For midwives
Your path to working as a midwife in Germany
See how midwife recognition works for EU and other qualifications. Personal roadmap coming soon.
Free, no account needed. Supported professions get a personalized roadmap; others can join the waitlist.
Plan your next steps
Your route to working in Germany
Explore the midwife recognition guide now. Join the waitlist for a personal roadmap.
- 1
Prepare
Check your authority’s document list before paying for translations or certifications.
- 2
German & exams
Prepare the German certificate and any professional language test your authority accepts.
- 3
Recognition
Apply for recognition. If gaps remain, follow the exam or adaptation route in your decision.
- 4
Visa & arrival
If you need a visa, check which residence permit covers your recognition or employment.
- 5
First job
Apply for roles that match your current licence and permitted duties.
This is an overview. Check whether a personalised roadmap is available for your profession, or join the waitlist.
Check roadmap availabilityServices
Services for every profession
Get help with your document list, visa questions or German CV.
- Document Checkfrom 129 €Your document list compared with your recognition authority’s checklist, with missing items identified.Open
- Visa Consultationon requestA consultation on residence-permit options, required documents and application steps.Open
- CV & Career Check149 €A German CV in PDF and Word, with a hiring supervisor’s review and written feedback.Open
Recognition and the Erlaubnis for midwives
Midwifery is a regulated profession. You need the Erlaubnis to use the professional title and practise as a midwife in Germany.
An EU qualification covered by the automatic recognition rules follows that route when the required evidence is present. Other EU qualifications and third-country training are assessed individually for equivalence.
If the authority identifies substantial differences, it specifies a compensation measure, such as an aptitude or knowledge test or adaptation period. The measure depends on the qualification and route.
Documents and German-language evidence
Use the current document list from your state authority. Common items are:
- Midwifery qualification and detailed training records for pregnancy care, births, postnatal care and breastfeeding, including practical placements and hours.
- For an EU automatic recognition claim, the certificate or confirmation required under the directive.
- Identity, reliability and health documents requested by the authority.
- B2 German; ask whether specialist language testing applies in your state.
- Certified copies and translations in the format requested by the authority.
How long recognition takes and what drives the cost
The authority checks completeness before the assessment period begins. EU automatic recognition may be decided within three months; individual third-country assessment is generally up to four months, with extensions possible in specific cases.
Allow time for missing records, translations and any compensation measure. State fees and exam costs vary.
- EU automatic route
- Usually up to 3 months from complete application
- Individual assessment
- Generally up to 4 months; extensions may apply
- German
- B2; specialist proof depends on the state
Which office decides in your state
Apply to the competent midwifery authority in the state where you intend to work.
| Federal state | Recognition office |
|---|---|
| North Rhine-Westphalia | Bezirksregierung MünsterMünster |
| Bavaria | Bayerisches Landesamt für PflegeAmberg |
| Baden-Württemberg | Regierungspräsidium Stuttgart - Referat 98 - Landesanerkennungsstelle für GesundheitsberufeStuttgart |
Ask the authority to confirm whether your certificate qualifies for automatic recognition or needs individual assessment.
Working while you wait
Do not practise as a midwife before receiving the required Erlaubnis. Ask the authority and employer about any other work permitted during the procedure.
Residence and work-permit requirements are separate from professional recognition.
Packages & pricing
Compare individual checks and packages, including what each service covers.
Get it funded
Check eligibility for recognition-cost support, placement vouchers and funded training.
The funding page is in German.
Questions we hear most
Check your roadmap
Check availability for your profession. Build a free roadmap where supported, or join the waitlist.
Check roadmap availability
