Looking to emigrate as a plumber? We ranked 20 countries across five dimensions — visa accessibility, salary competitiveness, cost of living, quality of life, and career growth — to find the best destinations for plumbers in 2026.
Country Rankings for Plumbers
| Rank | Country | Score | Visa | Salary | Cost | QoL | Career | Best Pathway | Recognition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luxembourg | 8.0/10 | 8.0 | 9.0 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | Eu Blue Card | No |
| 2 | Iceland | 7.5/10 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 | Residence Permit For Work (General) | No |
| 3 | Finland | 7.3/10 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 9.0 | 7.0 | Employed Person Residence Permit | No |
| 4 | Cyprus | 6.8/10 | 8.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 5.0 | Eu Blue Card | No |
| 5 | Canada | 6.7/10 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | 6.0 | Federal Skilled Trades | No |
| 6 | Germany | 6.7/10 | 7.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 9.0 | 6.0 | Skilled Worker Visa Vocational | No |
| 7 | Belgium | 6.6/10 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 | Eu Blue Card | No |
| 8 | Kuwait | 6.6/10 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | Article 18 Private Sector Work Visa | No |
| 9 | Australia | 6.5/10 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | 6.0 | Skilled Independent 189 | No |
| 10 | Denmark | 6.5/10 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 4.0 | 10.0 | 6.0 | Positive List For Skilled Work | No |
| 11 | Netherlands | 6.5/10 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | 6.0 | Single Permit Gvva | No |
| 12 | Singapore | 6.5/10 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 4.0 | 9.0 | 6.0 | S Pass | No |
| 13 | Sweden | 6.5/10 | 7.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | 6.0 | Work Permit Employer Sponsored | No |
| 14 | Switzerland | 6.5/10 | 5.0 | 9.0 | 2.0 | 10.0 | 6.0 | B Permit Skilled Worker Residence | No |
| 15 | United Arab Emirates | 6.5/10 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 5.0 | 8.0 | 6.0 | Employment Visa Standard Work Visa | No |
| 16 | United States | 6.5/10 | 5.0 | 8.0 | 4.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 | Eb 3 Skilled Workers | No |
| 17 | Estonia | 6.5/10 | 8.0 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 4.0 | Temporary Residence Permit For Employment | No |
| 18 | Portugal | 6.4/10 | 8.0 | 4.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 5.0 | D1 Employment Visa | No |
| 19 | United Kingdom | 6.4/10 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 4.0 | 8.0 | 6.0 | Skilled Worker Visa | No |
| 20 | Czech Republic | 6.3/10 | 8.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 4.0 | Employee Card | No |
| 21 | Greece | 6.3/10 | 8.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 4.0 | Eu Blue Card | No |
| 22 | Hungary | 6.3/10 | 8.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 4.0 | Eu Blue Card | No |
| 23 | Malta | 6.3/10 | 8.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 4.0 | Single Permit | No |
| 24 | Slovakia | 6.3/10 | 8.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 4.0 | Single Permit (Combined Work And Residence) | No |
| 25 | Montenegro | 6.3/10 | 8.0 | 4.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 3.0 | Temporary Residence And Work Permit For Employment | No |
| 26 | Austria | 6.2/10 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | 6.0 | Red White Red Card Skilled Workers In Shortage | No |
| 27 | New Zealand | 6.2/10 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | 6.0 | Green List Work To Residence Visa | No |
| 28 | Italy | 6.2/10 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 6.0 | Eu Blue Card Italy | No |
| 29 | Ireland | 6.1/10 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 4.0 | 8.0 | 6.0 | General Employment Permit | No |
| 30 | Norway | 6.1/10 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 3.0 | 10.0 | 6.0 | Skilled Worker Permit | No |
