Germany

Why Germany?

Germany is a top contender for Indian professionals looking to move Europe. In addition to excellent job opportunities in cities like Hamburg, Berlin, and Munich, Germany is comparatively cheaper to live than the UK, Finland, and France.

The people, language, and traditions are what make the German culture unique. Germany is the largest economy in Europe. The German language is spoken by over 100 million people in six countries in Europe. All these German-speaking countries are also among the top 20 medically most advanced countries in the world.

Job opportunities in Germany and nearby regions as well as salaries (nurses basic salaries starting from 2300 euros) are better than in many other European countries. “Pflegefachmann/Pflegefachfrau” is a vocational job in Germany. As a degree holder you will join the group of the most educated nurses in Germany as only 2% of German nurses have a degree in nursing and therefore, your nursing degree gives you excellent career prospects. This is why learning the German language offers you immense job opportunities and the opportunity to live with your family in Germany.

You can read more about healthcare jobs and the benefits of living and working in Germany from the information package prepared by KDA as part of the “Fair Recruitment Healthcare Germany” quality seal program.

Nurse Finder promotes nursing jobs in Europe. Since we handle all the steps of the process ourselves from recruitment to integration, we can ensure the ethical and fair treatment of nurses throughout the process and misconducts can be avoided.

Relocation Program to Become a Registered Nurse “Pflegefachman/Pflegefachfrau”

Nurse Finder Europe’s Relocation program for Indian nurses provides a nursing job and qualifies Indian nurses to become Registered Nurses in Germany. Nurse Finder’s business practices are based on the international rules for fair and ethical recruitment and placement practices according to the principles of the Nurse Finder’s General Business Terms and Conditions.

Nurse Finder works only with such employers that commit to the same principles of fair and ethical recruitment, especially the “Fair Recruitment Healthcare Germany” quality seal. The nursing candidate has an opportunity to understand the relocation process, the job offer and employment opportunities in Germany in general before the job offer or the employment contract between the candidate and the employer is signed.

German language skill is a mandatory requirement for nursing jobs in Germany, and this is why the candidate shall study the German language typically to level B1 first before relocation and eventually to level B2 before qualifying as a nurse in Germany. However, some employers require level B2 already before relocation. Online language training takes about 8 months to level B1 if studied five times a week and about 4 months from B1 to B2 level. A job interview is typically organised with a German employer after the candidate has started language studiD-visa for the employment process is typically started after successfully passing the official B1 exam at the Goethe Institute, TELC Deutsch, or TestDaF. Once the nurses obtain the D-visa and in some cases have successfully passed the B2 language test, they relocate to Germany. The employee will start working as an Assistant Nurse or a Caregiver in a German hospital or elderly home and after completing all skills exams within 6-18 months, the employee can apply for the German Registered Nurse (Pflegefachmann/Pflegefachfrau) certificate and start the residence permit process.

Eligibility

Nurse Finder accepts candidates who meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Indian BSc degree or GNM diploma,
• good English language skills,
• a minimum work experience of 3 years with no recent gap (more than 1 year) in the work history,
• a valid Indian nursing license,
• fit to work during the relocation,
• able to provide PCC, and
• fulfils the requirements set for the German D-visa for employment.

The German government has also legislated that nurses older than 45 years cannot apply for a D-visa. Nurse has to become proficient (B2) in the German language during the process. The candidate can apply for the process before, during, or after the language studies.

Nurses with an Indian nursing degree or diploma can apply to the program regardless of their current location or German skills level by contacting Nurse Finder and filling in the background information, answering a video interview question, and uploading their CV and other documents into the Nurse Finder’s online recruitment platform (link provided after contacting Nurse Finder).

Acquire German Language Skills

German language skills are the prerequisite for social welfare and healthcare jobs in Germany. Therefore, the candidate must fulfil the language skill level of B2 before registering as a German nurse and a minimum of B1 before applying for a visa to Germany.

The candidate is free to choose any language training provider as long as the training complies with the quality standards set for language training by the Association of Language Testers in Europe. The language skills levels are defined based on the Common Reference Levels set by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The training and exams shall be provided in all five areas of evaluation: spoken production, spoken interaction, reading, listening, and writing. The language level certificate in levels B1 and B2 shall be provided by the Goethe Institute, TELC Deutsch, or TestDaF.

Nurse Finder recommends Santrupti European Education and Training Foundation as a German language training provider.

Selection

The Nurse Finder team screens applicants’ information and accepts the applicant as an official candidate. After that, the candidate receives a link to a Nurse Finder’s Self-Assessment Questionnaire and Aptitude Test, which results determine whether the candidate is selected for the interview or not. In case the candidate is selected, the interview time slot shall be booked. The candidate shall note that all the documents of selected employees are validated by the third-party service provider and in case the documents are not genuine, the training and relocation process is discontinued, and no fees are refunded.

Nurse Finder Europe interviews all candidates to evaluate their professional skills, language skills, motivation to relocate to Germany, and any concerns raised based on the Self-Assessment and Aptitude Test. Those candidates that are selected after the interview, will receive an acceptance e-mail from Nurse Finder and instructions on the next steps of the process.

