can apply for skilled visas such as subclass 189, 190 or 491.
Nurses also earn good points in the points test as a priority occupation. You can see the specific pathway in the article Australia migration for nurses. The Australian route suits nurses with a good English foundation who want high income.
Nurse migration to Germany via qualification recognition
Germany has a severe nursing shortage and is currently the most active country in recruiting Vietnamese nurses. The key difference is that Germany focuses on qualification recognition and requires German instead of English.
Theo the official portal of the German Government (Make it in Germany), foreign nurses need to have their qualifications recognized as equivalent to the German nursing standard in order to practice officially. This process usually comes with a supplementary course and a professional assessment exam.
German is an almost mandatory requirement, usually from B1 to B2. In return, initial costs are low and many German hospitals support tuition and pay a salary during the integration process. You can read more in the article nursing visa for Germany. The German route suits nurses willing to put in the effort to learn German and who want lower costs.
Quick comparison of 3 pathways for nurses
The table below summarizes the main differences between the three countries.
| Tiêu chí | US (EB-3 Schedule A) | Úc (AHPRA) | Germany (qualification recognition) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language | English + NCLEX-RN | English (high level) | German B1–B2 |
| Professional recognition | VisaScreen | AHPRA registration | Qualification recognition |
| Standout advantage | PERM exemption, fast processing | High salary, extra points | Low cost, with support |
| Outcome | Direct Green Card | PR based on points | Permanent residence after a few years |
You can see that nurses have an advantage in all three countries, differing mainly in the type of language and the way qualifications are recognized. Choosing a country should be based on your language strength and financial capacity.
Summary and next steps
Skilled migration for the nursing profession is a real opportunity for Vietnamese nurses, thanks to high demand for healthcare workers in the US, Australia and Germany. The key is to prepare early on two fronts: qualification recognition and the language required by the destination country.
To find out which pathway fits your profile, you can take the free profile assessment quiz, or check cost table for each programbeforehand. M2W’s migration consulting team will advise on the specific nursing pathway for you.
Read more: Skilled migration overview 2026 · Skilled migration without a university degree: US, Australia, Germany 2026
