Two Years of the Recognition Partnership – a Success Story

Since March 2024, the “Anerkennungspartnerschaft” has been in place. Its introduction was part of the reform of Germany’s Skilled Immigration Act (Fachkräfteeinwanderungsgesetz). It enables international skilled professionals from third countries (i.e., outside the EU) to enter Germany without having to complete the full recognition process for their professional qualification in advance. In practical terms, this means: international skilled professionals can start working in Germany and, in parallel, begin their recognition process with the support of their employer.

This requires a binding agreement between the employer and the international skilled professional. Under this agreement, the employer undertakes to apply for the recognition of the professional qualification in Germany together with the skilled professional and to actively support the process. Ideally, the employer should therefore already have some experience in international recruitment. This is where service providers such as TalentOrange come into play: before entering into the Anerkennungspartnerschaft, professional recruiters check whether the qualifications are eligible for recognition in Germany. TalentOrange now uses this instrument for 80 percent of the skilled professionals entering the country—both for nursing professionals as well as for other healthcare professions and for early childhood educators. The service provider makes the relevant know-how available to the employer and supports them throughout the process.

“We have been using the Anerkennungspartnerschaft for almost two years now and have had consistently positive experiences,” says Martina Schlögl, Director of Nursing at Wicker Klinik / Wirbelsäulenklinik in Bad Homburg. In 2025, Wicker Klinik recruited nursing professionals from Vietnam, Brazil, and Namibia, as well as physiotherapists from Colombia and Chile. In 2026, the entry of additional nursing professionals from India and Myanmar is planned. “These are state-recognized qualifications from countries that are known for providing strong training. We always received the Defizitbescheid in good time before registering for the Kenntnisprüfung—and only then do we need it under the new model.” The entry process is shortened by two to five months through the Anerkennungspartnerschaft.

Wicker Klinik / Wirbelsäulenklinik has switched to the Kenntnisprüfung as a qualification pathway. “The adaptation programmes have simply become too complicated for us as an employer. It is cumbersome to organize a large number of consecutive placements. We also prefer not to send our skilled professionals to other institutions during the recognition period, where they might, for example, gain experience in long-term care. The Kenntnisprüfung courses are easier for us to plan.” The talents often start these just two weeks after entering the country. The Anerkennungspartnerschaft also contributes to better planning of the overall process. “Previously, entries were often delayed by several months because the Defizitbescheide were not issued in time. There was always a lot of hope involved and little that was concrete.” That has now changed.

The following requirements must be met in order to use the Anerkennungspartnerschaft:

  1. Qualification

The skilled professional must have completed at least a two-year state-recognized vocational or university education programme abroad.

  1. Language skills

For nursing and healthcare professions, German language skills at at least B1 level are required for the visa to be issued.

  1. Employment contract

A specific offer of qualified employment must be in place.

The initial residence permit is generally issued for one year within the framework of the Anerkennungspartnerschaft. If necessary, it can be extended for up to three years so that the recognition procedure can be completed.

For Wicker Klinik, Martina Schlögl can say: “Employers do not have to worry that the Defizitbescheid will not come in the end. I would do it the same way again any time.

Conclusion

The Anerkennungspartnerschaft is a more flexible pathway for the immigration of skilled professionals from abroad. It allows:

  • earlier entry into Germany without prior full recognition

  • starting work already during the recognition procedure

  • a more reliably plannable start date