Journal
Fair recruitment in care: what Germany's quality seal requires
By Birgit M. Schwinn · Last checked: · 4 min
Employers who recruit care staff or trainees abroad are increasingly asked whether the process is fair. In Germany, a state quality seal gives an answer that can be checked.
Who awards the seal
"Faire Anwerbung Pflege Deutschland" (fair recruitment care Germany) is a state RAL quality mark owned by the Federal Ministry of Health. It is awarded by GAPA, the quality association for recruiting and placing care staff from abroad; the criteria were developed by the Kuratorium Deutsche Altershilfe (KDA). Private placement agencies and employers that recruit directly can apply. The first seals were awarded on 2 February 2022; at the end of 2025, 75 companies held one.
Voluntary, but it matters
The seal is voluntary and valid for two years at a time. For care homes it still has practical weight: they can only claim recruitment costs in their fee negotiations if the placement runs through a seal holder.
The principles
- The employer pays: recruited people pay no placement fees.
- Transparency about the process, costs and contract terms.
- Information before departure, in writing and in a language the person understands.
- Regular independent audits of seal holders.
What is planned for trainees from 2027
On 13 July 2026, the KDA published a working draft of criteria catalogue 4.0 for consultation. It would extend the seal to the recruitment of trainees from 1 January 2027. Among other things, it plans:
- No placement fees for applicants.
- A share in the cost of the A1 German course only up to a cap set by the KDA, refunded by the start of training.
- Repayment clauses only if disclosed in advance with a maximum amount; excluded in the first 50 lessons and in case of illness or pregnancy.
- No deposits and no contractual penalties.
- Written details of the training allowance, benefits in kind and the training plan; housing arrangements stated in the job offer.
- A mandatory information session before signing and a named contact person until the end of probation.
This is a working draft; the final criteria may differ.
The international framework
Behind the seal stands the World Health Organization's 2010 Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel. It is voluntary and aims to ensure ethical recruitment, protect the interests of source countries and uphold the rights of the people recruited.
Where Welwitschia Care stands
Trainees do not pay for their preparation with us. We cover preparation courses, visa fees and the journey to their accommodation in Germany, funded through the partner employer's fees. We usually pay the German exam as well. From the first month of training, the clinic pays the salary set by the collective agreement. For the preparation period, we sign a written agreement with each participant. [Placeholder: rule if a participant leaves early, after legal review] We will decide in the coming months whether to apply for the seal.
Read how preparation and support work on the page training model for hospitals and care homes.
This article is not legal advice. Rules and amounts change; check the current position with the bodies named.