Nurse visa routes in Federal Republic of Germany
Thinking about Federal Republic of Germany as a place to work? Below are the 4 Federal Republic of Germany visa routes that most commonly fit nurses, with what each one needs and a link to the official government source. Always confirm the current rules on the primary source before acting.
Also searched as: registered nurse, RN, staff nurse, adult nurse.
What this means for nurses
Of the 4 Federal Republic of Germany routes that commonly fit nurses, 3 need a sponsoring employer and 1 does not, and 4 can lead to permanent residence. Nurses work in a regulated field, so immigration approval is only half the journey: in most countries you must also clear a separate professional-registration or licensing step before you can practise in Federal Republic of Germany. That recognition process often takes as long as the visa itself, so it is worth starting in parallel.
The most-used skilled route into Federal Republic of Germany overall is the EU Blue Card (Germany), which also fits many nurses — it is included below.
Typical figures — EU Blue Card (Germany)
Computed from our continuously re-verified, primary-sourced data. Indicative, not legal advice.
Salary you must earn
€50,700/yr
EU Blue Card — general threshold
Verified 1 January 2026 · Make it in Germany — EU Blue Card →
Government cost
€185
Single applicant, visa + residence title, no translations
Family reunion D-visas: €75 each. Residence titles for family members: €100 on issuance, €96 on extension. Children under 18 pay reduced rates (typically half).
Verified 1 June 2026 · Make it in Germany — EU Blue Card →
How long it takes
4 weeks – 3 months
EU Directive 2021/1883 sets a 90-day statutory maximum for an EU Blue Card decision. In practice, Make-it-in-Germany publishes 1–3 months for consular processing from abroad and 4–6 weeks for in-country conversions at the Ausländerbehörde. Vorabzustimmung (pre-approval) by the Foreigners’ Authority shortens consular timelines materially.
Verified 1 June 2026 · Make-it-in-Germany â EU Blue Card →
Time to permanent residence
Arrival → Niederlassungserlaubnis (21-60 months depending on route and German level) → citizenship (5 years).
Leads to Niederlassungserlaubnis (Settlement Permit), then German citizenship.
Routes that fit nurses
EU Blue Card (Germany)
Work and residence permit for highly qualified non-EU professionals with a qualifying German job offer.
Sponsor required · Leads to settlement · 4 years (or duration of contract + 3 months, whichever is shorter).
Chancenkarte (Germany Opportunity Card)
Points-based 1-year residence permit that lets non-EU skilled workers from any country move to Germany without a job offer to search for qualifying work. Six points or full qualification recognition required.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Up to 12 months initial; one-time extension as Anschluss-Chancenkarte for up to 24 more months if a qualifying job offer is held but full recognition is still pending.
Skilled Worker residence permit (§18a/§18b AufenthG)
Sponsored work and residence permit for qualified non-EU workers from any country worldwide who have a German job offer and a recognised qualification.
Sponsor required · Leads to settlement · Usually up to 4 years or contract length plus 3 months.
Recognition Partnership (Anerkennungspartnerschaft)
Residence permit allowing skilled workers to complete their qualification recognition while living and working in Germany.
Sponsor required · Leads to settlement · Up to 3 years.
Figures by route
Verified salary floor and processing window per matched route, each primary-sourced. Indicative, not legal advice.
| Route | Salary floor | Processing | Settlement |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU Blue Card (Germany) | €50,700/yr | 4 weeks – 3 months | Yes |
| Chancenkarte (Germany Opportunity Card) | — | 4 weeks – 3 months | Yes |
| Skilled Worker residence permit (§18a/§18b AufenthG) | — | 4 weeks – 3 months | Yes |
| Recognition Partnership (Anerkennungspartnerschaft) | — | 2 months – 4 months | Yes |
Recent policy changes affecting this route
What changed most recently on this route — each linked to its primary government source.
- 1 June 2024In force 1 June 2024
Germany launches the Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card)
Germany launched a new points-based residence permit for job seekers under the Skilled Immigration Act reforms.
German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action →
Frequently asked questions
Which visa routes suit nurses moving to Federal Republic of Germany?+
Federal Republic of Germany has 4 routes that commonly fit nurses: EU Blue Card (Germany), Chancenkarte (Germany Opportunity Card), Skilled Worker residence permit (§18a/§18b AufenthG), Recognition Partnership (Anerkennungspartnerschaft). The best fit depends on whether you already have an employer sponsor, your salary, and your qualifications — open any route below for its full eligibility criteria and primary government source.
Do nurses need a job offer to move to Federal Republic of Germany?+
Not always. 1 of the 4 matched Federal Republic of Germany routes can be pursued without an employer sponsoring you (such as the Chancenkarte (Germany Opportunity Card)), while 3 need a sponsoring employer or a confirmed job offer. If you do not yet have an offer, start with the no-sponsor routes.
Can nurses settle permanently in Federal Republic of Germany?+
Yes. 4 of the 4 matched routes lead toward settlement or permanent residence. Permanent-residence timelines vary by route, so check the settlement detail on each visa page.
Do nurses need to requalify or register to work in Federal Republic of Germany?+
Nurses work in a regulated field, so immigration approval is only half the journey: in most countries you must also clear a separate professional-registration or licensing step before you can practise in Federal Republic of Germany. That recognition process often takes as long as the visa itself, so it is worth starting in parallel.
What salary do nurses need for the EU Blue Card (Germany) in Federal Republic of Germany?+
The EU Blue Card — general threshold floor is €50,700/yr, effective 1 January 2026 (Make it in Germany — EU Blue Card). Your occupation's published going rate may bind higher — whichever is greater applies.
How much does the EU Blue Card (Germany) cost in government fees?+
For the worked example (Single applicant, visa + residence title, no translations), government fees total about €185 (Make it in Germany — EU Blue Card, verified 1 June 2026). Treat as indicative and confirm the current schedule on the official source.
How long does the EU Blue Card (Germany) take to process?+
The typical published decision window is 4 weeks – 3 months (Make-it-in-Germany â EU Blue Card, verified 1 June 2026).