Kenya–Germany skilled worker pathway
AcceptingBilateral agreement · Rolling
Official route with recognition support; German B1 required before departure.
Start from where you are
What’s open to Kenyan nurses
Recruitment rules, official programs, and timelines depend on where you trained. Pick your country to see destinations that currently accept applications — with sources and checked dates.
Information last checked July 28, 2026
Destinations open to Kenyan nurses
Germany
Kenya–Germany migration agreement; recognition plus language pathway.
Saudi Arabia
Only NEAIMS-authorized adverts shown; verify contract before travel.
UAE & Qatar
Jobs come through licensed agencies. Confirm your exact role and unit in writing — don’t accept a different job on arrival.
United Kingdom
The UK limits recruiting from Kenya to protect its health system — only official government-run routes are open.
United States
You’ll need the NCLEX exam and a credentials check (VisaScreen); the green-card wait applies.
Official programs & campaigns
An approved program is the authorized channel — it does not guarantee a vacancy remains open. Deadlines shown are from the official notice.
NEAIMS Gulf nursing adverts
OpenNational Employment Authority · Per advert
Check agency license status and advert validity on NEAIMS before applying.
UK direct recruitment
Paused— · —
Kenya is on the WHO safeguard list; only managed government-to-government routes are permitted.
Typical timeline — Kenya → Germany (bilateral pathway)
- 11–3 mo
Pathway application & vetting
Eligibility against the bilateral criteria; NCK license verification.
- 28–12 mo
German language to B1
Language training in Kenya; some cohorts are program-funded.
- 33–6 mo
Recognition & visa
Qualification comparison by the competent authority; employer-backed visa filing.
- 46–12 mo
Arrival & adaptation
Adaptation measures to full recognition; employer-provided housing common initially.