Germany nurse visa 2026: requirements, documents, fees

In short: Most international nurses come to Germany on a national (D) visa for employment. If your nursing qualification is already recognised, that is the skilled worker visa under § 18a of the Residence Act; if recognition is not complete, the recognition partnership (§ 16d (3)) or a visa for an adaptation course (§ 16d (1)) lets you finish it in Germany. In every case you need a concrete job offer (except for the Opportunity Card), as a rule the approval of the Federal Employment Agency, and your nursing licence issued or promised where the route requires it. The visa fee is EUR 75; from age 45 a salary threshold of EUR 55,770 a year applies in 2026.

Note: This page provides general information and is not legal advice. The law and the decisions of the competent authorities are decisive; rules can change. As of October 2026.

Free tools: Nurse net salary calculator 2026 · Can I work as a nurse in Germany? (eligibility check)

Which visa fits your situation?

Qualification fully recognised, job offer in hand: skilled worker visa under § 18a Residence Act. The residence permit is issued for up to four years, or for the length of the contract plus six months if that is shorter (§ 18 (4)).
Recognition not complete, employer ready to hire you: recognition partnership under § 16d (3). You need a nursing qualification that is state-recognised in your country and required at least two years of training, a concrete job offer, an agreement with the employer to start recognition right after arrival, and at least A2 German. Details: recognition partnership (§ 16d).
The recognition office asked for an adaptation course or knowledge test: residence permit under § 16d (1) for up to 24 months (extendable by up to 12 months, three years at most), with independent part-time work of up to 20 hours a week. See knowledge test or adaptation course.
No job offer yet: the Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte, § 20a) lets you look for work in Germany for up to one year. See Opportunity Card for nurses.
EU Blue Card: only possible with an academic degree and a salary above the Blue Card threshold; most nurses use § 18a. Comparison: Blue Card or § 18a?

Requirements for the nurse work visa (§ 18 (2) Residence Act)

For all work-related residence permits in this part of the law, § 18 (2) of the Residence Act lists the same core conditions:

A concrete job offer from an employer in Germany.
Approval of the Federal Employment Agency (§ 39), unless the law says it is not needed. The employer fills in the form “Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis” (declaration on the employment relationship) for this check.
The licence to practise (Berufsausübungserlaubnis), issued or promised, where it is required. For nurses this is the permit to use the title Pflegefachfrau or Pflegefachmann under the Nursing Professions Act.
Recognition of your qualification where the visa requires it (for § 18a it does).
A declaration by you and the employer that the job will actually be taken up (§ 18 (2) no. 4a).
From age 45: the salary rule explained below.

Recognition is usually the longest step. How it works, how long it takes and which documents you need: recognition time and cost and documents checklist for recognition.

Age 45 or older: the salary rule in 2026

If you are 45 or older when you first receive a residence permit under § 18a or § 18b, your gross salary must be at least 55 percent of the annual contribution ceiling of the statutory pension insurance, unless you can prove adequate retirement provision (§ 18 (2) no. 5). The Federal Ministry of the Interior published the 2026 figure in the Federal Gazette: EUR 55,770 a year, which the Federal Foreign Office gives as EUR 4,647.50 a month. The authorities can make an exception if there is a public interest, for example when the salary is only slightly below the threshold or the age only slightly above the limit. To see what a nursing salary means after tax, use the net salary calculator.

Documents for the visa application

Each German mission publishes its own checklist, and that list is what counts. For a nurse work visa you should typically expect:

a valid passport and the completed national visa application;
the job offer and the employer's “Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis”; an employment contract only if the mission asks for it;
your recognition decision (Anerkennungsbescheid), or the decision listing the missing parts (Defizitbescheid) for § 16d, or the licence or its promise;
for the recognition partnership: the agreement between you and the employer;
your German certificate, CV, nursing diploma and proof of work experience;
if your employer used the accelerated procedure: the pre-approval (Vorabzustimmung) from the foreigners authority.