| 31 | Lithuania | 6.0/10 | 7.0 | 4.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 5.0 | Eu Blue Card | No |
| 32 | Hong Kong | 6.0/10 | 8.0 | 6.0 | 4.0 | 6.0 | 5.0 | General Employment Policy (Gep) | No |
| 33 | Taiwan | 6.0/10 | 8.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 4.0 | Employment Gold Card | No |
| 34 | Israel | 6.0/10 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 4.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | B 1 Expert Work Visa | No |
| 35 | Albania | 6.0/10 | 8.0 | 4.0 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 3.0 | Unique Permit | No |
| 36 | Romania | 5.9/10 | 7.0 | 4.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 3.0 | Standard Work Permit | No |
| 37 | Ecuador | 5.9/10 | 8.0 | 4.0 | 8.0 | 6.0 | 3.0 | Work Visa (12 Vi) | No |
| 38 | Poland | 5.8/10 | 6.0 | 3.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.0 | Type A Work Permit | No |
| 39 | Uruguay | 5.8/10 | 8.0 | 2.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 4.0 | Temporary Residency Work | No |
| 40 | Argentina | 5.8/10 | 8.0 | 2.0 | 9.0 | 6.0 | 4.0 | Temporary Work Visa | No |
| 41 | Chile | 5.8/10 | 7.0 | 2.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 5.0 | Employee Work Visa | No |
| 42 | North Macedonia | 5.8/10 | 7.0 | 3.0 | 9.0 | 6.0 | 5.0 | Skilled Worker Permit | No |
| 43 | Barbados | 5.8/10 | 7.0 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 4.0 | Short Term Work Permit | No |
| 44 | Brunei | 5.8/10 | 7.0 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 4.0 | Employment Pass (Ep) | No |
| 45 | Qatar | 5.7/10 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 4.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | Work Residence Permit | No |
| 46 | Serbia | 5.7/10 | 8.0 | 3.0 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 3.0 | Single Permit (Residence + Work) | No |
| 47 | Bahrain | 5.6/10 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 4.0 | Work Visa | No |
| 48 | Croatia | 5.6/10 | 6.0 | 3.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 5.0 | Temporary Stay Work Permit | No |
| 49 | Moldova | 5.6/10 | 6.0 | 4.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 3.0 | Long Stay Work Visa (Type D) | No |
| 50 | Japan | 5.5/10 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 6.0 | 9.0 | 5.0 | Skilled Worker Visa Tokutei Gino | No |
| 51 | Spain | 5.5/10 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 4.0 | Employee Work Visa | No |
| 52 | Malaysia | 5.5/10 | 6.0 | 2.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 5.0 | Employment Pass Category I | No |
| 53 | Turkey | 5.5/10 | 7.0 | 2.0 | 8.0 | 6.0 | 5.0 | Work Permit | No |
| 54 | Georgia | 5.5/10 | 8.0 | 2.0 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 4.0 | Work Residence Permit | No |
| 55 | Mauritius | 5.5/10 | 6.0 | 2.0 | 9.0 | 7.0 | 4.0 | Professional Occupation Permit | No |
| 56 | Rwanda | 5.5/10 | 7.0 | 2.0 | 9.0 | 6.0 | 5.0 | V4 Skilled Worker | No |
| 57 | Costa Rica | 5.5/10 | 8.0 | 4.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 3.0 | Work Visa (Empleado Residente) | No |
| 58 | Peru | 5.5/10 | 7.0 | 3.0 | 9.0 | 6.0 | 3.0 | Temporary Worker Visa | No |
| 59 | Cambodia | 5.5/10 | 6.0 | 4.0 | 9.0 | 6.0 | 3.0 | Business Visa Extension (Eb) | No |
| 60 | Russia | 5.5/10 | 6.0 | 4.0 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 3.0 | Standard Work Visa | No |
| 61 | Kyrgyzstan | 5.5/10 | 7.0 | 3.0 | 9.0 | 6.0 | 3.0 | Employment Visa W1 With Work Permit | No |
| 62 | Jamaica | 5.4/10 | 7.0 | 3.0 | 8.0 | 6.0 | 3.0 | Work Permit (General) | No |
| 63 | Paraguay | 5.4/10 | 7.0 | 3.0 | 8.0 | 6.0 | 3.0 | Temporary Work Residence | No |
| 64 | Uganda | 5.4/10 | 8.0 | 3.0 | 8.0 | 5.0 | 3.0 | Class A Government/Diplomatic Service | No |
| 65 | France | 5.3/10 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 8.0 | 5.0 | Salaried Employee Work Permit | No |
| 66 | South Korea | 5.3/10 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 5.0 | E 7 Foreign National Of Special Ability | No |
