Passing the exam doesn't give you the right to live and work. The visa is its own approval chain — sometimes longer, sometimes shorter, sometimes blocked entirely by nationality. This pillar walks all five visa pathways for 2026.
United Kingdom — Health and Care Worker Visa
- £324 application fee + IHS exemption (saves £5,175 over 5 years).
- NHS or CQC-registered employer sponsorship required.
- Family included.
- ILR after 5 years.
- Lowest friction of the five.
Australia — Skills in Demand 482 + skilled migration
- SID 482 (replaced TSS 482 Dec 2024) — employer-sponsored.
- 189 (Skilled Independent), 190 (Skilled Nominated), 491 (Regional).
- Dentists on Core Skills Occupation List.
- Multiple paths to PR.
Canada — Express Entry Healthcare + PNP
- Healthcare Category — CRS threshold ~480.
- Provincial Nominee Programs (Ontario, BC, Alberta, Manitoba, Atlantic) — +600 CRS.
- NDEB cert accelerates application.
- 6–12 month processing post-ITA.
- BTDPC pilot requires PR first.
Germany — Chancenkarte + Anerkennungspartnerschaft
- Chancenkarte (June 2024) — points-based job-seeker visa, dentists = bonus points.
- Anerkennungspartnerschaft (March 2024) — employer-sponsored recognition pathway, 3-year window.
- EU Blue Card for full Approbation + €47k+ income.
- Multiple frameworks, generally accommodating.
United States — F-1 → OPT → H-1B → EB-2 NIW
- F-1: I-20 from CODA school, SEVIS + visa fees.
- OPT: 12 months (dentistry not STEM).
- H-1B: cap-subject lottery, ~25–30% selection.
- EB-2 NIW for underserved-area dentists.
PP 10998 (Jan 1, 2026) blocks F-1 for Iranian nationals. The full US chain closes for Iranians until policy reverses.
Side-by-side comparison
| Country | Primary visa | Cost | Processing | Friction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | Health and Care Worker | £324 | 3 weeks | Low |
| Australia | SID 482 / 189 | AUD 4,640 | 4–12 months | Low–Mid |
| Canada | Express Entry HC | CAD 1,365 | 6–12 months | Mid |
| Germany | Chancenkarte | €75 | 6–12 weeks | Mid |
| USA | F-1 → H-1B chain | $185 + lottery | 12–36 months | High |
Decision framework
- Want the fastest, lowest-friction visa → UK.
- Want multiple skilled-migration lanes → Australia.
- Want PR-first strategy → Canada.
- Want Europe-wide mobility → Germany.
- Iranian national → avoid US, prefer UK/Germany/Canada/Australia.
What comes next
Week 7: landing. The post-visa, post-license reality. Provincial/state registration, first job, immigration to permanent residency, building a practice.
