Our End-To-End Process
Eligibility
Nurse Finder accepts candidates who meet the following eligibility criteria: 1) Indian BSc degree or GNM diploma, 2) good English language skills, 3) a minimum work experience of 3 years with no recent gap (more than 1 year) in the work history, 4) a valid Indian nursing license, 5) fit to work during the relocation, 6) able to provide PCC, and 7) 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 Language Skill
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
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.