If you want to work as a nursing professional in Germany without restrictions, you need a state licence. The licence entitles you to use the professional title ‘Pflegefachfrau’ or ‘Pflegefachmann’ and to practise the profession.

In order to obtain recognition, you must provide professional evidence that your training and level of knowledge are equivalent to those of a German nursing professional.

There is currently no automatic recognition of foreign professional qualifications for nursing professionals. Therefore, the competent recognition authority must always examine on a case-by-case basis whether the foreign training is equivalent to the German training.

Recognition of foreign training must be applied for at the competent recognition authority. The official documents must be submitted there in the original and as photocopies in the original language and in German. Translations are only recognised if they have been carried out by a sworn interpreter who is registered in a list of translators kept by a German court.

You can find out which office is responsible for your application here:

• Federal Government Information Portal (Anerkennungsportal)

 

Documents required for recognition

The following documents must be submitted to the relevant recognition authority for recognition:

• Written application
• Complete tabular curriculum vitae with precise details of your educational and professional background and signature
• Birth certificate
• Marriage certificate, if applicable
• Passport
• Proof of completed training (diploma, degree certificate, further training, professional examinations)
• Proof of the content and duration of training with a list of the subjects and teaching hours for each stage of training (e.g. in the form of a timetable or lesson plan)
• Proof of professional experience (e.g. employment record book, references)
• Proof of sufficient knowledge of the German language (language certificate with level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)
• Registration certificate from the residents' registration office (Meldebescheinigung)

Additionally:

• For non-EU citizens: residence permit/work permit
• For ethnic German repatriates: expellee ID card (Vertriebenenausweis)

As soon as you register your place of residence with the registration office in your place of residence, you will automatically receive an income tax ID (identification number) from the tax authorities. You can find more information on this on the website of the Federal Central Tax Office.

Germany has successfully completed the SEPA transition. It is now possible to have your salary transferred to an account in another EU country. However, there may still be significant additional costs for cash withdrawals and obtaining account statements. A German bank account continues to be advantageous and is therefore recommended.