All application forms for the Defizitbescheid by federal state
Here you will find links to all application forms and information sheets for the Defizitbescheid (deficit notice) for each federal state in Germany. Under the link to the respective page is a brief overview of how your documents must be certified and translated, whether the federal state also accepts retrainees, and particularities about the respective federal states, for example special regulations regarding language certificates.
Last updated: March 2024
Baden-Württemberg
Certification:
According to the official leaflet, certification can be done in the embassy and if certified abroad by the notary or city hall, this certification must be translated
Translation:
Publicly appointed or sworn interpreters or translators can be from a third country, but must be recognized in the EU or Germany
„Es ist wichtig, dass der Übersetzer in Deutschland oder der EU zugelassen ist. Ob dieser im Ausbildungsland oder in Deutschland ansässig ist, spielt keine Rolle.“
Are retrainees accepted: NO
Additional regulations for the B2 language certificate:
from 01.09.2022:
All modules of the certificate must have the result B2
“alle Bausteine des Zertifikats müssen das Ergebnis B2 haben“
from 01.01.2023:
The certificate must not be older than 3 years when the certificate (Urkunde) is issued.
“das Zertifikat darf bei Urkundenerteilung nicht älter als 3 Jahre sein“
Bayern / Bavaria
If you have a professional qualification as a nurse from your home country and you want to work as a “Pflegefachfrau/Pflegefachmann/Pflegefachperson” in Germany, then the “Bayerisches Landesamt für Pflege (LfP)” is responsible for your recognition procedure.
It is possible to apply for a Defizitbescheid online. The whole procedure can be done
All further information and the online application can be found here: https://www.lfp.bayern.de/anerkennung/
Certification:
NOT REQUIRED!
Translation:
Publicly appointed or sworn interpreters or translators from abroad are accepted.
“Der Übersetzer/Dolmetscher darf staatlich zugelassen / allgemein beeidigt sein in:
• Deutschland oder
• einem Land der EU, des EWR, in der Schweiz oder
• einem Drittstaat (alle Länder außerhalb EU/EWR/Schweiz).”
Are retrainees accepted: NO
Remark:
Bavaria is currently the best and easiest federal state to apply for a Defizitbescheid.
Berlin
https://www.berlin.de/lageso/gesundheit/berufe-im-gesundheitswesen/ausbildung-ausserhalb-der-europaeischen-union-drittstaat/nichtakademische-berufe/
(Link for documents for candidates from third countries)
Certification:
Only at the embassy
Translation:
Only German translators
„Fremdsprachige Unterlagen müssen Sie mit beglaubigten Übersetzungen von in Deutschland allgemein beeidigten oder ermächtigten bzw. öffentlich bestellten Übersetzern vorlegen. Übersetzungen aus Staaten außerhalb der EU-Mitgliedstaaten (sogenannte Drittstaaten) werden nicht akzeptiert.“
Are retrainees accepted: YES
Conditions for the B2 language certificate:
A certificate of level B 2 (for speech therapists C 1) from the Goethe-Institut, telc, TestDaF or ECL certified language schools is required, which must not be older than 3 years.
„Verlangt wird ein Zertifikat der Stufe B 2 (für Logopäden C 1) vom Goethe-Institut, telc, TestDaF oder ECL zertifizierten Sprachschulen, das nicht älter als 3 Jahre sein darf.“
Remarks:
From our experience, without a B2 language certificate, the processing of the deficit notice will not be started.
There must be apostilles on all documents.
In our experience, one of the more complicated federal states for obtaining the Defizitbescheid.
Brandenburg
https://lavg.brandenburg.de/lavg/de/gesundheit/gesundheitsfachberufe/anerkennung-auslaendischer-ausbildung/#
Certification:
Only at the embassy
Translation:
Only from the EU or Germany or from third countries with translators recognized by the German Embassy.
