Medical German
Terminology, talking with patients, documentation and shift handover — the language you need on your first day on the ward.
Founded by medics, for medics
Your medical career in Germany starts here.
Nurses, doctors, physiotherapists, pharmacists and care workers from the former Yugoslavia: German from scratch, diploma recognition, a vetted employer, visa and relocation — all in one place, with no fee for you.
- €0 fee — the employer pays
- Free German course, A1 to C1
- Interviews online, no travel
Are you an employer? See what we offer healthcare facilities →
Free calculator
How long until your job in Germany?
Tap your profession and German level — see your timeline instantly.
Your estimated timeline will appear here
? months
No fee for you — placement costs are covered by the employer.
We work with hospitals, clinics and care homes across Germany
BerlinMünchenHamburgFrankfurtStuttgartKölnDüsseldorfLeipzigHannoverNürnbergDresdenEssenBerlinMünchenHamburgFrankfurtStuttgartKölnDüsseldorfLeipzigHannoverNürnbergDresdenEssen
Who this is for
Which professions do we place in Germany?
Pick yours — the application and step-by-step plan adapt to your profession.
A different medical profession?
Free for candidates
Placement with no fee whatsoever
Our placement service is completely free for you — the cost of hiring is covered by the employer, the German hospital, clinic or care home. The German course at our own school and the textbooks are free for you. You only pay external costs such as certified translation and the visa, neither of which is an agency charge. The fee for recognition of your qualification (Anerkennung) is paid by the employer. We follow the principles of ethical recruitment and never ask for a placement fee.
The people behind WHR
Founded by medics, for medics
World Healthcare Recruitment was founded by medical professionals who made the whole journey themselves — from a diploma in the Balkans to a job and further training in Germany. We know every step first-hand, and now we guide our colleagues along the same path: by colleagues, for colleagues.
- Founded by medics who walked the same path
- We know language, recognition and the job first-hand
- By colleagues, for colleagues — free for candidates
Offices and teamBalkansGermany
As a doctor, I made the whole journey — from a diploma in the Balkans to a job and further training in Germany. That's why I share what I learned first-hand with my colleagues: by colleagues, for colleagues.
Simple and transparent
Your journey in 5 steps
A clear process with no surprises — you always know exactly where you stand.
- 1Step 01
Application & assessment
You submit your application, we assess your qualifications, language level and options.
- 2Step 02
Employer & interview
We find the employer and arrange the online interview, right through to the contract offer.
- 3Step 03
Language & documents
You begin your German course while we prepare and translate your documentation in parallel.
- 4Step 04
Recognition & visa
We carry out the Anerkennung procedure and prepare your work visa.
- 5Step 05
Relocation & starting work
We're with you through arrival, accommodation and your first day at work in Germany.
Take the first step — applying is free
Takes 2 minutes. We'll get back to you within 24 hours on business days.
Our language school
A free German course with us — from A1 to C1
You don't have to learn the language elsewhere at your own expense. Our own school runs the course: general and medical German, from the level you are at today to the level recognition and employers require.
Course and textbooks are free for candidates
You choose how to learn: in the classroom at our offices or online, from your own city and around your job — right up to leaving for Germany.
General German A1–C1
Every level, from beginner to advanced. No switching schools mid-process, no course fee and free textbooks.
Preparation for international exams
ÖSD and Goethe certificates recognised by German authorities and employers, plus preparation for the specialist language exam (Fachsprachprüfung) for doctors and pharmacists.
Preparation for Anerkennung
Alongside the language we run the diploma recognition: documents, certified translations, the application to the competent authority and the deadlines — you do not chase offices yourself.
Free app
Open MedDeutschYour lessons come with the MedDeutsch app
Alongside teacher-led lessons, every one of our candidates gets free access to MedDeutsch, an app developed by our team of German teachers. Short lessons from A1 to B2 — vocabulary, grammar, reading, listening, speaking and writing — with sentences from the ward and dedicated courses for nursing and for doctors. You practise every day, between lessons too.
Success stories
People who have already made the move
Experiences from candidates now working in German hospitals and clinics.
I started without a single word of German. Today I work in cardiology in Munich. They guided me through every step — language, paperwork, even the flat.
Marija J.
Nurse · Munich
Diploma recognition worried me the most. They handled the entire Anerkennung procedure for me. In 11 months I signed my contract.
Dr. Nikola P.
Doctor · Berlin
We moved together, as a couple. They arranged employers in the same city and helped with everything. We couldn't have done it alone.
Ana and Stefan
Physiotherapists · Hamburg
How long the journey to a job in Germany takes
Honestly: the timeline depends mostly on your starting level of German — which is why we show two realistic scenarios.
