Nurses from Iran to Germany: recognition, B2 and visa (2026)

In short: Iranian nurses with a bachelor’s degree in nursing (Karshenasi Parastari) can work in Germany after their qualification is recognised by the federal state where they will work and they reach German B2. Iran is not on the WHO safeguard list, so recruitment is permitted. The bottleneck is usually the visa: the German Embassy in Tehran works with limited capacity and gives appointments through TLScontact waiting lists – faster with a § 81a pre-approval.

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.

Is recruitment from Iran allowed?

Yes. Iran is not on the WHO Health Workforce Support and Safeguards List 2023 (55 countries; checked on 18 October 2026). For countries on that list, § 38 of the German Employment Ordinance (BeschV) bans private recruitment and placement into health professions. Berlin Tehran follows this rule.

Recognition path

Apply to the authority of the federal state (Land) where you will work. Each Land has its own recognition office; our city guides name the office for Hamburg, Berlin, Bavaria, Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia. You can apply from abroad.
Equivalence check. The authority compares your nursing qualification with the German nursing training (Pflegefachfrau/Pflegefachmann, § 40 PflBG). If there are substantial differences you receive a deficit notice (Defizitbescheid).
Close the gaps: choose a knowledge test (Kenntnisprüfung) or an adaptation course (Anpassungslehrgang) – see knowledge test or adaptation course?
Licence (Berufserlaubnis). At the end you prove German language skills, health and a clean criminal record. Only then may you work as a registered nurse.

Iranian documents have to be translated by a sworn translator; your employer or the recognition authority will tell you whether certified copies are needed. Iran is our home market: our team in Iran helps candidates collect complete document sets before applying.

Documents: see the documents checklist and processing time and costs.

German language levels

B2 is the usual level for the nursing licence. Hesse, for example, accepts Goethe-Zertifikat B2, Goethe-Test PRO Pflege, telc Deutsch B2 or B2 Pflege, ÖSD B2, TestDaF level 3, ECL B2 and the FSP Pflege exam.
A2 (“hinreichende Deutschkenntnisse”) is the legal minimum for the recognition partnership under § 16d (3); many employers expect more.
For a visa for an adaptation measure under § 16d (1) you need German matching the measure – as a rule at least A2.

More: German for nurses.

German exams

Use only certificates that German authorities accept (see the list above) and book through the provider’s official exam-centre search. Check the date: some embassies and authorities only accept certificates of a certain age.

Visa routes

§ 18a – recognised nurse. Recognition completed (or no deficits) plus a job offer.
§ 16d (3) – recognition partnership. Enter with a job offer and German A2, then complete recognition while working for your employer. See recognition partnership explained.
§ 16d (1) – adaptation measure. With a deficit notice you come to Germany for the course or the knowledge test.
§ 81a – accelerated procedure. Your employer can start it at the immigration office in Germany; see § 81a explained.

German Embassy Tehran

According to the embassy (as of October 2026), appointments for national employment visas are given by the service provider TLScontact via waiting lists; new waiting lists exist since 15 July 2026, including “Employment: Fast-Track Medical and Care Professions (§81a AufenthG)” and a list for persons with a Federal Employment Agency pre-approval in medical and care professions. Register on the list that matches your case – documents from the wrong list may not be accepted. Details: visa from Iran 2026 (German) and Persian.

Since 1 January 2025 national visas can be applied for online through the Federal Foreign Office’s consular services portal (Auslandsportal) at all German visa sections; an in-person appointment remains necessary.

Bilateral programmes

There is no government-to-government nursing programme with Iran: Triple Win currently lists the Philippines, Tunisia, Indonesia and the Indian states of Kerala and Telangana. Private recruitment is permitted because Iran is not on the WHO list.

Timeline: what the official sources say

Recognition decision: usually a few months after the file is complete – Hamburg’s service page states up to four months (up to two months in the accelerated procedure), Berlin’s about three to four months, NRW’s two to four months.
Accelerated procedure (§ 81a): the recognition authority should decide within two months; after the pre-approval, the visa appointment should be given within three weeks and the visa decision as a rule within another three weeks.
Without § 81a: the Tehran embassy does not predict waiting times; check its website before you plan a start date.
German B2: depends on your starting level and course intensity – plan this first, because it is usually the longest step.

See the step-by-step timeline.

Free tools: Can I work as a nurse in Germany? (eligibility check) · Nurse net salary calculator 2026 · City guides: Hamburg, Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Cologne

How Berlin Tehran helps

Iran is our home market: Berlin Tehran is based in Hamburg, with a team in Iran. We help healthcare professionals prepare their documents in an orderly way and coordinate with employers in Germany, following a transparent 8-step process with up to 90 days of support after arrival. We cannot speed up embassy appointments and do not provide legal advice; authorities make all decisions.

Apply as a healthcare professional Our ethical recruitment rules

Read this guide in more depth in Persian or German; FA overview: راهنمای مهاجرت پرستار به آلمان.

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

Is my Iranian nursing bachelor recognised in Germany?

It can be. The recognition authority of the federal state where you will work compares it with the German nursing training. Many applicants receive a deficit notice and then pass a knowledge test or an adaptation course.

How do I get a visa appointment in Tehran?

Through the TLScontact waiting lists of the German Embassy Tehran. Since 15 July 2026 there are new lists; register on the one that matches your purpose, e.g. the fast-track list if you have a § 81a pre-approval.

Does the accelerated procedure help?

Yes. With a § 81a pre-approval the embassy should give an appointment within three weeks and decide as a rule within another three weeks if the documents are complete.

Nurses from Iran: pathways to working in Germany