Are retrainees accepted: YES
Conditions for the B2 language certificate:
Certificates from the following language institutes are recognized: – Goethe Institute or Telc-GmbH or TestDaf or ÖSD. The certificates must not be older than 3 years at the time of application
“Zertifikate von folgenden Sprachinstituten werden anerkannt: – Goetheinstitut oder Telc-GmbH oder TestDaf oder ÖSD. Die Nachweise dürfen zum Zeitpunkt der Antragstellung nicht älter als 3 Jahre sein.”
Remarks:
“CV must be submitted with an original photograph.
All foreign documents from a country outside the EU (third country) must be apostilled or legalized in the country of issue.“
Bremen
Forms/Applications
https://www.gesundheit.bremen.de/das-ressort/service/leistungen-und-formulare-16818
General information
https://www.gesundheit.bremen.de/gesundheit/berufe-im-gesundheitswesen-11468
Certification:
Only at the embassy
Translation:
Publicly appointed or sworn interpreters or translators from abroad are accepted.
Are retrainees accepted: NO
*The deficit notice can be applied for with a B1 language certificate, but the knowledge test or the adaptation course can only be started with a B2 language certificate.
!Attention! As of 01.01.2023, in the Federal State of Bremen, it will be compulsory to take the “Fachsprachenprüfung” (a medical specialist language exam), if you want to be recognized as “Pflegefachfrau/Pflegefachmann” (nurse). The presentation of a B2 language certificate as proof of the required German language skills is then no longer sufficient. Only applications received before 15.07.2022 are excluded (transitional regulation).
Hamburg
Certification:
Only at the embassy
Translation:
Publicly appointed or sworn interpreters or translators from abroad are accepted.
Are retrainees accepted: YES
*Apostilles must be on the diploma, state examination and license.
*The application form is available in several languages.
Hessen / Hesse
Non-EU Forms/Applications
https://hlfgp.hessen.de/pflegefachberufe/auslaendische-abschluesse-pflege/laender-nicht-eu
EU Forms/Applications
https://hlfgp.hessen.de/pflegefachberufe/auslaendische-abschluesse-pflege/laender-eu-und-ewr
Online Application
https://hlfgp.hessen.de/pflegefachberufe/auslaendische-abschluesse-pflege/digitaler-antrag
Overview of all categories
https://hlfgp.hessen.de/pflegefachberufe/auslaendische-abschluesse-pflege
Information
https://hlfgp.hessen.de/pflegefachberufe/auslaendische-abschluesse-pflege/staatliche-anerkennung
Certification:
At the embassy or also outside of Germany at the notary or in the municipality – in that case the certifications must be translated
Translation:
Publicly appointed or sworn interpreters or translators from abroad are accepted.
Are retrainees accepted: YES
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern / Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
ahttps://www.lagus.mv-regierung.de/LPH/Auslaendische-Bildungsabschluesse/
You can find the documents under the category: “Gleichwertigkeitsprüfung anderer abgeschlossener ausländischer Aus- und Weiterbildungen in den Gesundheitsfachberufen”
Certification:
Only at the embassy.
Translation:
Only from Germany, EU or EEA (European Economic Area)
Are retrainees accepted: YES
*The contract must apparently be sent as an original document.
*The CV must be sent as an original with a picture
Niedersachsen / Lower Saxony
Certification:
Only at the embassy.
„Auch Beglaubigungen von Notaren oder Behörden aus Drittstaaten werden nicht akzeptiert.“
Translation:
Publicly appointed or sworn interpreters or translators from abroad are accepted.
„Im Ausland angefertigte Übersetzungen müssen von einer Institution stammen, die in diesem Land zu einer vereidigten Übersetzung (oder einem Äquivalent dazu) befugt ist.“
Are retrainees accepted: YES
*It is possible to submit a waiver with the application to opt exclusively for the knowledge exam, which should shorten the processing process.
*The issuance of the deficit notice in Lower Saxony currently takes a very long time (sometimes 6 months and more) – last updated July 2022
Nordrhein-Westfalen / North Rhine-Westphalia
No-EU Forms/Appliactions
Information
https://www.bezreg-muenster.de/de/gesundheit_und_soziales/zag/servicestelle_pug/index.html
Certification:
Only at the embassy.
