Nursing Jobs in Ireland With Visa Sponsorship
The short answer: healthcare is Ireland's #1 sponsoring sector — 5,996 permits across 591 employers in 2026, more than any other industry. Registered nurses and midwives are on the Critical Skills Occupations List, public hospital groups sponsor at scale, and the route comes with Stamp 4 after 21 months and immediate family reunification. The extra step versus other professions: NMBI registration.
Why Ireland actively recruits international nurses
Ireland's health service has run a structural nursing shortage for years, and it shows in the permit data: while a typical Irish sponsor issues 2–4 permits a year, healthcare employers average 10 permits per company — hospital groups and nursing home chains hire internationally as routine policy, not exception. Nurses from India and the Philippines make up the largest cohorts.
Top healthcare sponsors (2026 data)
| Employer | Permits 2026 | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Redwood Extended Care Facility | 213 | Extended care |
| University Limerick Hospitals Group | 164 | Public hospital group |
| Cork University Hospital | 161 | Public hospital |
| Resilience Healthcare | 151 | Disability & complex care |
| Mowlam Healthcare | 132 | Nursing homes |
| University Hospital Kerry | 107 | Public hospital |
| Galway University Hospital | 92 | Public hospital |
| Silver Stream Healthcare | 90 | Nursing homes |
| Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda | 77 | Public hospital |
The nurse's route, step by step
- NMBI recognition first. Apply to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland for recognition of your overseas qualification. Most employers want your NMBI decision letter before confirming an offer.
- Aptitude test or adaptation period if NMBI requires it (common for non-EU qualifications) — many sponsoring hospitals support candidates through this.
- Job offer from a sponsoring employer — target the proven sponsors above and the 591 healthcare employers with 2026 permit history.
- Permit application — currently processing in about 1.5 weeks. See the full application guide.
- Family joins you from day one — your spouse gets Stamp 1G with full work rights, and after 21 months you can apply for Stamp 4.
Find hospitals that sponsor nurses like you
Browse live nursing vacancies from Irish healthcare employers with verified permit history — including public hospital groups.
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