Recruiting nursing professionals from abroad: what needs to be considered?
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. The process varies depending on whether you are recruiting from an EU or non-EU country. Unlike Germany, many countries require an academic education to become a nurse – professional recognition therefore plays an important role. Nurses from EU/EEA countries and Switzerland generally receive automatic recognition of their foreign qualifications.
Nursing specialists from third countries
Nurses from third countries need an individual assessment to have their professional qualifications recognised. They have to go through a so-called recognition procedure. If there are substantial differences, they must undergo an adaptation programme. You can find more information in our section “Recognition of foreign qualifications” and on the “Anerkennung in Deutschland” portal.
Here is a summary of the requirements for international nurses:
- Recognition of foreign professional qualifications: The competent recognition body in Germany checks whether the foreign professional qualification – which can also be a higher education qualification – is equivalent to the corresponding German reference profession “Pflegefachfrau/-mann, Pflegefachperson”. There are two options: International nurses can either have an equivalence assessment carried out, or they can waive this and complete an adaptation programme directly. Applications for the recognition of professional qualifications must be submitted to the competent body in the federal state in which the employment is to take place. The German recognition granted there is valid throughout Germany.
- Licence to practise a profession: The profession of a nurse is regulated in Germany. Those wishing to work in healthcare professions in Germany therefore require a state licence to practise their profession. As a rule, the following formal requirements must be met in addition to the recognised professional qualification:
- German language skills: at least level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)
- Physical aptitude for the profession: a medical certificate from Germany or the applicant’s country of origin,
- Certificate of good conduct: a certificate of good conduct or standing from the applicant’s country of origin or from the German police is required as proof that the applicant has no criminal record and is trustworthy.
Visas and residence permits for third-country nationals
Nationals of countries outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland require a residence title to work as a nurse. Depending on the outcome of the recognition procedure, international nurses have the following options:
- Work visa for qualified professionals: If the foreign professional qualification has been fully recognised and the competent body in Germany has agreed to issue a licence to practise the profession, nurses from third countries can apply for a visa or residence permit to take up qualified employment under Section 18a of the Residence Act [AufenthG]. This type of visa can only be issued if the applicant fulfils the professional requirements (full recognition and licence to practise the profession) and can provide evidence of a concrete offer of employment as a nurse in Germany.
Note: The EU Blue Card does not apply to nursing professionals. - Visa for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications: If the procedure for the recognition of professional qualifications results in partial recognition and the applicant can therefore undergo refresher training in Germany, a residence title for the purpose of having a foreign professional qualification recognised is required in accordance with Section 16d of the Residence Act [AufenthG].