| 67 | Saudi Arabia | 5.3/10 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | Employment Visa Iqama | No |
| 68 | Panama | 5.3/10 | 8.0 | 3.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 3.0 | Friendly Nations Visa | No |
| 69 | Kazakhstan | 5.3/10 | 7.0 | 4.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 3.0 | C3 Work Visa | No |
| 70 | Mexico | 5.2/10 | 7.0 | 2.0 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 4.0 | Temporary Resident Visa | No |
| 71 | Bulgaria | 5.2/10 | 6.0 | 2.0 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 5.0 | Eu Blue Card | No |
| 72 | South Africa | 5.2/10 | 7.0 | 2.0 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 5.0 | Critical Skills Visa | No |
| 73 | Oman | 5.2/10 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 4.0 | Work Visa (Standard) | No |
| 74 | Trinidad and Tobago | 5.2/10 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 9.0 | 6.0 | 3.0 | Work Permit (General) | No |
| 75 | Lebanon | 5.2/10 | 6.0 | 3.0 | 9.0 | 6.0 | 3.0 | Work Permit (Standard Employment) | No |
| 76 | Thailand | 5.1/10 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 5.0 | Smart Visa | No |
| 77 | Morocco | 5.1/10 | 7.0 | 4.0 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 3.0 | Long Term Work Visa | No |
| 78 | Mongolia | 5.1/10 | 6.0 | 3.0 | 8.0 | 6.0 | 3.0 | Hg Work Visa (Employment Visa) | No |
| 79 | Fiji | 5.0/10 | 6.0 | 1.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 4.0 | Work Permit | No |
| 80 | Dominican Republic | 5.0/10 | 7.0 | 3.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 3.0 | Business Visa For Employment Purposes (Nm1) | No |
| 81 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 5.0/10 | 5.0 | 3.0 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 3.0 | Temporary Work Permit | No |
| 82 | Nepal | 5.0/10 | 5.0 | 3.0 | 9.0 | 6.0 | 3.0 | Working Visa | No |
| 83 | Uzbekistan | 5.0/10 | 7.0 | 3.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 3.0 | Employment Visa Type E | No |
| 84 | Tajikistan | 5.0/10 | 5.0 | 3.0 | 9.0 | 6.0 | 3.0 | Working Visa (Type M) | No |
| 85 | Brazil | 5.0/10 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 3.0 | Work Visa | No |
| 86 | Vietnam | 4.9/10 | 7.0 | 3.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 3.0 | Ld1 Work Visa (Work Permit Exemption) | No |
| 87 | Vanuatu | 4.8/10 | 6.0 | 1.0 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 4.0 | Work Permit | No |
| 88 | Egypt | 4.8/10 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 9.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | Employment Work Permit | No |
| 89 | Ghana | 4.8/10 | 5.0 | 3.0 | 9.0 | 5.0 | 3.0 | Discretionary Quota Work Permit | No |
| 90 | Sri Lanka | 4.8/10 | 6.0 | 3.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 3.0 | Employment Category Residence Visa | No |
| 91 | Armenia | 4.8/10 | 6.0 | 3.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 3.0 | Work Permit + Temporary Residence Card | No |
| 92 | Azerbaijan | 4.8/10 | 6.0 | 3.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 3.0 | Work Permit (General Employment) | No |
| 93 | Tunisia | 4.8/10 | 5.0 | 3.0 | 9.0 | 5.0 | 3.0 | Long Stay Work Visa (Visa D) | No |
| 94 | Myanmar | 4.8/10 | 6.0 | 3.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 3.0 | Employment Visa | No |
| 95 | Laos | 4.8/10 | 6.0 | 3.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 3.0 | Business Visa (B2) | No |
| 96 | Slovenia | 4.7/10 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 3.0 | Single Permit | No |
| 97 | Iraq | 4.7/10 | 5.0 | 3.0 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 3.0 | Employment Visa | No |
| 98 | Madagascar | 4.7/10 | 5.0 | 3.0 | 8.0 | 5.0 | 3.0 | Long Stay Work Visa | No |
| 99 | Ethiopia | 4.6/10 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 9.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | Employment Work Permit | No |
| 100 | Tanzania | 4.6/10 | 6.0 | 3.0 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 3.0 | Residence Permit Class A (Investor/Self Employment) | No |