Nurse Finder Europe signs with the candidate a ‘Right to Represent Agreement (RTR)’. In this agreement, the candidate gives authorization to Nurse Finder to submit his/her resume and represent his/her interest as a candidate for the job position in Germany as specified in the agreement. It also specifies the rights and duties of both parties as well as defines the process and the cancellation policies. The candidate declares that he/she has not signed an RTR Agreement or any similar Agreement with any other hiring organisation that is still valid while signing the RTR with Nurse Finder. The candidate also agrees not to make any commitment during the validity of the RTR that prevents him/her from fulfilling the conditions of the RTR signed with Nurse Finder.

The candidate shall not resign from the current job without the matter being agreed upon with Nurse Finder India in writing before the relocation process has started. Should the candidate choose to do so without mutual consent, the responsibility and the consequences, whatever they may be, are totally on the candidate.

Employment Contract

The employer interviews candidates shortlisted by Nurse Finder before the final employment decision. Alternatively, there is an online seminar between the employer and the selected candidate before the candidate needs to decide whether they accept the job offer or not. The candidate has a right to refuse the job without any reason and in such a case Nurse Finder introduces the nurse to another employer.

A conditional employment contract or a conditional job offer letter is provided directly by the employer, German hospital or elderly home, to the employee. In case the time between the employment decision and the beginning of the employment is long e.g. due to the language training, the employer may give first the conditional offer to the candidate and the actual employment contract is signed just before the D-visa process starts.

A Conditional Job Offer Letter and Employment Contract guarantees employment in Germany after the language training as long as the employee has successfully passed the language exam in level B1/B2 in the given time frame (8/12 months), can provide PCC, is fit to work, and is eligible to get the D-visa. The first Employment Contract will be valid for 2 years. The candidate shall receive the employment contract a minimum of 7 days before the deadline for signing it.

If a nurse chooses to improve his/her chances of getting selected by an employer, he/she should start German language training before the selection process. Once the employer, whose selection criteria match the nurse’s profile, starts their interview process, priority will be given to those nurses who are already in the process of learning German.

Visa Process

Typically, the D-visa process for employment is started after the candidate has successfully passed the B1 exam and it will take 2-3 months to obtain the D-visa. Meanwhile, the German studies continue to level B2. Depending on the employer, the nurse may be able to relocate to Germany even before completing the studies at the B2 level. If this is the case, the nurse shall continue language training while already in Germany until he/she reaches the B2 level.

To initiate the D-visa process for employment, Nurse Finder sends a request to apply for a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) in the country, where the candidate has resided latest, and a Health Certificate. The Health Certificate consists of a vaccination certificate as well as tests for communicable diseases and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The employment contract will be provided by the employer before the employee applies for the D-visa, if not provided earlier.

The nurse also needs partial recognition of educational and work experience certificates before applying for the D-visa. In the recognition procedure, the German authority assesses the equivalence of the foreign professional qualification by comparing it with the professional qualification of a German reference occupation. Specific documents from India stating the content and duration of the training are necessary for this equivalence assessment. Professional experience and other knowledge and skills are taken into account as well. For that purpose, the candidate shall get the nursing license, degree/diploma certificate with a transcript, and a minimum of three latest experience letters to be translated to German by a translator who is authorized by the government of the Federal Republic of Germany. Nurse Finder will assist nurses in applying partial recognition of educational and work experience certificates.

Nurse Finder assists the candidate with a ‘D-visa for the Employment’ application. In case the candidate chooses to move with the family, the candidate is in charge of the visa process of family members and related costs. A spouse can move to Germany together with the candidate and work in Germany in case he/she has reached the German language skill level of A1.3.

The decision regarding the D-visa is made by the German Migration Authorities based on the information provided by the candidate. By signing the RTR Agreement, the candidate commits him/herself to comply with all the prerequisites of entry into Germany set by the German authorities. Authorities may ask the candidate or the employer to supplement the application, but there is nothing else that the candidate, employer, or Nurse Finder can do to speed up the process or inquire about the status of the application.

Relocation

Once the candidate successfully completes the language studies in level B1/B2 and obtains the D-visa for employment for two years, the relocation process starts. The candidate shall be ready to relocate to Germany within two weeks of completing the language exam and obtaining the D-visa. Nurse Finder will book a one-way economy-class flight ticket from India to Germany.

The first shared accommodation in Germany is arranged for the candidate (each person has his/her own room). The accommodation has basic furniture, an electricity contract, and home insurance. Typically the employer or Nurse Finder will pay the first two months’ rent and water and electricity, which will be collected from the employee either beforehand or deducted in instalments from the salary. Also, the possible rent deposit is taken care of. The employee shall pay the monthly rent, electricity, water, home insurance, and Wi-Fi costs.

Once the nurse arrives in Germany, Nurse Finder picks up the candidate from the airport, provides transportation to the accommodation, and ensures that the candidate settles well in the first weeks.