Translation:
“For translations done abroad, the translator must also be classified as a trustworthy translator by the German embassy (these can be found on the published lists on the website of the respective embassy).” -> it is safer to hire a German translator
„Bei im Ausland gefertigten Übersetzungen, muss der Übersetzer zusätzlich als vertrauenswürdiger Übersetzer von der deutschen Botschaft eingestuft sein (diese sind auf den veröffentlichten Listen auf der Internetseite der jeweiligen Botschaft zu finden).”
Are retrainees accepted: YES
*It is possible to have the documents reviewed only for the knowledge exam (Kenntnisprüfung). This can be indicated in the application.
*Since Oct. 1, 2022, only applications under the Nursing Professions Act Pflegeberufegesetz (Pflegefachfrau/-mann) may be submitted.
Rheinland-Pfalz / Rhineland-Palatinate
https://lsjv.rlp.de/themen/gesundheit/gesundheitsberufe/nichtakademische-heilberufe
Certification:
At the embassy and if certified abroad by the notary, this certification must be translated
Translation:
Publicly appointed or sworn interpreters or translators from abroad are accepted.
Are retrainees accepted: in principle no
*If you already have a deficit notice from another state, you can send it to Rhineland-Palatinate and be recognized (employer in Rhineland-Palatinate is required).
Remarks concerning the B2 language certificate:
„All modules must be passed at B2 level.”
Saarland
Certification:
Only at the embassy (we are no sure if notaries from abroad are also accepted)
Translation:
Publicly appointed or sworn interpreters or translators from abroad are accepted.
“Solange es sich um öffentlich bestellte oder beeidigte Dolmetscher oder Übersetzer handelt, ist die Herkunft egal.”
Are retrainees accepted: ?
*We have no practical experience in this state yet
Sachsen / Saxony
Forms/Applications
https://www.ksv-sachsen.de/auslaendische-Berufsqualifikationen.html
General Information
https://amt24.sachsen.de/zufi/leistungen/6000955
Certification:
Only at the embassy (the safest way) – we haven’t veryfied other possibilities
Translation:
Publicly appointed or sworn interpreters or translators from abroad are accepted.
*At least there is nothing else indicated in the leaftlet/factsheet:
„(…) Übersetzungen einzureichen, die von einem öffentlich beeidigten Dolmetscher gefertigt wurden.“
Are retrainees accepted: YES
*„Zur Frage der Umschüler werden wir diese Abschlüsse nur dann prüfen können, wenn es sich um eine Umschulung im Bereich der allgemeinen Pflege handelt und die Betroffenen mit dem Umschulungszertifikat analog einer Krankenschwester regulär in ihrem Heimatland in der Pflege als Fachkraft arbeiten dürfen.“
Sachsen-Anhalt / Saxony-Anhalt
Forms/Applications
General Information
https://lvwa.sachsen-anhalt.de/das-lvwa/landespruefungsamt-fuer-gesundheitsberufe/
Certification:
Only at the embassy.
Translation:
Translations from Germany, the EU or the embassy are accepted.
Are retrainees accepted: YES
*All documents from abroad must always be provided with a Hague Apostille or legalized by the German Embassy in the country of training.
„Alle Dokumente aus dem Ausland sind grundsätzlich mit einer Haager Apostille zu versehen oder von der Deutschen Botschaft im Ausbildungsland legalisiert, einzureichen.“
Schleswig-Holstein
https://www.ea-sh.de/informieren/berufsanerkennung/berufsanerkennung-reglementierter-berufe/
Certification:
At the embassy – we couldn’t verify yet if the certification at a notary abroad is possible.
Translation:
The translator must be approved by the embassy – information on this is not really to be found -> it is safer to have everything translated by a German translator.
Are retrainees accepted: YES (*only with at least two years of training and even then it is difficult)
*Applications and fact sheets are not available on the website – they must be requested directly from a responsible official
*Our experience is that it is difficult to be recognized in Schleswig-Holstein.