AYou already have B2 German and a recognised (or easily recognisable) diploma
2–4 monthsBYou are starting from scratch (A0/A1 German)
12–16 monthsmonths
Fastest path
AYou already have B2 German and a recognised (or easily recognisable) diploma
2–4 months- Assessment and application (1–2 weeks): free consultation, review of your documents and language level, and a clear plan.
- Employer and interview (2–4 weeks): we find the employer — a hospital, clinic or care home — and prepare you for the online interview, right through to the contract offer.
- Document translation and diploma recognition (in parallel, 2–4 months): certified translation and submission are quick (weeks), but the authority officially has up to 4 months to process the application (about 2 months under the employer-led accelerated procedure). The timing depends on the federal state.
- Contract and visa (3–6 weeks): signing the employment contract and applying for the visa; the duration depends on the embassy and available appointments.
- Relocation and start of work (1–2 weeks): travel, accommodation, and your first weeks on the job with our support.
Note: assessment and diploma recognition usually run in parallel with the employer search, which shortens the total time. Some of the timing depends on the employer and the authorities and is not fully in our hands.
BYou are starting from scratch (A0/A1 German)
12–16 months- Assessment and application (1–2 weeks): free consultation, review of your diploma, and a language-learning plan tailored to you.
- Employer and interview (1–2 months): we find the employer and arrange the online interview, right through to the contract offer.
- Learning the language up to B2 level (9–12 months): general and medical German; this is the longest phase and the pace depends on your time and effort. With consistent work, B2 is realistically achievable within this period.
- Document translation and diploma recognition / Anerkennung (in parallel during the course, 2–4 months): we start the certified translation and the recognition application while you are still learning the language, so you don't lose time.
- Contract and visa (1–1.5 months): signing the contract and applying for the visa; part of the timeline depends on the embassy.
- Relocation and start of work (2–4 weeks): travel, accommodation, and onboarding, with support even after you arrive.
Note: language learning, diploma recognition, and document preparation run in parallel, so the total is shorter than the sum of the phases. Most of it depends on you (learning the language), and part on the employer and the authorities.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the most important questions
No. Many candidates start from zero — we organise German courses up to the level required for recognition (for medical professions usually B2, plus a specialist language exam), including medical terminology.
It depends mostly on your German level and your profession. With B2 and a recognised diploma, a job is realistic within 2 to 4 months. Starting from zero, it takes about 12 to 16 months, because learning German is the longest part of the journey. You get an estimate for your situation instantly in the free calculator on the home page or in the quiz.
For candidates our placement is completely free — the employer covers the cost of hiring. The German course at our school is free too. You only pay external costs: certified translations and the visa. The recognition (Anerkennung) fee is paid by the employer. We state all costs up front — no hidden charges.
Yes. We carry out the full Anerkennung procedure and, if a compensatory measure (adaptation course or exam) is required, advise you on the fastest way to resolve it.
Yes. The entire selection and interview process is online, so you don't have to travel before signing the contract.
For medical professionals, the recognition visa (§16d of the Residence Act) is most common — it allows you to stay while your diploma is being recognised (up to 24 months, extendable); once it is recognised, you switch to a residence permit for skilled work. We guide you through the entire process, including preparing the documents for the embassy.
For certain jobs, yes. The Western Balkans Regulation (Section 26(2) BeschV) lets citizens of the six Western Balkan countries work in Germany without a recognised qualification — in care, that means working as a nursing assistant (Pflegehilfskraft), with German at level B1. To work as a qualified nurse, doctor, pharmacist or physiotherapist, recognition (Anerkennung) remains mandatory; it can also be completed after arrival, alongside work (recognition partnership). All routes and requirements are on our Western Balkans Regulation page — and we guide you through it end to end.
Online info day · free
Meet us live — how we work, from language to job
Register and we'll let you know the next date — ask your questions live.
Application
Apply — free and with no obligation
A short 2-minute application. We'll get back to you within 24 hours on business days with a concrete plan for your situation.
What happens after you apply
- 1We'll contact you within 24 hours (business days)
- 2A free online call about your situation and goals
- 3You get a step-by-step plan with realistic timelines — no obligation
Online interviewsReply within 24hOffices in Belgrade, Banja Luka and Sarajevo, team in Munich and Berlininfo@worldhealthcarerecruitment.net
Are you an employer? Send a request for candidates →
Free tools
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Blog
Everything about living and working in Germany
Guides, procedures and first-hand advice — to help you make the right decision.
For employers
Looking for medical staff for your facility?
We recruit specifically for your needs: candidates arrive with the agreed level of German, usually B2, and complete documentation, and finish full recognition in Germany. One partner for the whole process, from recruitment to integration.