Nurses from Serbia to Germany: recognition, visa, Westbalkan

In short: Nurses from Serbia can work in Germany as registered nurses after recognition by the federal state where they will work and German at B2, usually with a § 16d or § 18a visa. Serbia is not on the WHO safeguard list. The Westbalkanregelung allows other jobs without recognition, but it does not replace recognition for the regulated nursing profession.

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 Serbia allowed?

Yes. Serbia 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.

Country-specific documents: the NRW recognition office, for example, asks applicants from Serbia for proof of the professional/qualification exam (Fachprüfung) and of the beginner internship (Anfängerpraktikum).

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 Serbia

The Goethe-Institut Serbia is in Belgrade (Knez Mihailova 50) and offers Goethe exams. Other accepted providers may have licensed centres.

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.
Westbalkanregelung (§ 26 (2) BeschV) – any job with a binding job offer and prior approval (Vorabzustimmung) by the Federal Employment Agency, without recognition. It does not replace recognition for regulated professions such as registered nurse; the Federal Employment Agency names the recognition partnership as the route for regulated professions. Work as a nursing assistant (Pflegehelfer/in) is not regulated in North Rhine-Westphalia, for example – but assistant pay is lower and the annual quota of 50,000 approvals can cause long waits.

German Embassy Belgrade

For the Westbalkanregelung you apply for the Federal Employment Agency’s pre-approval first; then you book the appointment through VisaMetric. For skilled-worker visas (§ 16d, § 18a) use the embassy’s appointment page.

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 Triple Win programme for Serbia. 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.
Westbalkanregelung pre-approval: the Federal Employment Agency works through applications by date of receipt and nationality; on 14 October 2026 it was processing applications for Serbia on a same-day basis.
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 Serbia. 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

Can I work as a nurse in Germany under the Westbalkanregelung?

Not as a registered nurse without recognition: the Federal Employment Agency excludes regulated professions and points to recognition, e.g. via the recognition partnership. The regulation can be used for jobs that are not regulated.

Which visa do nurses from Serbia usually use?

A § 18a visa after recognition, a § 16d (3) recognition partnership with a job offer and German A2, or a § 16d (1) visa for an adaptation measure.

How long is the wait for a Westbalkan pre-approval?

It depends on the monthly quota per nationality. On 14 October 2026 the Federal Employment Agency was processing applications for Serbia on a same-day basis.

Nurses from Serbia: pathways to working in Germany