Nurses from Jordan to Germany: recognition, B2, Amman visa

In short: Jordanian nurses with a bachelor’s degree can work in Germany after recognition by the federal state where they will work and German at B2. Jordan is not on the WHO safeguard list. The Goethe-Institut Jordan in Amman offers exams from A1 to C2, including the Goethe-Test PRO for nursing. The German Embassy Amman takes national visa applications through the Auslandsportal.

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 Jordan allowed?

Yes. Jordan 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.

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 in Jordan

The Goethe-Institut Jordan in Amman offers German exams at all levels from A1 to C2, including the Goethe-Test PRO for the nursing profession (“für den Pflegeberuf”). Exam dates are in the institute’s 2026 calendar.

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 Amman

According to the embassy, you register in the Auslandsportal, fill in the national visa form, upload the signed declaration and the documents from the embassy’s checklist, and send the application for a pre-check. After a successful pre-check you receive an e-mail to book an appointment. The embassy states a processing time of about three weeks after the appointment.

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

Jordan used to be a Triple Win partner country. The Federal Employment Agency’s programme overview for 2025 marked Triple Win Jordan as ending at the end of 2025, and Jordan is not among the partner countries on the Triple Win website as of October 2026. Private recruitment is permitted.

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.
Embassy Amman: about three weeks of processing after the appointment (embassy information).
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

Berlin Tehran is based in Hamburg, with a team in Iran. We have no office in Jordan. 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 do not provide legal advice; authorities make all decisions.

Apply as a healthcare professional Our ethical recruitment rules

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

Is Triple Win still recruiting nurses in Jordan?

Not as of October 2026. The Federal Employment Agency listed Triple Win Jordan as ending at the end of 2025, and Jordan is no longer on the Triple Win partner list.

Where can I take the Goethe-Test PRO Pflege?

The Goethe-Institut Jordan in Amman lists the Goethe-Test PRO for nursing among its exams.

How do I apply for the visa?

Online through the Auslandsportal. After the embassy’s pre-check you get an e-mail to book an appointment in Amman.

Which German level do I need?

Usually B2 for the nursing licence; A2 for a recognition partnership.

Nurses from Jordan: pathways to working in Germany