Thüringen / Thuringia
Certification:
Only at the embassy.
Translation:
Publicly appointed or sworn interpreters or translators from abroad are accepted.
„Übersetzungen sind von einem in Deutschland oder im Ausland öffentlich bestellten und beeidigten Übersetzer / Dolmetscher anfertigen zu lassen.“
Are retrainees accepted: YES
*The B2 language level is tested personally:
„Das Thüringer Landesverwaltungsamt behält sich die Überprüfung der Sprachkenntnisse in einem persönlichen Gespräch vor. – Zudem müssen alle Antragsteller ihre Sprachkenntnisse in einem persönlichen Gespräch in unserem Hause nachweisen.“
*They provide special resume/CV template that must be used
Dear sir
I had done my C1 from Mumbai university.is it valid for application of deficit Bescheid. Pl let me know
Hello,
your CV is only valid in Germany (as a nurse) if it is a Gothe, ÖSD, telc or ECL certificate. In all other cases it is not.
Hello sir,
I am a nurse, in month of May I got my defizitbescheid from Bayern state, after receiving defizitbescheid my employer started process for pre approvals for Labour department, but last month that department asked few more documents like “Rent agreements”, so in this week my employer provided all asked documents to that department. Now my question is, sir how much time will it take more to get pre approval after submitting those documents.
Hello,
there are too many factors to such a procedure, so we’re sorry, but we can’t exactly tell you how much longer it will take.
You’ll just have to provide all the necessary documents and wait.
If your employer is doing the fast track procedure, our experience is that you wait approximately for a month, once all the necessary documents have been submitted.
We wish you the best of luck.
First I want to thank, that you answer promptly and help us. Sir, I applied for VISA, I am a nurse, I want to know, How Visa Validity date decided. That depends on Date of joining/ Employers/or Embassy. For example, Is it possible that my Date of joining in hospital/ in job contract is 20 May, but my VISA Validity date starts after 20 May. So how VISA Validity starting date date is decided
Hello,
thank you for your question.
Our assumption is that the embassy chooses the date according to the starting date you put in the online videx from, which is usually a realistic date close to the one in the contract, but we are not entirely sure that this 100% the way it is chosen.
Hello sir, Sir I received Defizitbescheid from Bayern, I’m advised to take KenntnissePrufüng, but “I’m to know how time does it take to get all Pre-approvals” from different departments ( Like Labor department, and other if needed) , so that I can go for VISA. Because I heard that we need few approvals, then we can go for VISA, so please how much time it take After Defizitbescheid. THANKS
Hello,
if you are a nurse and your employer helps you to obtain your visa via the Skilled Immigration Act and the fast-track procedure for skilled workers (Section 81a of the Residence Act), you should have your visa in 1 to 3 months.
We hope this helps and good luck.
Hi sir , I’m a doctor and I want to apply for defizitbescheid from Bayern ,please help me understand how much time it will take and what level of German language is necessary for that ?
Hello,
you’ll have to apply for some kind of Defizitbescheid, but it is not the same as for nurses. It’s an application for approbation.
We don’t really work with doctors, so you can find all the information you need here: https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/de/arbeiten-in-deutschland/gefragte-berufe/aerzte#:~:text=Wenn%20Sie%20Ihre%20Arztausbildung%20im,Dienst%20am%20Patienten%20t%C3%A4tig%20werden.
Or you can type in your questions here and it will lead you to more information: https://www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de/html/en/skilled-workers.php
In the end you will probably need a C1 level of German.
We wish you the best of luck.
Hey I want an advice that I’m applying for Baden-Württemberg .I m now studying b1 .I’m thinking about can I give my a2 exam and through its result I start my deficit beschied process.can I do it ??or just wait and then apply with B1 result
Hello,
if it’s just about applying for the Defizitbescheid you don’t need to have any language certificate.
You can already apply for the Defizitbescheid. You will only need a B2 certificate, once you are done with your recognition and you are applying for a “Urkunde”.
We hope this helps and best of luck to you.
