The UK, Canada, Germany, Australia and Japan are among the top 10 countries seeking overseas carers to fill employment gaps.
Salaries in caregiving jobs abroad vary by area and role, but range from AED 30,000 in the UAE to CHF 75,000 in Switzerland per annum.
A large number of the nations listed have established visa routes and permanent residency provisions for eligible carers.
For carers looking to work abroad in 2026, ten countries in Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East are the most desirable locations, offering competitive incomes, employer-sponsored visas and clear routes to permanent residency.
The shortlist includes Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Norway, Switzerland, Ireland, New Zealand, Japan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). All countries are listed as having strong need for aged care workers, disability support personnel and home healthcare assistants, mainly because of increasing ageing populations and ongoing manpower shortages.
International Carer Wages and Vacancies
How much you are paid depends a lot on where you’re going. In Switzerland, carers are paid between CHF 50,000 and CHF 75,000 a year. In Australia, carers can earn between AUD 55,000 and AUD 75,000 a year. Norway NOK 420,000 – 520,000 Canada CAD 32,000 – 55,000. The UK is between GBP 20,000 and GBP 30,000 and Germany between EUR 28,000 and EUR 40,000 per year.
Germany has the highest number of roles available, with an estimated 200,000 carer vacancies – Japan is next with 300,000 openings and the UK has more than 120,000 posts. The UAE has 50,000 positions and Canada 40,000.
Work Visas & PR Path for Carers Overseas
Each country offers a different entry point for the care-giving workforce. Canada has specific pilots such as the Home Support Worker Pilot and Home Child Care Provider Pilot, both of which offer a direct pathway to permanent residency upon completion of the needed work experience.
The UK’s Health and Care Worker Visa, awarded under the Skilled Worker route, allows for Indefinite Leave to Remain after five continuous years of employment.
A few years of work with Germany’s Skilled Worker Visa and Opportunity Card program offers a pathway to permanent residency for carers. Australia has the Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (Subclass 482) and skilled migration streams, while New Zealand’s main entry point is the Accredited Employer Work Visa. Japan also has jobs available under the Specified Skilled Worker Visa and firms in Japan typically provide language training and workplace assistance to help overseas staff adjust in. In the UAE, the employer sponsorship system remains, and most jobs are filled through domestic worker visas in locations like Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Primary Factors in Choosing Carer Locations
Experts recommend not to concentrate on the gross figures and instead compare the wage with the cost of living locally. Other things to consider include minimum language requirements, whether direct employer sponsorship is available and whether a country permits carers to bring dependants.
Ireland and New Zealand are considered more attainable gateways for individuals pursuing an international caring career, due to their reasonable English-language criteria and existing caregiving certification systems.
Here Are the Top 10 Nations for Carers to Work Overseas in 2026
- Canada.
- United Kingdom (UK)
- Germany
- Australia
- Norway
- Switzerland
- Ireland
- New Zealand
- Japan
- United Arab Emirates (UAE)