Triple Win (German government nurse recruitment programme)

The name reflects three intended winners: German employers that need nurses, partner countries with more trained nurses than jobs, and the nurses themselves. The Federal Employment Agency's ZAV selects and places candidates, and GIZ, the German development agency, supports partner administrations, training and integration. Placement rests on agreements between the BA and each partner country, whose employment services publish vacancies and support applications.

GIZ reported in October 2025 that more than 8,000 nurses and trainees had been placed since 2013, more than 6,000 had already arrived, and around 400 health and care facilities had used the programme. It listed current recruitment of nurses from the Indian states of Kerala and Telangana, Indonesia, the Philippines and Tunisia, with trainees from Kerala. The BA says the programme recruits only from countries with a surplus of trained nurses, to relieve their labour markets, and GIZ reports that more than 90 per cent of those placed say they feel comfortable with their new employers.

• India (Kerala): a GNM diploma or BSc (Basic) Nursing from an accredited Indian institution, or Indian nurse registration, and at least 18 years old. Applications go through Norka Roots, a Government of Kerala company.
• Philippines: a BSN degree and active Philippine nursing licence, aged 40 or under, living in the Philippines, with at least six months' experience in a hospital, rehabilitation centre or care institution. Applications go through the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), which runs up to three selection rounds a year.

Rules differ by country, so read the BA page for yours. See also our pages for nurses from India and the Philippines.

1. Programme interview, then an interview with a German employer.
2. German course in your home country from A1 to B1, paid for by Triple Win, plus nursing orientation.
3. GIZ helps prepare your recognition documents.
4. Employment contract, medical check and visa. B1 is required when you apply for the visa.
5. In Germany you work in a supporting role while completing recognition and B2 German. The BA's Kerala page says recognition is pursued within 12 months.

The Philippine page puts selection to departure at about 12 to 14 months, depending on your German. The Kerala page says the first work visa is valid for one year and becomes a residence permit once you pass recognition and a B2 exam in Germany.

The BA says placement, language and technical preparation and integration assistance are free for applicants; in Kerala Triple Win also pays for the medical check and measles vaccination. Philippine applicants pay government charges to the DMW: a US$100 processing fee, a US$25 OWWA contribution, ₱1,200 PhilHealth and ₱100 Pag-IBIG, plus a medical exam at an accredited clinic.

• Fake Triple Win offers. Apply only through the official partner agency named on the BA page.
• Incomplete files. Both the Kerala and Philippine pages say incomplete applications will not be considered.
• Expecting to work as a registered nurse at once. You become a Pflegefachfrau or Pflegefachmann only after recognition, through a Kenntnisprüfung or adaptation course if needed.