Nursing Jobs in the UK for Kenyan Nurses: NMC, Visa, Pay
Updated 2026-11-10
The UK is one of the most popular destinations for Kenyan nurses, and the rules are unusually clear. This guide covers how UK employers may recruit from Kenya, the NMC registration route and its fees, the visa, and what NHS nurses are paid in 2026/27.
How UK recruitment from Kenya works
Kenya is on the amber list of the UK Code of Practice for international recruitment: managed recruitment of Kenyan health workers is permitted only on the terms of the government-to-government agreement the UK and Kenya signed on 11 November 2021.
Outside that agreement, UK recruiters should not actively target Kenyan health workers. You may still apply yourself, without a third party, to a specific advertised vacancy.
In practice: apply through the government channel or directly to NHS trusts’ own vacancies, and be wary of agents claiming to place Kenyans in the NHS for a fee.
NMC registration: steps and fees
English: IELTS Academic (7 in listening, reading and speaking, 6.5 in writing) or OET (B in listening, reading and speaking, C+ in writing), valid for two years.
Eligibility and qualification application to the NMC.
Test of Competence: a computer-based test (CBT), taken before you travel, and an OSCE clinical exam in the UK.
Registration application: health, character and language evidence, then the decision.
NMC fee (from 1 October 2026)
Amount
Qualification evaluation
£167
CBT (first sitting)
£83
OSCE (first sitting)
£794
Registration
£182
Total
£1,226
Figures from the NMC costs page; another NMC page still shows a £140 evaluation fee, so confirm on the NMC site when you apply. Many NHS employers reimburse the OSCE. The main Cazini guide walks through NMC registration step by step.
The Health and Care Worker visa
Nurses qualify for the Health and Care Worker visa with a licensed employer. You will usually need to be paid at least £25,000, or the going rate for the job if higher.
The visa costs £324 for up to three years or £628 for longer, and Health and Care Worker visa holders and their families do not pay the Immigration Health Surcharge.
What NHS nurses earn
Newly registered nurses join the NHS at Band 5. From 1 April 2026, Band 5 pays £32,073 a year at entry, rising to £39,043 at the top of the band, with extra allowances in London and other high-cost areas.
Before you go: the Kenyan side
Verification by your Kenyan regulator: foreign regulators and employers confirm your Kenyan registration directly. Nurses request verification through the out-migration section of the Nursing Council of Kenya portal; other cadres go through their own council or board. Keep your Kenyan practising licence current while you apply.
Use licensed recruiters only: a recruitment agency must be licensed by the National Employment Authority (NEA). Check it before you pay anything or hand over documents: how to check a recruitment agency.
Never pay for a "visa sponsorship": in the UK, US, Canada and Australia, sponsorship is the employer’s legal duty, not something you buy. Offers that ask you to pay for a sponsorship letter or certificate are a common scam.
Make your credentials easy to verify
Every route above starts with the same thing: proof of your qualifications, registration and experience that an employer abroad can trust. A free Cazini Job Passport holds your verified work history, licences and references in one place you can share with any employer, at home or abroad. Create your free profile and apply to verified health jobs on the board.
Frequently asked questions
Can UK agencies recruit Kenyan nurses?
Kenya is on the UK Code of Practice amber list, so active recruitment is permitted only under the UK-Kenya government-to-government agreement. You can still apply yourself to a specific advertised vacancy.
How much does NMC registration cost?
The NMC’s costs page lists £1,226 in total from 1 October 2026: evaluation £167, CBT £83, OSCE £794 and registration £182.
What IELTS or OET score do I need for the NMC?
IELTS Academic 7 in listening, reading and speaking and 6.5 in writing, or OET B in listening, reading and speaking and C+ in writing.
How much do nurses earn in the UK?
NHS Band 5, the grade for newly registered nurses, pays £32,073 to £39,043 a year from April 2026, plus high-cost area supplements.