Thursday, 6 August 2026
When Hamide Karakoç learnt about the shortage of qualified staff in German nurseries, she made up her mind: with the support of ProRecognition, the experienced nursery teacher from Turkey is making a fresh start. Today, she works at the St. Franziskus Catholic nursery in Gosheim, Baden-Württemberg. Through a qualification programme to help her adapt to the German system, she is taking another step towards her goal: full recognition of her qualification – and with it, new prospects for herself and her family.
During her initial research, Hamide first came across private consultants on social media who charged a lot of money but offered little help. “It was very difficult to even get started. I did a lot of research, but then I trusted the wrong people,” she recalls. Almost two years passed during which she had to grapple with bureaucratic hurdles and endure financial and emotional strain.
An official service rather than dubious private providers
Hamide eventually came across ProRecognition via social media: “That was a huge relief for me. I’d felt completely lost with all the unanswered questions about the immigration requirements and the complicated recognition process.” During the consultation sessions, she was able to clarify all her concerns, such as which documents were required, what level of language proficiency was expected and what was important when applying. As a qualified teacher, she particularly valued the personal contact with ProRecognition adviser Hazal Aras: “I received reliable and professional information – directly from a real adviser and not from an AI. People simply need people.”
A clear process, swift entry
From that point on, things moved quickly: in April 2025, Hamide submitted her application for recognition. By May, the authorities had already certified that her training was partially equivalent to the German reference occupation of early years educator. Together with her new employer, she initiated the fast-track skilled worker procedure and was granted a visa for adaptation training. She arrived in Germany in November 2025. Since then, Hamide has been working as a childcare professional in a nursery. Over a period of 18 months, she is catching up on the qualifications she still lacks in order to achieve full recognition as a nursery teacher.
“I’d already been offered a place to study at the University of Bremen, but I made a conscious decision to put that on hold for the time being. I realised that my passion is working with children. That’s why I want to continue my career as a nursery teacher in Germany,” she explains.
Language skills are crucial
At first, the biggest hurdle in everyday life was the language. Although she’d picked up some German beforehand through YouTube videos and online courses, putting it into practice at the nursery proved challenging: “Everyday German is different from the German taught in language courses. I’m learning lots of new words and expressions that I wouldn’t have learnt in a course.” Her advice: “You mustn’t be afraid to speak.”
Settling into everyday life
Behind a successful start in a new home lies an enormous organisational effort. Hamide arrived with her family: “Our first few months in Germany were quite exhausting and emotional, and not easy from an organisational point of view. In particular, looking for a flat, finding a suitable school for my children and enrolling them there, getting to know new people and settling into work – all of that was very demanding for us.” The family has now settled well into everyday life. “Today, three of our children attend a grammar school, our youngest is about to start school, and we’re all continuing to learn German every day. For us, integration means not just living in Germany, but becoming part of this society, learning the language and making our contribution.”
Speaking about her new working environment, Hamide says: “I’m really lucky with my team. My colleagues are very supportive, patient and appreciative. And they really place a lot of trust in me.” Nursery manager Maria Meier and practical trainer Gaby Hauser have been supporting their new colleague since her first day at work: “Without their support, my start in Germany would have been much more difficult,” says Hamide.
Once she has completed her adaptation training, Hamide would like to build a long-term career in Germany: “My wish is to support children on their educational journey and, at the same time, to give something back in return for the support I have been fortunate enough to receive here myself.”
She advises other skilled workers planning a similar path to prepare thoroughly and at their own pace, to study the language intensively and to contact official, reputable advisory services directly.
From the outside, a process like this often looks straightforward, but it involves a great deal of hard work and patience. Sometimes you just have to pluck up your courage and take the plunge. Even if the start isn’t easy: with the right support and enough time, you can certainly succeed.