One of the most rewarding parts of being a veterinary nurse is that our skills are needed everywhere — not just in your local practice. If you’re dreaming of travel but don’t want to put your career on pause, good news: you don’t have to.
Whether you’re craving a break, a new challenge, or a deeper purpose, there are exciting ways to combine your veterinary skills with meaningful adventures while seeing the world at the same time.
How to use your Veterinary qualification around the world
Volunteering Abroad: Use Your Skills for Good
Volunteering is by far one of the most popular ways vet nurses take their skills on the road — and for good reason.
It allows us to give back, experience other cultures, and grow both professionally and personally.
Types of volunteering opportunities:
- Spay/neuter clinics in developing countries (e.g., World Vets, Mission Rabies, Animal Aid Unlimited)
- Wildlife rescue and rehabilitation (e.g., sanctuaries in South Africa, Costa Rica, or Thailand)
- Marine conservation (treating sea turtles, dolphins, or seals)
- Community outreach and education projects
Perks:
- You’ll build clinical confidence in new environments.
- Make global veterinary connections.
- Often on longer stays, accommodation and meals are covered.
Things to consider:
- Research the ethics and impact of the organisation. Make sure intentions are good and support animal welfare.
- Some trips are paid/partially funded; others require a financial contribution.
Locum Work in Different Regions
Want to travel without stepping into full-time volunteering? Consider locum nursing in different parts of your country — or even overseas if your qualifications transfer.
Benefits:
- You get paid while exploring new places.
- Short-term contracts give you flexibility.
- Great way to build experience in different clinic styles or specialties.
Hot tip: Online Locum groups on Facebook often have listings in rural, coastal, or regional locations where travel feels like part of the job.
Working Holiday Visas + Vet Nurse Work
If you’re under 30 (or 35 in some countries), you may be eligible for a working holiday visa in places like Australia, New Zealand, or Canada. Many clinics are open to hiring experienced nurses for short- to medium-term roles.
Here are a few popular countries that offer working holiday visas to UK citizens (and other eligible nationalities):
| Country | Age Limit | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 18–35 | 12–36 months | Easy to find vet nurse work; can extend for rural/regional work |
| New Zealand | 18–30 (35 in UK/Canada) | 12 months (up to 23 for UK) | Vet clinics in rural areas often need staff |
| Canada | 18–30 (35 in UK/Ireland) | 12–24 months | Vet tech roles available — requirements vary by province |
| Japan | 18–30 | 12 months | Veterinary Nurse roles less common, but possible in ex-pat areas |
| Ireland | 18–35 | 12 months | Open EU-style work environment |
Do You Need to Register or Transfer Qualifications?
Here’s where it gets a bit technical — but totally manageable!
- Australia: Vet nurses aren’t legally required to be registered in most states, but employers prefer qualifications. Some regions (like Western Australia) do have registration.
- New Zealand: Vet nurses can work unregistered, but NZVNA membership is encouraged.
- Canada: Some provinces require licensing (like Ontario and British Columbia), while others are more flexible.
If you’re qualified and experienced Veterinary Nurse, many clinics will train you on the job for local protocols.
Combine Travel & CPD
Why not mix professional growth with wanderlust? Look for international conferences, workshops, or CPD retreats in destinations you’ve always wanted to visit.
Some great examples:
- NAVC (Orlando, USA)
- BSAVA Congress (UK)
- Vet Nurse CPD safari experiences in Africa
This can be classed as an expense if you are a Locum Veterinary Nurse. This means you can subtract the amount from your taxable income. This includes your ticket, flights and accommodation!
Teaching or Outreach Work
Experienced vet nurses are often in demand to train local staff or teach students abroad. This can be through formal organisations or grassroots community projects.
If you’ve got a passion for mentoring, this is a beautiful way to make a long-term impact — and get to know a culture beyond the tourist track.
In many parts of the world, formal training for veterinary support staff is limited or still developing, so your skills and experience as a qualified RVN can make a real difference. Whether it’s:
- Demonstrating anaesthetic monitoring techniques
- Teaching sterile surgical prep
- Sharing tips for inpatient care or wound management
- Helping local teams develop protocols for infection control
These types of trips can look great on a CV if you thinking of going into a leadership or teaching role in the future.
