Nursing Jobs in Germany for Kenyans: Recognition and Visa

Updated 2026-11-10

Germany needs nurses and has opened its doors to Kenyan workers: Kenya and Germany signed a Migration and Mobility Partnership in Berlin on 13 September 2024. The catch is language and recognition: you work as a fully qualified nurse only once a German authority recognises your training. This guide explains the routes.

Recognition of your nursing qualification

A competent authority in the German state where you will work assesses your training and issues a decision, usually within three to four months of a complete application.
Where your training differs from German nursing training, you close the gap with a knowledge exam (Kenntnisprüfung) or an adaptation course ending in an interview.
German language skills are part of being licensed to practise; the authority sets the level it requires.

The recognition partnership: work while you qualify

You can move to Germany before recognition is complete through a recognition partnership (Anerkennungspartnerschaft): you need training of at least two years or a degree, state recognition of it in Kenya, German at level A2 or higher, and an employer. You then work and complete recognition in Germany, aiming for full recognition within three years.

Vocational training (Ausbildung)

The 2024 partnership also opens vocational training places to young Kenyans. A nursing Ausbildung in Germany is paid training that ends in a German nursing qualification, which avoids recognition entirely.

Before you go: the Kenyan side

Verification by your Kenyan regulator: foreign regulators and employers confirm your Kenyan registration directly. Nurses request verification through the out-migration section of the Nursing Council of Kenya portal; other cadres go through their own council or board. Keep your Kenyan practising licence current while you apply.
Use licensed recruiters only: a recruitment agency must be licensed by the National Employment Authority (NEA). Check it before you pay anything or hand over documents: how to check a recruitment agency.
Never pay for a "visa sponsorship": in the UK, US, Canada and Australia, sponsorship is the employer’s legal duty, not something you buy. Offers that ask you to pay for a sponsorship letter or certificate are a common scam.

Make your credentials easy to verify

Every route above starts with the same thing: proof of your qualifications, registration and experience that an employer abroad can trust. A free Cazini Job Passport holds your verified work history, licences and references in one place you can share with any employer, at home or abroad. Create your free profile and apply to verified health jobs on the board.

Frequently asked questions

Can Kenyan nurses work in Germany?

Yes, once a German authority recognises their qualification. The recognition partnership route lets you move with A2 German and an employer and complete recognition in Germany within up to three years.

Is there a Kenya-Germany jobs agreement?

Yes. Kenya and Germany signed a Migration and Mobility Partnership on 13 September 2024, covering skilled workers and young people coming for vocational training.

Do I need German to work as a nurse in Germany?

Yes. German language skills are part of being licensed to practise, and the recognition partnership route requires at least A2 to start.