Frequently asked questions
The questions people actually ask us
If yours is not here, write to us: we answer every message.
For nurses
What do I have to pay?
Nothing. No application fee, no deposit, no percentage of your salary, at any stage. We are paid by the German healthcare institution when it hires you. If anyone claiming to work with Eurofrika asks you for money, write to us immediately.
How long does the journey take?
Twelve to twenty-four months. The main factor is your starting level of German: someone beginning from zero should allow around two years, while someone with a solid B1 can arrive within twelve to fifteen months.
What level of German is required?
B2 level, generally evidenced by a telc examination, is required for qualification recognition and for practising. You do not need it at the outset — that is precisely what we train. To be clear: we prepare and register you, but an accredited examination centre administers the telc and issues the certificate — Eurofrika issues none.
Will my qualification be recognised?
The decision belongs to the authority of the German state where you will work, and we cannot guarantee it. In most cases it results in partial recognition combined with an adaptation measure: a supervised placement or a knowledge examination. We tell you this at the first interview.
Can I bring my family?
Family reunification is possible, subject to income and housing conditions, with additional timelines. Tell us at the first interview: it changes how the file is prepared and which city makes sense.
What salary will I earn?
The one set by the collective agreement applying to your institution, identical to a German colleague of the same qualification and seniority. Any lower offer should raise a flag, and we do not work with employers who make them.
What happens if it doesn't work out once I'm there?
You have a contact person with us for at least six months, who speaks your language and knows your employer. Most difficulties can be resolved if they are raised early. If the situation is genuinely blocked, we look for a solution with you — which is also in our interest, since half our fee depends on your still being there at six months.
Is there an age limit?
No. Experience counts, and some institutions particularly value it. What matters more is the ability to learn a language and to settle for the long term.
For institutions
Are you a staffing agency?
No. We do direct placement — Personalvermittlung. The nurse becomes your employee, under your collective agreement. We are never their employer, which distinguishes us from Arbeitnehmerüberlassung, subject to a federal licence we neither hold nor seek.
How is your fee structured?
A single fee in two instalments: half on signature of the employment contract, the second half after six months of actual service. Recognition, visa and travel costs are re-invoiced at cost.
How long between our request and the nurse's arrival?
If the candidate starts German from zero, allow around two years. That is why we train candidates in advance: our aim is to hold a pool already certified at B2 by the time you express a need.
What if the nurse leaves before six months?
The second instalment is not due. This is a constraint we impose on ourselves deliberately: it aligns our interest with yours and obliges us to invest in selection and integration.
Can recruitment costs be refinanced?
Depending on the case, costs of recruiting nursing staff abroad may be taken into account in institutions' tariff negotiations. Some German states also offer subsidies. This needs checking in your specific situation, and we provide the supporting material.
How do you ensure ethical recruitment?
The candidate pays nothing at any stage, and our contracts are open to inspection. We recruit among unemployed graduates and early-career professionals rather than from African public services already under strain. We are working towards the RAL quality mark Gütesiegel Faire Anwerbung Pflege Deutschland.
About Eurofrika
Has the company been registered yet?
No — and we write it rather than hide it. Eurofrika is in formation. Its founder is currently completing nursing training in Germany; his residence permit will change when he qualifies in spring 2028. Until then we are building the structure, the platform and the partnerships, and preparing the first candidates for language certification.
Which countries do you recruit from?
We are starting with Cameroon, where our network is, with the ambition of extending gradually to other African countries. We prefer to open one corridor at a time and make it solid.
Do you work with nursing schools?
Yes, it is a central part of the model. We form partnerships with African schools to offer this path to their graduates, with payment to the school for candidates actually placed — never for candidates merely introduced.