A few organisations known for this type of work:
- Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS) – Teaching local teams across Asia and Africa
- Mission Rabies – Training local volunteers and vet workers in rabies prevention
- Vets Beyond Borders – Training and mentoring in developing nations
- The Esther Honey Foundation – Providing education and animal care in the Pacific Islands
- Vet Treks Foundation – Offers mentorship and training with small teams of professionals
Things to bare in mind when working abroad as a Veterinary Nurse:
- Be culturally sensitive: What works in your home clinic might not be feasible elsewhere — flexibility and kindness go a long way.
- It’s okay to learn too! Often, it’s a two-way exchange. Be open to new ideas and ways of doing things.
- Support, don’t take over: Focus on teaching, not just doing. The goal is to build local skills that last long after you’ve left.
Remote Work: Nursing from Anywhere
While vet nursing has traditionally been a hands-on, clinic-based job, more remote vet nurse opportunities are popping up — especially for experienced nurses looking to work flexibly or while travelling.
Veterinary nurses are now working from laptops in all sorts of ways, including:
- Telehealth support – Assisting with client calls, triage, post-op check-ins, and virtual consults
- Client communication roles – Answering emails, managing online bookings, explaining treatment plans
- Remote prescription & product advice – Especially for pet pharmacies or online vet services
- Education & training – Creating content, courses, or webinars for vet teams or pet owners
- Medical writing or blogging – Sharing your knowledge through content creation
Before applying for these roles, especially support and communication roles, it is important to remember time zones. You won’t want to be offering telesupport in the UK if you are travelling through South-East Asia. Make sure you find out if it essential to be online at certain times or if their is flexibility.
Working from a beach cafe in Bali sounds pretty fantastic, right?
Top Tips for Planning Your Working Veterinary Holiday
- Join Facebook groups for vet nurses in your destination country — it’s the best way to find locum gigs and connect with others.
- Update your CV and references before you leave.
- Book a flexible flight — you might want to extend your stay once you get settled.
- Purchase travel insurance that covers medical and work-related activities.
- Be open to rural and remote placements — they often come with perks like free accommodation and epic scenery.
Combining a working holiday with your vet nurse skills is an incredible way to:
- Grow professionally in new settings
- Fund your travels (instead of draining savings)
- Make friends and memories all over the world
- Boost your confidence, independence, and adaptability
But, how does travelling as a Vet Nurse look on your CV?
In many industries, there used to be a lot of stigma around ‘career gaps’ on your CV. Thankfully, this does not seem to happen as often anymore with employers being more open to the experience it can bring.
If you do feel you need to find a way to explain it, here is our advice – add it as an actual role under your experience, like this:
Volunteer Veterinary Nurse
Worldwide Veterinary Service – India & Malawi | Jan 2023 – Sep 2023
- Assisted in high-volume spay/neuter clinics and post-op care
- Mentored local veterinary assistants on patient monitoring and hygiene protocols
- Adapted to remote settings with limited resources, building strong problem-solving and communication skills
Or:
International Veterinary Nursing Experience (Career Break)
Various NGOs | Jan 2023 – Oct 2023
- Volunteered with Mission Rabies and WVS across India and Thailand
- Gained experience in tropical disease cases and community outreach
- Developed leadership, flexibility, and cross-cultural communication
By listing it as an experience — not just a gap — you highlight your initiative, resilience, and passion.
In Your Cover Letter or Interview be ready to briefly explain:
- Why you did it (“I wanted to challenge myself clinically and contribute to global animal welfare.”)
- What you gained (“It strengthened my ability to think on my feet, communicate across language barriers, and adapt to unfamiliar environments.”)
- How it makes you better for the role you’re applying for now.
You can say something like:
“In 2023, I took a 9-month career break to volunteer with international animal welfare organisations. This hands-on work in resource-limited settings deepened my skills in surgical support, problem-solving, and team collaboration — and has made me an even more adaptable and compassionate nurse.”
You don’t have to choose between adventure and your career. Your skills are portable, valuable, and deeply needed — all over the world.
Feeling inspired?
We’re building a directory of volunteer and travel opportunities specifically for vet nurses — stay tuned or sign up for updates on Veterinary Nurse Careers.
Because life’s too short to stay stuck when the world is calling.