How to apply, step by step

Get the job offer and, as a rule, start or complete recognition.
Optional, through the employer: the accelerated skilled worker procedure under § 81a. The employer applies at the foreigners authority in Germany on your behalf; see accelerated procedure (§ 81a).
Apply online through the Federal Foreign Office's Consular Services Portal (Auslandsportal), where visas for employment can generally be applied for, and follow your mission's instructions for the appointment.
Pay the fee and attend the appointment with your original documents.
After arrival register your address and apply for the residence permit at the local foreigners authority. Our guide your first 90 days in Germany covers this.

Fees

National visa: EUR 75 (§ 46 (2) no. 1 Residence Ordinance). German missions state the fee is not refunded if the visa is refused or the application withdrawn; an external service provider may charge an additional fee.
Accelerated procedure (§ 81a): EUR 411 according to Make it in Germany, charged when the employer concludes the agreement with the foreigners authority.
Recognition has its own fees set by the federal state; see recognition time and cost.

German missions also point out that you do not need an agent to apply for a visa and that their forms are free. Be wary of anyone who promises a guaranteed visa: recruitment fees and scams.

How long does it take?

Waiting times differ from mission to mission. With the accelerated procedure, the law sets clear targets: the recognition office should decide within two months once the file is complete, the Federal Employment Agency's approval is deemed granted if it raises no questions within one week, the mission offers a visa appointment within three weeks of the pre-approval, and it decides as a rule within three weeks of the complete application (§ 31a Residence Ordinance). A pre-approval does not guarantee the visa. Realistic overall planning: step-by-step timeline.

Which countries? The WHO safeguards list

Under § 38 of the Employment Ordinance, private agencies may not actively recruit health workers from the countries on the WHO Health Workforce Support and Safeguards List. Nurses from these countries can still apply to German employers on their own initiative or through programmes of the Federal Employment Agency. More: ethical recruitment and the WHO list.

How Berlin Tehran helps

We help nurses prepare their documents, coordinate with employers in Germany and follow a transparent 8-step process with up to 90 days of support after arrival. We are based in Hamburg with a team in Iran and usually reply to first enquiries within 48 hours. The authorities decide on recognition and visas. Send us your profile or check your options first with the eligibility check.

Bringing your family? Read family reunification for nurses. Before you sign: employment contract and probation.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a job offer for a German nurse work visa?

Yes, for the skilled worker visa under § 18a and for the recognition partnership under § 16d (3) of the Residence Act you need a concrete job offer from an employer in Germany. The only work-related route without a job offer is the Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte, § 20a), which lets you look for a job for up to one year.

How much does a German work visa for nurses cost?

The fee for a national (D) visa is EUR 75 under § 46 of the Residence Ordinance. German missions state that it is a processing fee that is not refunded if the visa is refused, and an external service provider may charge an extra service fee. If the employer uses the accelerated skilled worker procedure, Make it in Germany states a fee of EUR 411 for that procedure.

How long does a Germany nurse visa take?

It depends on the German mission in your country. With the accelerated skilled worker procedure (§ 81a), the mission should offer an appointment within three weeks after the pre-approval and decide as a rule within three weeks after the complete application (§ 31a Residence Ordinance). Recognition of your nursing qualification usually takes longer than the visa itself.

Is there an age limit for the German nurse visa?

There is no general upper age limit. If you are 45 or older when you first receive a residence permit under § 18a, your gross salary must reach 55 percent of the pension insurance contribution ceiling, which is EUR 55,770 a year in 2026, unless you can prove adequate retirement provision (§ 18 (2) no. 5 Residence Act). Exceptions are possible if there is a public interest.

Can I apply for the German work visa online?

According to the Federal Foreign Office, visas for employment can generally be applied for online through the Consular Services Portal (Auslandsportal). Check your German mission's page: it lists its own document checklist and how the in-person appointment works.

Do I need an agent to apply for a German visa?

No. German missions state that you do not need an agent to apply for a visa and that their forms and information are free of charge. A legitimate recruitment agency can help you find an employer and prepare documents, but only the German mission decides on the visa.

How does Berlin Tehran help nurses with the visa?

We help you prepare your documents, coordinate with employers in Germany and follow a transparent 8-step process with up to 90 days of support after arrival. We are based in Hamburg with a team in Iran, and we usually reply to first enquiries within 48 hours. Authorities make all decisions on recognition and visas.

Germany nurse visa 2026: requirements, documents, age rule and processing time