Recognition of nursing professionals
Information for employers and recruitment agencies on the recognition and employment of foreign nursing professionals.
Here you learn ...
which nurses must have their training recognized
when a foreign nursing qualification is recognized in Germany
how the application process for the deficit notice and the visa works
which labor law peculiarities apply in the care sector
Table of Content
1. Which nurses require recognition?
2. Apply for recognition from abroad (deficit notice)
3. Requirements and documents Deficit notice (application for recognition)
4. Recognition partnership
5. FAQ Employment of nursing staff
1. Which nurses require recognition?
Approximately 15% of nursing staff in Germany have foreign nationality. Outside of Europe, most of these nurses come from Turkey, Russia, and Southeast Asia. The proportion of nurses migrating to Germany is expected to increase significantly in the future. The federal government has recently introduced numerous measures to facilitate immigration for nursing staff. This applies, for example, to the possibility of applying for visas for nursing assistants (Section 22a of the Employment Ordinance) and the simplification of the recognition process (Section 43a of the PflAPrV). These measures are urgently needed, as the nursing sector is particularly affected by the shortage of skilled workers due to the aging population.
Working as a nurse in Germany
In order to work in the nursing sector in Germany, foreign nationals need a residence permit (usually a visa) and recognized training in nursing, as nursing activities are regulated professions under the Nursing Professions Act. Training from third countries is usually not recognized in the respective nursing profession. In order to have foreign training recognized in Germany, nurses must therefore go through a corresponding recognition procedure (deficit notice or recognition partnership, Section 16d of the Residence Act ). The recognition procedure determines whether the foreign training is of comparable quality to training under the German Vocational Training Act . The recognition procedure ends with the issuance of a deficit notice , which determines which compensatory measures are necessary for working as a skilled worker in Germany. A visa can be applied for on the basis of this deficit notice. With the visa, the recognition training can be completed in Germany (eliminating training deficits) and subsequently a professional practice permit is issued in accordance with the Nursing Professions Act (PflBG) (e.g. as a nursing professional).
When applying for a visa, a distinction is generally made between the following levels of education:
Nurse should be employed as a nursing professional according to the PflBG,
Nursing staff should be employed as a nursing staff in accordance with state law (e.g. as a nurse),
The nurse should be employed as an unskilled nursing assistant (e.g. with a basic nursing course).
Depending on the training of the caregiver, different requirements apply to apply for the deficit notice and subsequently for the visa based on the deficit notice.
2. Apply for recognition from abroad (deficit notice)
What is a deficit notice?
To obtain recognition, you must first apply for a deficit notice (see above). The deficit notice is an administrative act that determines whether and to what extent a foreign qualification is comparable to a German qualification and what compensatory measures (theoretical and practical instruction) are necessary to obtain a license to practice as a nurse. The following describes the process and the required documents for the deficit notice.
How does the recognition process work?
The recognition process for nursing professionals is as follows:
1. Submit an application for recognition: First, an application for recognition must be submitted to the relevant authority. Along with the application, various supporting documents must be submitted.
2. Receive a deficiency notice: The recognition authority will decide on the basis of the submitted documents whether the training abroad complies with the requirements of training in Germany.
3. Apply for a visa: With the deficit notice, an entry visa can be applied for at the responsible foreign representation (embassy).
4. Entry and training: After receiving the visa, the nurse can enter Germany. After entry, the visa must be converted into a residence permit at the immigration office.
5. Examination and professional license: After completing training, the nurse must take an examination. If the examination is passed, the nurse receives a license to practice.
6. Permanent residency: Upon completion of training, the foreign national is considered a skilled worker under the Skilled Immigration Act. This entitles them to numerous privileges regarding settlement permits and naturalization.
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3. Requirements and documents Deficit notice (application for recognition)
To submit the application for recognition to the competent authority, the documents listed below must be submitted. The authority will decide on the necessary compensatory measures in Germany based on the documents. The documents should be submitted in full and in the required format to avoid delays in processing the application.
These documents are necessary to apply for recognition of a foreign nursing qualification in Germany:
Passport or other international proof of identity
Certificate of completion from abroad (e.g. diploma)
Proof of the content of the training (e.g. diploma supplement)
Professional CV (tabular list of training and employment)
Proof of the planned activity in Germany and the location of the activity (e.g. registration certificate)
Employment references (if available)
Language certificate (if available)
Declaration that no other applications for equivalence have been submitted so far
It should be noted that the authority has the option to request additional documents if it has doubts about the accuracy of the documents. In some federal states, the recognition authorities even request additional documents as a general rule (see, for example, the information sheet on the recognition of foreign nursing qualifications in North Rhine-Westphalia ).
Documents must generally be submitted in German . Documents in foreign languages must be translated by a sworn translator in Germany. The original (and not a copy) must always be translated. The translation of the original must be certified by the translator. Regarding the form, documents can generally be submitted as a simple copy or electronically. Certification of documents is not always required.
After the recognition authority has issued the deficit notice, the visa can be applied for at the embassy.
For the subsequent visa procedure (after receiving the deficit notice), the following documents are usually required:
Application form
biometric passport photos
CV
Employment contract or employment contract offer
Declaration of employment relationship
Proof of foreign vocational training
Deficit notice
Proof of previous professional activities
Language certificate
Health insurance certificate
Visa fee
Once the visa with the deficit notice has been received, entry to Germany can take place. Here, the theoretical (school) and practical (work) adaptation measures can be undertaken.
4. Recognition partnership
Another option for employing nursing professionals is the so-called " recognition partnership ." This recognition partnership allows prospective professionals with foreign vocational training to work in Germany while they complete the recognition process for their foreign training. Unlike the deficit assessment procedure, with this recognition partnership, prospective professionals can work in Germany even during the recognition process.
The prerequisite for the recognition partnership is that the activity in Germany is geared toward the desired (skilled) profession and that the foreign national has at least two years of state-recognized vocational training. Further conditions are that the qualification measures begin promptly after entry, that the foreign national has German language skills at least at level A2, and that the Federal Employment Agency approves the employment. Proof of the foreign qualification must be provided to the immigration office or embassy; the recognition examination can be applied for online at the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB).
If you have any questions about the employment of nursing professionals under the recognition partnership, one of our VISAGUARD lawyers will be happy to assist you.
Summary of this Page
The recognition and employment of foreign nursing staff in Germany is a key component in securing nursing care. Due to the shortage of skilled workers, the legislature has created numerous ways to facilitate access to the German labor market for qualified nursing staff from third countries. The focus here is on the recognition procedure with a deficit notice and the recognition partnership pursuant to Section 16d Paragraph 3 of the Residence Act. In the deficit notice procedure, the deficit notice must first be applied for from the recognition authority, followed by the visa procedure. With the visa, entry to Germany is possible. In Germany, the adaptation measures are then carried out, and at the end of the process, the nursing staff receives a license to practice their profession in accordance with the Nursing Professions Act.
