Can nurses, doctors and teachers from Nigeria or Ghana apply for Germany's Opportunity Card?
Short answer
Yes. Make it in Germany says that, in general, the Opportunity Card can be issued to people of any profession and appropriate foreign qualification, regardless of the occupational field. Working in a regulated profession is different: the ZAB says a Statement of Comparability is not enough for that. Make it in Germany says a recognition notice stating partial recognition gives you 4 of the 6 points. The German Embassy Accra names teacher and nurse as examples of regulated professions. 264
On this page
What is a regulated profession?
Anerkennung in Deutschland, the federal recognition portal, says regulated professions are legally protected occupations, for example in the security and healthcare sectors. To be allowed to work in one in Germany, it says recognition is essential.
The same portal says anyone with a foreign higher education qualification for a regulated profession must apply for recognition in each case. It gives medical practitioners and pharmacists as examples.
The German Embassy Accra gives teacher, nurse and engineer as examples of regulated professions on its Opportunity Card page.
Is a ZAB Statement of Comparability enough?
For applying for the card, it can help. The ZAB (Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen) says you can use a Statement of Comparability to apply for an Opportunity Card.
For working in your profession, no. The ZAB says that to work in a regulated profession you always need a professional recognition of your qualification. A Statement of Comparability is not sufficient.
Ask the mission whether a Statement of Comparability alone is accepted for a nurse or doctor on the points route, or whether it expects a partial recognition notice.
Sources for this part6
How do the Lagos and Accra pages word the 4 recognition points?
The Lagos and Accra pages each describe the 4-point row in their own words, and they don't match word for word. The law describes the same criterion. The points themselves are set in a table attached to the Act, which we have not quoted.
The German Missions in Nigeria page gives 4 points if you have already been through the recognition procedure and partial equivalence was found. Their page adds: "The same applies in the case of a regulated profession if compensatory measures are still required for the licence to practise." The table opens with the words "if you are an unskilled worker".
The German Embassy Accra gives 4 points for "Partial recognition of a foreign professional qualification" or "Permission to practise a regulated profession (e.g. teacher, nurse or engineer)."
The law is § 20b(1) no. 1 of the Residence Act (AufenthG). In our own words, not an official translation: you get points if you have a foreign professional qualification and a body responsible for professional recognition in Germany has found that adjustment or compensation measures (Anpassungs- oder Ausgleichsmaßnahmen) or further qualifications are needed, either before your qualification can be found equivalent to a German one, or before you can be given a licence to practise (Berufsausübungserlaubnis) a profession that is regulated in Germany.
Does partial recognition count for the card?
Make it in Germany says a recognition notice stating partial recognition gives you four of the six points needed for the card.
It also says that if you already have a partial recognition notice from a recognition body in Germany, you don't need an extra ZAB certificate for the points system.
On the same page, it says partial recognition lets you take part in qualification measures or refresher training to get full recognition. It adds that the card entitles you to look for these measures.
Separately, Make it in Germany's shortage occupation list includes 2221 Nursing professionals, group 221 Medical doctors and 2330 Secondary education teachers.
What do applicants report about doctors and nurses?
A few applicants, in reports from May 2025 to February 2026, say a ZAB statement was not enough for doctors and nurses. They didn't make clear what it was not enough for. The ZAB itself says a Statement of Comparability can be used to apply for the card.
Some mentioned needing a deficit notice (Defizitbescheid). The reports include refusals of doctors and nurses.
These are experiences, not rules. The official pages above don't use the term deficit notice. The Lagos and Accra pages, Make it in Germany and the law talk about partial recognition and compensatory measures instead.
Applicants with education degrees report being asked for a ZAB statement when their exact degree title, for example BSc (Ed), did not match the anabin listing.
Reading the answer is the easy part. Say it out loud.
The officer will ask about this. Answer in your own words, then read what your answer missed. Your first practice interview is free.
Practise saying it out loudPeople also ask
Do I need German to get the Opportunity Card as a nurse?
On the points route, the German Missions in Nigeria ask for German at least A1 or English at least B2. The German Embassy Accra asks for German at A1 or English at B2, as a certificate not older than one year. These pages set the language rule for the card. They don't cover the language rules for working as a nurse in Germany. A few applicants who are doctors or nurses report being told they needed German at about B1 and a deficit notice (Defizitbescheid), and some report refusals. The official pages above don't say this, so ask the mission before you apply. 128
Where do I apply for recognition of my nursing, medical or teaching qualification?
Anerkennung in Deutschland says you must submit your recognition application to the competent authority in Germany. It says you can find that authority and the application procedure in its Recognition Finder. 7
I have a partial recognition notice. Do I also need a ZAB certificate?
Make it in Germany says no: with a partial recognition notice from a recognition body in Germany, you don't need an additional ZAB certificate for the points system. 4
Sources
- 1Opportunity CardOfficialGerman Missions in Nigeria · checked 2 Nov 2026
- 2Opportunity CardOfficialGerman Embassy Accra · checked 2 Nov 2026
- 3§ 20b AufenthGOfficialFederal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de) · checked 2 Nov 2026
- 4Questions and Answers Regarding the Opportunity CardOfficialMake it in Germany (Federal Government portal) · checked 2 Nov 2026
- 5List of shortage occupations according to Section 18g (1) (2) (1) of the Residence Act (PDF)OfficialMake it in Germany (Federal Government portal) · checked 2 Nov 2026
- 6FAQ – Statement of ComparabilityOfficialZentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen (ZAB) · checked 2 Nov 2026
- 7For skilled workersOfficialAnerkennung in Deutschland (Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training, BIBB) · checked 2 Nov 2026
- 8Opportunity Card applicant reports (May 2025 to February 2026)Applicant reportsApplicant reports gathered by VisaRoom · checked 2 Nov 2026
Official is the embassy or a German government page. Applicant reports are what applicants say happened at their appointment. Secondary is everything else we checked.
General information, not legal advice. VisaRoom isn't connected to any embassy or government, and only the embassy decides on your visa. Something out of date? Tell us.