| 101 | Mozambique | 4.6/10 | 6.0 | 3.0 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 3.0 | Work Visa (General Employment) | No |
| 102 | Zimbabwe | 4.6/10 | 6.0 | 3.0 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 3.0 | Temporary Employment Permit | No |
| 103 | Zambia | 4.6/10 | 5.0 | 3.0 | 8.0 | 5.0 | 2.0 | Employment Permit | No |
| 104 | Latvia | 4.5/10 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 3.0 | Work Permit | No |
| 105 | Iran | 4.5/10 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 3.0 | Work Permit Visa (Type F) | No |
| 106 | China | 4.4/10 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 5.0 | Work Permit Class B | No |
| 107 | Kenya | 4.4/10 | 5.0 | 1.0 | 8.0 | 5.0 | 4.0 | Work Permit Class D | No |
| 108 | Jordan | 4.4/10 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 8.0 | 5.0 | 4.0 | Standard Work Permit | No |
| 109 | Maldives | 4.4/10 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 3.0 | Work Visa (Standard Employment) | No |
| 110 | Algeria | 4.4/10 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 8.0 | 5.0 | 3.0 | Work Visa (Long Term) | No |
| 111 | Libya | 4.4/10 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 8.0 | 5.0 | 3.0 | Work Visa | No |
| 112 | Sudan | 4.3/10 | 5.0 | 3.0 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 3.0 | Temporary Work Visa | No |
| 113 | Ukraine | 3.7/10 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 9.0 | 4.0 | 3.0 | Work Permit | No |
Top 3 Countries in Detail
#1 Luxembourg (8.0/10)
Gold Medal — Best Pathway: Eu Blue Card
- Income requirement: €5,284/monthly
- Processing: 56-84 days
- Key info: Very high salary threshold increased to €63,408 annually as of March 2025. Employer must prove no EU candidate available. Labour market test required.
- Cost of living from €2000/month (Differdange)
- See all Luxembourg visa pathways →
#2 Iceland (7.5/10)
Silver Medal — Best Pathway: Residence Permit For Work (General)
- Cost of living from €2298/month (Kópavogur)
- See all Iceland visa pathways →
#3 Finland (7.3/10)
Bronze Medal — Best Pathway: Employed Person Residence Permit
- Income requirement: €1,463/monthly
- Processing: 21-42 days
- Key info: Subject to labour market testing in most cases. Must meet collective agreement wages. Cannot start working before permit granted.
- Cost of living from €1100/month (Turku)
- See all Finland visa pathways →
Practical Guide Available
Looking for salary comparisons, visa accessibility tiers, and professional recognition requirements? Read our complete guide to working abroad as a plumber.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best country for plumbers to emigrate in 2026?
Luxembourg ranks #1 for plumbers in 2026 with a composite score of 8.0/10, based on visa accessibility, salary competitiveness, cost of living, quality of life, and career growth opportunities.
Do plumbers need professional recognition abroad?
It depends on the country. Some countries require license recognition or credential evaluation for plumbers. Our ranking includes a recognition requirement indicator for each country.
Which countries have the easiest visa process for plumbers?
Countries with high visa accessibility scores include those with dedicated skilled worker visas, shortage occupation lists, or points-based systems that favour plumbers.
How are these country rankings calculated?
Rankings are based on five equally weighted dimensions: visa accessibility (how easy to get a work visa), salary competitiveness (earning potential), cost of living (affordability), quality of life (safety, healthcare, infrastructure), and career growth (job market strength). Each dimension is scored 1-10.
Can I emigrate as a Plumber without a job offer?
Several countries offer points-based immigration (Canada, Australia, New Zealand) or job seeker visas (Germany Chancenkarte) that don't require a job offer. Digital nomad visas are also an option for remote plumbers.
Data sourced from official government immigration portals, verified March 2026. Scores are indicative and should be used alongside professional immigration advice.