How Much Does It Cost for a Nigerian Registered Nurse to Relocate to the United States? 🇺🇸
Nigerian Registered Nurses are in strong demand across the US, but licensing is state-controlled and credential-heavy. You must have your nursing education evaluated (CGFNS), pass the NCLEX-RN, complete a VisaScreen certificate, and meet English-language requirements. Licensing is separate from your right to work, and that is now the barrier: RNs almost always immigrate via an employer-sponsored EB-3 green card, and Proclamation 10998 has suspended immigrant visas for Nigerian nationals since 1 January 2026. The H-1B is not suspended, but USCIS rarely treats staff RN roles as specialty occupations.
Quick Numbers
Total Cost
₦2.0M – ₦3.2M
Starting Salary
$68,940/yr
$68,940 (entry) to $137,470+ (top) (2025)
Nigerians Who Moved
Top US shortage occupation
2024-2025
Source Rank
BLS OOH May 2025
Step-by-Step: Registration & Costs
1CGFNS Credentials Evaluation (CES report)CES Professional Report
Have your Nigerian nursing education and license evaluated by CGFNS/TruMerit. Most state boards require this CES Professional Report for international graduates.
2Pass the NCLEX-RN examNCLEX-RN registration (plus $150 international scheduling fee + VAT where applicable)
Register and sit the NCLEX-RN. An extra international scheduling fee applies if you test at a Pearson VUE centre outside the US.
3VisaScreen certificateVisaScreen / Visa Credentials Assessment
Federal law (INA 212(a)(5)(C)) requires a CGFNS VisaScreen certificate confirming your credentials, exams and English ability before a healthcare-worker visa is issued.
4State board licensure by examinationState application fee (California international-graduate example; many states charge less)
Apply to the nursing board in your target state for licensure by examination. International-graduate fees vary widely by state.
Other Costs to Budget For
Test fee not from an official .gov source; required unless exempt. Nigeria-educated nurses are generally not exempt.
Official source ↗Verification and shipping of Nigerian credentials
Official source ↗Good News: Employer Sponsorship
Closed to most Nigerian nurses: Proclamation 10998, s.5(j), has suspended the entry of Nigerian nationals as immigrants since 1 January 2026, so the EB-3 green card that US hospitals normally sponsor for foreign RNs cannot currently be used (https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-12-19/html/2025-23570.htm). Exceptions include dual nationals travelling on a non-Nigerian passport. The H-1B work visa is not suspended, but most staff RN roles do not qualify for it.
What employers typically cover:
- EB-3 immigration petition (I-140) filing (immigrant entry suspended for Nigerian nationals since 1 Jan 2026)
- Immigration legal fees
- Sometimes relocation and CGFNS/NCLEX cost reimbursement
What You'll Earn: $68,940 (entry) to $137,470+ (top) (2025)
Entry
$68,940
per year
After 2 Years
$97,550
per year
Top of Band
$137,470
per year
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2025 data. Median $97,550; 10th percentile $68,940; 90th percentile $137,470. Source ↗
Important Things to Know
- Route closed for most Nigerian nurses: since 1 January 2026, Proclamation 10998, s.5(j), suspends the entry of Nigerian nationals as immigrants, which covers the EB-3 green card (https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-12-19/html/2025-23570.htm). The H-1B is not suspended. Open alternatives: the UK (NMC) and Canada (NNAS) nursing routes.
- Licensing is state-by-state — you must qualify in the specific state where you intend to work.
- RNs generally do NOT qualify for H-1B (USCIS does not treat most RN roles as a specialty occupation), and the usual EB-3 green card is suspended for Nigerian nationals, so most Nigerian nurses currently have no open US work route.
- A VisaScreen certificate is legally required before any healthcare-worker visa is issued.
- Some states accept the full CGFNS Certification Program ($495) instead of, or in addition to, the CES report.
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Start Free CalculatorFrequently Asked Questions
Do Nigerian nurses get H-1B visas?
Rarely. USCIS does not normally treat staff RN positions as specialty occupations. The usual alternative, an employer-sponsored EB-3 green card, has been suspended for Nigerian nationals since 1 January 2026 under Proclamation 10998.
Do I have to take an English test?
Yes, in almost all cases. Nigeria-educated nurses are generally not exempt and must pass IELTS Academic or OET to meet VisaScreen and state-board rules.
How much does the licensing process cost?
Roughly $1,500-$2,400 in credentialing and exam fees (CGFNS CES, NCLEX, VisaScreen, state application), before English-test, travel and immigration costs.
Related guides
Same profession, other countries
See cost breakdowns for this profession in other countries
Compare what it costs Nigerian registered nurses to relocate to each top destination.
Sources & Verification
We reviewed this page against official sources on 8 Oct 2026; each figure links to its source where an official one exists. We do not use AI training data for any costs, fees, or policy claims.
Verification Notes
State board application fee is highly state-specific; only California's $750 international-graduate fee was verified from an official source. Many states charge $100-$300.
NCLEX international VAT amount is location-dependent and not published as a figure by NCSBN.
IELTS/OET test fees are not from official .gov/credentialing fee schedules and are indicative only.
Written by Max Ayobami
Founder of Japa Calculator, Nigeria's first data-driven relocation decision tool. Every cost figure and expert tip on this page is independently researched and verified against official government and regulatory body sources.