Nurse Finder assists candidates with statutory registrations and opening a bank account, as well as with other statutory issues to settle into everyday life in Germany. Opening a bank account process takes some weeks and therefore, the candidate shall have either cash or an Indian debit or credit card for international use in order to manage day-to-day life in Germany for the first 2 months.

Nurse Finder will have WhatsApp, phone, and social media (e.g. Facebook) support for candidates and their families within the first year of living in Germany.

Employment in Germany

The employee will start working as an Assistant Nurse or a Caregiver with a salary of approximately € 2300 under the supervision of an experienced registered nurse. The employer is in charge of work-related orientation in the workplace and supervision of the work as long as the employee works as an assistant nurse or caregiver.

The employee works as an Assistant Nurse or Caregiver until all the required skills exam or adaptation courses are completed. This typically takes 6-18 months. Each employee shall have a free choice whether he/she wants to choose the skills exam only or the adaptation course. In case the employer provides any training related to the work, such training is free of cost to the employee. When the employee has completed all skills exams or adaptation courses in Germany (latest 18 months from the beginning of the employment) and received the German RN license, the employment continues until further notice.

The candidate agrees to work with the employer for the contracted period unless the employment is discontinued during the probationary period. In that case, the candidate shall either find another job in the destination country within the limits of the visa/residence permit or immediately return to India at his/her own cost. The employee has a right to terminate the employment contract at any time with a notice period of 14 days.

Termination of the Program

The nurse has a right to resign from the process at any time before or after the relocation and there are no other commitments to fulfil than informing in writing Nurse Finder of his/her decision to resign and there are no repayment requirements for the nurse in such a situation. In case the nurse has already started employment in the destination country, he/she shall follow the resignation procedures and time frames defined in the employment contract and collective agreement.

The candidates terminating the process, who already have the employment contract or the conditional job offer letter from the employer, will get the language training fee, translation fees, and visa processing fees refunded, in case the candidate has informed Nurse Finder in writing and requested the refund within 14 days from the termination due to the following reasons: a) language training is terminated during the first 50 teaching units (note: teaching unit is 45 min session), b) if the programme has to be discontinued for health reasons (note: certificate required from the reputable hospital), c) in the event of pregnancy (note: certificate required from the reputable hospital), d) in the event of force majeure, e) in the event of the loss of a close family member (spouse, candidate’s father, candidate’s mother, own children, siblings that are still part of the same family and under 18 years old) or f) Nurse Finder, employer, and/or any other business partner of them fails to follow the rules of RAL quality seal.

Nurse Finder and/or employer reserves the right to terminate the RTR Agreement and/or the Job Offer Letter and/or the Employment Contract in case: a) information given by the candidate is false, b) the candidate does not pass the language exams before relocation, c) the candidate is not fit to work or cannot provide the PCC during the departure, d) the candidate is detrimental to the interests of the Nurse Finder or employer, negatively affects Nurse Finder’s relationship with prospective employers, brings disrepute or negatively affects Nurse Finder’s general reputation or business standing, and/or acts in a manner that negatively impacts his/her reputation for employment. In case of termination due to the reasons mentioned above, no fees and costs are refunded to the candidate.

Costs Related to the Program

Costs that are initially paid by the candidate to the various service providers and refunded as per actuals (proof of payment required) to candidates by Nurse Finder Europe once the candidate has relocated to Germany and has a German bank account open:

• The language training fee up to INR 1,00,000 for those who studied level B1 and INR 1,40,000 for those who studied level B2 before relocation for up to one year retrospectively from the date of signing the German employment contract.
• The B1 language exam in India (maximum INR 20,000) and B2 language exam in India (maximum INR 22,000). The accepted tests are Goethe Institute, TELC Deutsch, and TestDaF.
• Visa fee and VFS service fee as per actuals.
• Translation costs of the following documents: a) educational certificate & transcript, b) nursing license, and c) experience letters (3 latest), the health check and health certificates, Police Clearance Certificate fee, local travel costs to VFS, Goethe Institute, and the airport of the departure to Germany, and travel insurance that covers also the healthcare costs for the first three months in Germany (maximum INR 45,000).

Costs that are initially paid by Nurse Finder and are free of cost to the candidate:

• Flight cost from India to Germany
• Partial recognition of the educational and experience certificates by German authorities
• Local travel from the airport to the accommodation in Germany

Costs that are initially paid by the employer and are free of costs to the candidate:

• Required professional orientation and training
• Skills exams
• Language training (including nursing vocabulary) to level B2 in Germany
• The B2 language exam if taken in Germany

Costs that are initially paid by Nurse Finder or the employer and are collected from the candidate either before relocation or deducted from the salary in instalments:

• Cost of accommodation: first 2 month’s rent, electricity, and water as well as rent deposit, home insurance, and basic furnishing (if not a furnished apartment)

There are no other administration, recruitment, document validation, or relocation costs to be paid to Nurse Finder or its agent or employer, to their partner organizations, or to any other third party on their behalf. Also, the nurse does not need to hand over any original documents (e.g. passport, educational certificates, and/or experience certificates) during the process. In case such costs or handing over the documents are requested; a nurse shall immediately contact Nurse Finder.