For years, Canada was the first choice for Nigerians, Kenyans, Ghanaians and South Africans planning to move abroad. That has changed. Canada is issuing fewer study permits and cutting the number of temporary residents, so competition for every place is tougher.
Canada is still worth considering, but it shouldn’t be your only plan. Several other countries are actively hiring skilled workers from Africa, and some are easier to reach.
Germany: the most open door right now
Germany is short of workers in nursing, IT, engineering and skilled trades, and it has made its rules simpler.
- EU Blue Card: for graduates with a job offer paying at least €50,700 a year in 2026, or €45,934.20 in shortage jobs.
- Skilled worker visa: for people with a recognised degree or vocational training and a job offer.
- Opportunity Card: move for up to a year without a job offer to look for work.
The catch is language: most jobs need some German. Read our guide to whether you could qualify for Germany.
United Kingdom: harder than before, still open
The UK Skilled Worker visa now needs a degree-level job, a salary of at least £41,700 (or the job’s going rate) and B2 English. The care worker route has closed to people applying from abroad, but nurses can still go through the Health and Care Worker visa.
See the new UK Skilled Worker rules and what replaced the UK care visa.
Ireland: English-speaking and hiring
Ireland uses employment permits. From 1 March 2026:
- the Critical Skills Employment Permit needs a salary of at least €40,904, for jobs on Ireland’s critical skills list such as ICT, engineering, nursing and medicine, and
- the General Employment Permit needs at least €36,605, for most other jobs not on the ineligible list.
Critical Skills holders can bring family and move towards long-term residence. Nurses can register with the NMBI: see how nurses can work in the UK or Ireland.
Australia: high pay, high bar
Australia’s Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) needs an employer sponsor. From 1 July 2026, the Core Skills stream needs a salary of at least AUD 79,499. Australia also runs points-tested permanent visas for people with skills on its occupation lists, but they need strong English and a skills assessment.
For a master’s, Australia Awards Africa funds study for mid-career professionals: see our 2027 scholarship calendar.
How they compare
| Country | Job offer first? | English only? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Not with the Opportunity Card | Usually no, German helps | Nurses, engineers, IT, trades |
| UK | Yes | Yes | Degree-level jobs, nurses |
| Ireland | Yes | Yes | IT, engineering, health |
| Australia | Yes, for the 482 | Yes | Experienced professionals |
Before you go anywhere
- Use only the official government sites to check the rules. Each country’s visa site is free to read.
- Never pay for a job offer. Read how to spot a fake job abroad offer.
- Start your English test or German classes now. They take the longest.
Salary thresholds and rules change every year, so check the official page for each country before you apply.