{"id":827,"date":"2026-02-03T10:31:50","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T09:31:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.talentorbit.de\/?p=827"},"modified":"2026-02-25T08:47:50","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T07:47:50","slug":"hiring-nurses-from-abroad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.talentorbit.de\/en\/pflegekraefte-aus-dem-ausland-einstellen\/","title":{"rendered":"Recruiting nursing staff from abroad: Practical guide 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

Short answer for employers: <\/b>International nurses can be recruited via the Triple Win program, the Western Balkans scheme or private agencies. Expect total costs of \u20ac15,000-30,000 per skilled worker and a lead time of 6-12 months. The accelerated skilled worker procedure (\u20ac411 fee) can shorten the visa process to approx. 4 months.<\/p>\n

The shortage of skilled workers in the German care sector is reaching critical proportions. According to Integration media service (2025)<\/span><\/a><\/u><\/span> more than 306,700 foreign nursing staff were working in Germany in 2024 - this corresponds to 17.8 percent of the approximately 1.7 million people employed in nursing professions. Almost one in five nurses is now a foreign national.<\/p>\n

A study by the Institute for Employment Research (IAB, October 2024)<\/span><\/a><\/u><\/span> shows: Since 2022, employment growth in the care sector has been driven exclusively by foreign employees, while the number of German care workers has been declining.<\/p>\n

For hospitals, nursing homes and outpatient care services, this means: Nursing operations cannot be maintained without the systematic recruitment of international nursing staff. This guide is aimed at management, nursing service managers and HR departments who want to recruit nursing staff from abroad and need a structured overview of the legal framework, qualification requirements and practical implementation.<\/p>\n

About this guide: <\/b>This guide was developed by TalentOrbit International GmbH<\/span><\/a><\/u><\/span> specialized in the placement of international healthcare professionals from the Philippines, India, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Our expertise is based on practical support for employers throughout the entire recruitment and integration process.<\/p>\n

The figures: Why international nursing staff are indispensable<\/h2>\n

Demographic trends are exacerbating the situation. According to the Nursing staff forecast by the Federal Statistical Office<\/span><\/u><\/span><\/a>\u00a0the demand for nursing staff is expected to rise to 2.15 million by 2049. There could then be a shortage of between 280,000 and 690,000 nursing staff.<\/p>\n

Key figures at a glance:<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Key figure<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nValue (source)<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Employees in care professions (2024)<\/td>\napprox. 1.7 million (BA)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Of which foreign nursing staff<\/td>\n306,700 \/ 17.8% (BA 2025)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Proportion of foreigners in geriatric care<\/td>\n21.7% (IAB 2024)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Percentage of foreigners in nursing care<\/td>\n16.5% (IAB 2024)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Projected shortage until 2049<\/td>\n280,000-690,000 (Destatis)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Sources: Federal Employment Agency, Focus on the Labor Market 2024; IAB Research Report 22\/2024; Federal Statistical Office, Press Release No. 033\/2024<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Bar<\/p>\n

The advantages of international nursing staff for your facility<\/h3>\n

Covering the acute need for skilled workers: <\/b>According to the Federal Employment Agency, it takes an average of over 200 days to fill a vacancy in geriatric care with domestic applicants. International specialists can close this gap in a predictable manner.<\/p>\n

Long-term personnel planning: <\/b>Unlike temporary staffing, the direct employment of international nursing staff enables sustainable personnel planning. Find out more about the Recruitment process at TalentOrbit<\/span><\/a><\/u><\/span>.<\/p>\n

Cultural enrichment: <\/b>Teams benefit from different perspectives and experiences - especially when caring for patients and residents with a migration background.<\/p>\n

Legal basis: The Skilled Immigration Act<\/h2>\n

The reformed Skilled Immigration Act<\/span><\/a><\/u><\/span> has gradually come into force since November 2023 and was fully implemented on June 1, 2024. For employers who Hiring nursing staff from abroad<\/span><\/a><\/u><\/span> This results in significant simplifications for those who wish to do so.<\/p>\n

