Country comparisons: Care in comparisonCare workers from Eastern Europe: Poland, Romania, Croatia and the Balkans in comparison

Brief answer for employers: Nursing professionals from EU countries such as Poland, Romania, or Croatia benefit from automatic professional recognition and freedom of movement for workers – no visa, no recognition procedure, start of work within a few weeks. For skilled workers from non-EU Balkan states (Bosnia, Serbia, Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro), the Western Balkans regulation serves as an entry bridge; however, professional recognition must be completed afterward. Placement fees for EU skilled workers:…

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Recruiting nursing staff from abroad: costs, procedure and recognizing reputable agencies

Short answer for employers: International nurses can be recruited through the Triple Win program, the Western Balkan regulation, or private agencies. Expect total costs of €15,000–€30,000 per specialist and a lead time of 6–12 months. The accelerated skilled workers procedure (€411 fee) can shorten visa issuance to approx. 4 months. Since the PUEG (July 2023), a...

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Shortage of skilled nursing staff: causes, figures and solutions for employers

Five nursing homes closed, 550 beds cut. That was Hamburg in 2024. Not because of a lack of residents, not because of renovations. Because there was no staff. What made headlines in Hamburg has long been a quiet reality in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saarland, and parts of Bavaria. Outpatient services are turning away clients. Wards are being merged. Nurse managers…

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Diploma Recognition in Germany Step by Step

Would you like to have your foreign professional qualification recognized in Germany? Then you are in the same situation as over 71,000 skilled workers in 2024 alone. The process is feasible – if you know what's important. In this guide, you will learn: ✓ which authority is responsible for you ✓ which documents you need ✓…

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Recruiting nursing staff for hospitals and nursing homes: what actually works

Anyone who wants to recruit nursing staff today knows the starting situation: positions remain open for months, applications are scarce, and every unplanned resignation strikes at the heart of staff scheduling. This applies to nurses in hospitals just as much as to nurses in nursing homes. The question is no longer whether there is a shortage of skilled workers, but rather which path to...

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Recruiting nursing staff from abroad: Practical guide 2026

Short answer for employers: International nurses can be recruited through the Triple Win program, the West Balkan regulation, or private agencies. Expect total costs of €15,000-€30,000 per skilled worker and a lead time of 6-12 months. The accelerated skilled worker procedure (€411 fee) can shorten visa issuance to approx. 4 months. The shortage of skilled workers in the...

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