How to work as a nurse in Germany

Germany needs many nurses and has made it easier for foreign nurses to come. The key step is recognition of your qualification (Anerkennung) by the authority in the German state where you will work.

The steps

1. Find your authority. Use the Recognition Finder on the official "Recognition in Germany" website. Each federal state has its own office.
2. Learn German. Most states ask for B2 level German for nurses. Start early: it is usually the longest step.
3. Apply for recognition. Send your diploma, transcripts and work certificates (often with certified translations).
4. Read your decision. You get either full recognition or a "deficit notice" (Defizitbescheid). You can close the gap with an adaptation course (Anpassungslehrgang) or a knowledge exam (Kenntnisprüfung).
5. Get a visa. With full recognition and a job offer, you apply for a skilled worker visa. If you still need to close a gap, there are visas that let you come to Germany and do it while working.
6. Start as a registered nurse (Pflegefachfrau / Pflegefachmann) once recognition is complete.

Good to know

• The government programme Triple Win (run by GIZ and the Federal Employment Agency) recruits nurses from selected partner countries for free.
• Look for employers and agencies with the "Faire Anwerbung Pflege Deutschland" quality seal. They follow the rule that the employer pays recruitment costs.

Watch out: You should not pay for a "guaranteed" job in Germany. Language courses cost money, but a real employer often helps pay for them.

Official sites

• Recognition in Germany (Anerkennung)
• Make it in Germany: nurses
• Triple Win programme

Rules change. Always confirm the details on the official sites linked in this guide before you pay for any exam or application.