Skilled workers from all over the world working in Germany

Nursing professionals from abroad

It pays to recruit nursing professionals from abroad. Find out what you need to consider and where you can get assistance.

If you want to recruit a nursing professional from abroad, the first step is to find out exactly which country you want to recruit from. Unlike Germany, many countries require an academic education to become a nursing professional – professional recognition plays an important role.

Nursing specialists from abroad

If the nursing specialist is not a national of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland, in addition to a recognised professional qualification and a licence to practise the profession, they must have an appropriate residence title for entry and employment. Find out about the requirements for a work visa for qualified professionals in the “Visa” section.

You can find information on the possibilities of entering the German labour market as a nursing specialist on the Federal Employment Agency website.

Employment of assistants in nursing from abroad

Are you looking for auxiliary nursing and care staff? It is also possible to employ staff in care activities that require less than the three years of specialised vocational training required by federal law. This includes activities based on state-recognised vocational training, in particular as healthcare and nursing assistants, geriatric care assistants and care assistants, for which training of at least one year is required in Germany. 

The entry and work visa will be issued if the following requirements are met:

  • The applicant has completed training as an assistant in nursing in Germany or has a recognised foreign qualification. Other provisions of the relevant national law, in particular those relating to the use of professional titles, must also be complied with.
  • The Federal Employment Agency (BA) has approved the employment as an assistant in nursing under Section 22a of the Ordinance on the Employment of Foreigners (BeschV). The BA also checks working conditions (working hours, pay, etc.).
  • If the assistant in nursing is over 45, they must earn a certain minimum salary for employment in Germany or provide proof of adequate pension provision. In 2024, this minimum salary is €49,830.

You will find more information on rules governing residence in the “Special regulation for assistants in nursing” visa section.

Placement of healthcare professionals from abroad

As part of the Triple Win project, the International and Specialised Services (ZAV), in cooperation with the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), place nursing and care workers from the partner countries Bosnia and Herzegovina, Tunisia, India and the Philippines in nursing or geriatric institutions in Germany. Both employers and nursing and care professionals are supported throughout the migration process. You will find more information on the Triple Win website.

Are you from a recruitment agency or would you like to use the services of a private recruitment agency as an employer? Please take note of information from the Federal Employment Agency on the placement of healthcare personnel from abroad.

Information on the web

  1. Federal Employment Agency (BA) Information on admission to the labour market
  2. Sachsen.de (the free state of Saxony) Information for employers on the expedited procedure for qualified professionals
  3. Deutsches Kompetenzzentrum für internaltionale Fachkräfte in den Gesundheits- und Pflegeberufen (DKF) Seal of approval "Fair recruitment of nursing and care professionals"
    1. Adaptation course for nursing and care professionals from abroad

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