Hello, I im a nurse, I applied for Defizitbescheid in month of September with all required documents. It’s Fabuary going to over but I haven’t get Defizitbescheid yet. What should I do. I applied in Bayern state.
Hello,
the best thing would be to write an e-mail to them and ask if anything is missing or if everything is okay.
Sometimes it just takes a really long time to receive the Defizitbescheid and maybe they have so much work, that they didn’t manage to finish yours yet.
Good luck.
Thanks for your reply, can you tell me any expected month to receive my defizitbescheid. I mean something it’s time taking process, but some of people I find on social media, they had received defizitbescheid who applied in same month. So can you tell me any expected month to arrive.
Good morning,
we are sorry, but in such cases there is not telling when it will be ready.
We have seen waiting times from under a month up to about 7 months. Legaly, a maximum of 3-4 months should be allowed, but some authorities just don’t have the capacity and have a lot to do.
It also depends where in Germany you have applied for the Defizitbescheid, some states (Bundesländern) are faster and some slower.
So unfortunately waiting is the only thing you can do…
In the application for approval for Bremen in the requirements says B2 certificate but here in this site i read it says you can start applying with your B1 at first.
i have my B1 can I apply for defizit bescheid and once i have B2 send it later ?
Hello,
yes, usually it should be possible to start your procedure with a B1 and you will have to have your B2 after your arrival in Germany.
Hello, for applying for defizit bescheid i’m asked for (Zuständigkeit für Bundesland)
Without that i cant get defizit bescheid and they wont process my documents, how to obtain that its hard to get job offer from our home country, is there any other way to prove that to your federal state ?
Hello,
unfortunately, we don’t know of any other way.
You will either have to have a letter of intent or a contract from your future employer.
If you can’t find one from your home country, you can contact us on WhatsApp and we might be able to help you and if not, we’ll at least inform you more about the process.
The number is +385 91 180 3963.
Thank you.
hi do we need a arbeitvertrag or letter of intent to apply for zwischenbescheid in NRW /Hessen/ Niedersachen ?
Hello,
yes, in order to apply for the Defizitbescheid you need an “Arbeitsvertrag” or letter of intent, so that they can be certain that you will work in that “Bundesland”.
Good luck 🙂
Hallowie kann man ein deficitbescheid vom lageso bekommen ich habe gehort dass kein deficitbescheid in berlin gibt
Hallo,
wenn Sie ein Gesundheits- und Krankenpfleger aus einem Drittstaat sind, finden Sie hier das Merkblatt, den Antrag und alle Informationen, die Sie für einen Defizitbescheid in Berlin benötigen: https://www.berlin.de/lageso/gesundheit/berufe-im-gesundheitswesen/ausbildung-ausserhalb-der-europaeischen-union-drittstaat/nichtakademische-berufe/
Viel Erfolg
Hallo , I have applied in Bavaria State. Is it possible to depart to Germany and Work there before getting Defizit Bescheid?
Hello,
at the moment there is not way to come to Germany without a Defizitbescheid unless you are from Bosnia.
Germany is introducing a new way without the Defizitbescheid in March (so technically from today on), but it is so new that probably no one really knows how to apply it.
So you’ll either have to wait a little bit more for the new law to take effect or wait for your Defizitbescheid.
Good luck.
Hallo!
Pls i am a doctor in Ghana. Can you pls help me with a link for defizitbescheid application for doctors in the different states?
Danke.
Dear Ms. Ashong,
we are not working with doctors at the moment, so we can’t guide you fully, but to get a Defizitbescheid as a doctor, you need to search for “Antrag auf Approbation”.
Or google „Arzt Drittstaat Anerkennung in (and then the state you want)“.
You can also use the links from our blog here for the Defizitbescheid and look for the topic “Approbation” from there.
Two examples we picked out for you are
Rheinland-Pfalz – https://www.bezreg-muenster.de/de/gesundheit_und_soziales/zag/approbation_nrw/muenster/arzt/approbation/index.html
and Berlin https://service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/331391/
You will also find further information about the process there.
Kind regards and best of luck.