The three pillars of the Skilled Immigration Act<\/h3>\n

Pillar 1 - Skilled workers with recognized qualifications: <\/b>Persons with a professional qualification recognized in Germany can pursue any qualified occupation. For nurses as a regulated profession, the recognition requirement continues to apply.<\/p>\n

Pillar 2 - Professional experience: <\/b>Skilled workers with at least two years of professional experience and a professional qualification recognized by the state in their country of origin can enter the country under simplified conditions, even if recognition in Germany is still pending.<\/p>\n

Pillar 3 - Potential (opportunity map): <\/b>The new opportunity card makes it possible to enter the country to look for work on the basis of a points system.<\/p>\n

Important innovations for the care sector<\/h3>\n

Recognition partnership: <\/b>Skilled workers can now enter Germany and start the recognition procedure after arrival. Prerequisite: employment contract, agreement on joint implementation of recognition, German language skills A2. More information on the Legal page of TalentOrbit<\/span><\/a><\/u><\/span>.<\/p>\n

Nursing assistants from third countries: <\/b>For the first time, a separate residence permit has been created for nursing assistants. People with a nursing qualification below the three-year specialist qualification can be employed in the health and care sector.<\/p>\n

Facilitated family reunification: <\/b>Skilled workers benefit from simplified regulations for family reunification. Proof of sufficient living space is not required.<\/p>\n

Qualification requirements and recognition<\/h2>\n

The nursing profession is regulated in Germany. This means that anyone wishing to work as an international nurse in Germany requires a state license to practice the profession in accordance with the Nursing Professions Act (PflBG)<\/span><\/a><\/u><\/span>.<\/p>\n

Requirements for practicing the profession<\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. Recognition of professional qualifications: <\/b>The foreign qualification must be recognized as equivalent - or a compensatory measure (knowledge test or adaptation course) must be successfully completed.<\/li>\n
  2. Sufficient knowledge of German: <\/b>Knowledge at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is required for full recognition. More on the topic Language in the application<\/span><\/a><\/u><\/span>.<\/li>\n
  3. Health suitability: <\/b>A medical certificate must confirm physical and mental aptitude for the nursing profession.<\/li>\n
  4. Personal reliability: <\/b>A certificate of good conduct or certificate of good standing from the country of origin proves that you have no criminal record.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    A comparison of recruitment channels<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Recruitment route<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/td>\nCosts<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/td>\nDuration<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/td>\nSpecial feature<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Triple Win (ZAV\/GIZ)<\/span><\/td>\n5.000-7.000 \u20ac<\/span><\/td>\n12-18 Mon.<\/span><\/td>\nState, ethical, language course incl.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Private agency<\/span><\/td>\n8.000-15.000 \u20ac<\/span><\/td>\n6-12 Mon.<\/span><\/td>\nFlexible, full service possible<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Western Balkans regulation<\/span><\/td>\nVariable<\/span><\/td>\n3-6 Mon.<\/span><\/td>\n50,000 visas\/year, recognition required separately<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Direct recruitment<\/span><\/td>\n3.000-8.000 \u20ac<\/span><\/td>\n6-18 Mon.<\/span><\/td>\nHigh internal costs, expertise required<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \u26a0\ufe0f Important note on the Western Balkans regulation: <\/b><\/span>The Western Balkans regulation facilitates entry and residence, but does NOT replace the obligation to obtain recognition for regulated professions such as nurses. It is therefore primarily suitable as a residence bridge during the recognition procedure or for employment as a care assistant.<\/p>\n

    The accelerated skilled worker procedure<\/h2>\n

    The Accelerated skilled worker procedures according to \u00a7 81a AufenthG<\/span><\/a><\/u><\/span> is an important instrument for attracting qualified nursing staff to Germany more quickly.<\/p>\n

    Advantages of the accelerated procedure<\/h3>\n