How Much Does It Cost for a Nigerian Registered Nurse to Relocate to the Germany? 🇩🇪
Nigerian registered nurses move to Germany by having their qualification recognised (Anerkennung) as a Pflegefachfrau/Pflegefachmann, learning German, and entering on a national visa — most often via the Recognition Partnership route. German language is the make-or-break factor: B2 is needed for full registration, though A2 suffices to enter on a recognition partnership. Below are the web-verified costs, requirements and salary.
Quick Numbers
Total Cost
₦0.3M – ₦2.1M
Starting Salary
€30,000/yr
Pflegefachmann/-frau (registered nurse, gross) (2025)
Nigerians Who Moved
Not published
Not published
Source Rank
anerkennung-in-deutschland.de / make-it-in-germany.com / Bundesagentur für Arbeit
Step-by-Step: Registration & Costs
1Qualification recognition (Anerkennung)Recognition procedure: EUR 170–845 (authority confirms exact amount; certifications and compensation measures extra)
Apply to the competent state authority to have your nursing qualification assessed against the German Pflegefachfrau/Pflegefachmann standard. The authority confirms the exact cost and tells you whether compensation measures are needed.
2German language (B2)Course and exam fees paid to language providers (vary by school)
Reach B2 German for full professional registration, demonstrated via a specialist language exam (Fachsprachprüfung Pflege). For the Recognition Partnership entry visa, only A2 is required at entry, with B2 reached while working.
3Compensation measure (Kenntnisprüfung or Anpassungslehrgang)Kenntnisprüfung is state-set: ~EUR 350 (Schleswig-Holstein) up to ~EUR 1,350 (Hessen); adaptation period is typically paid work
If the authority finds substantial differences, you complete either a knowledge test (Kenntnisprüfung) or an adaptation period (Anpassungslehrgang). The adaptation period is usually paid supervised employment rather than a fee.
4National visa (D visa)National (D) visa fee, payable in local currency at the mission's rate (non-refundable)
Apply at the German mission for a national visa — Recognition Partnership, Opportunity Card, or employment. The Recognition Partnership route is the most relevant for an already-qualified Nigerian nurse with a job offer.
Other Costs to Budget For
The Anerkennungszuschuss grant can reimburse up to EUR 600 for procedure/translation costs, but it is means-tested and generally requires residence in Germany.
Official source ↗No single national fee — varies by Landesprüfungsamt; preparation courses are extra.
Official source ↗Good News: Employer Sponsorship
German hospitals and care providers actively recruit overseas nurses and frequently sponsor the Recognition Partnership route, employing the nurse while recognition is completed. Strong demand makes employer support common.
What employers typically cover:
- Recognition Partnership agreement and job offer
- Language course costs during employment in many cases
- Support with recognition procedure and relocation
What You'll Earn: Pflegefachmann/-frau (registered nurse, gross) (2025)
Entry
€30,000
per year
After 2 Years
€51,950
per year
Top of Band
€58,000
per year
Bundesagentur für Arbeit Entgeltatlas: median EUR 4,329/month (~EUR 51,950/yr); lower quartile EUR 3,870, upper quartile EUR 4,849. New arrivals before full recognition typically start lower (~EUR 2,500–2,900/month gross). Source ↗
Important Things to Know
- German language is the decisive hurdle: B2 for full registration, with A2 enough to enter on a Recognition Partnership.
- Recognition costs and the Kenntnisprüfung fee are set by each state — budget a range, not a single figure.
- The Recognition Partnership (§16d) is usually the best route for an already-qualified Nigerian nurse with a job offer.
- The Triple Win programme does NOT cover Nigeria (only India, Indonesia, Philippines, Tunisia).
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Start Free CalculatorFrequently Asked Questions
What German level do nurses need for Germany?
B2 German is required for full professional registration, demonstrated through a specialist language exam (Fachsprachprüfung Pflege). To enter on a Recognition Partnership visa, A2 is enough, with B2 reached while working.
How much does nursing recognition cost in Germany?
The recognition procedure itself costs roughly EUR 170–845, set by the state authority. If a knowledge test is required it adds about EUR 350–1,350, plus translation and language-exam costs.
Is the Triple Win programme open to Nigerian nurses?
No. Triple Win only has placement agreements with India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Tunisia. Nigerian nurses typically use the Recognition Partnership or Opportunity Card routes instead.
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Sources & Verification
Every figure on this page was independently verified on 2026-06-24. We do not use AI training data for any costs, fees, or policy claims.
Verification Notes
Recognition cost EUR 170–845, B2 requirement, processing time, EUR 75 visa fee and A2 entry requirement were read from official pages. The salary figures (median EUR 4,329/month, quartiles EUR 3,870/EUR 4,849) come from the official Entgeltatlas via its search index rather than a direct page read (the page is JavaScript-rendered) — confirm before relying on the exact figure.
Kenntnisprüfung fee has no single national value; it is state-set (~EUR 350–1,350), so a range is used.
Entry salary (~EUR 30,000/yr, ~EUR 2,500–2,900/month) for new arrivals before full recognition is from secondary sources and is indicative.
The Anerkennungszuschuss grant is means-tested and generally requires residence in Germany, so a Nigerian applying from abroad likely cannot claim it until after arrival.
Migration count was not retrieved and is omitted.
Written by Max Ayobami
Founder of Japa Calculator, Nigeria's first data-driven relocation decision tool. Every cost figure and expert tip on this page is independently researched and verified against official government and regulatory body sources.