The Germany nursing opportunity has attracted hundreds of placement agencies across India — ranging from genuinely excellent organisations to outright fraud. The challenge is that from the outside, they can look almost identical. Both have WhatsApp groups, Instagram pages, YouTube testimonials, and polished websites.

The difference shows up when you ask the right questions. Here are the 20 questions every nurse should ask before trusting any agency — and what the right answer looks like for each.

Questions About Legitimacy

1 Are you licensed by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)?

This is non-negotiable. Every legitimate overseas recruitment agency operating in India must hold a valid MEA Registration Certificate. Ask for the registration number and verify it yourself at mea.gov.in. If they cannot provide this or give you excuses, stop the conversation.

2 Can I see your MEA certificate?

Not just the number — ask to see the physical certificate. A legitimate agency will produce it without hesitation. Note the name of the registered company, the registration number, and the validity date. Verify it online.

3 What is your company's registered legal name and address?

The MEA licence is issued to a specific legal entity. The agency's trading name may differ from the registered legal name. Verify that the address is real — you should be able to visit it.

Questions About Their Track Record

4 How many nurses have you placed in Germany or Austria so far?

Ask for a specific number — not a vague "many" or "hundreds." A legitimate organisation knows its placement count. Ask follow-up questions: in which hospitals? In which states? How recently?

5 Can you give me contact details for two nurses you have placed in Germany?

This is the most powerful verification question. Legitimate agencies are proud of their placed nurses and will connect you directly. Fraudulent agencies will give you fake testimonials, uncontactable phone numbers, or social media screenshots that could be fabricated. Speak to real nurses. Ask them what their experience was.

6 Have any of your candidates had their visa rejected or their Germany process fail?

An honest agency will acknowledge that this happens sometimes — due to document issues, employer changes, or candidate circumstances. An agency that claims a 100% success rate with zero failures is either lying or has placed very few people.

Questions About the Financial Model

7 What exactly will I be paying, and what is it for?

Get a complete, itemised breakdown of every rupee you will pay — when, for what, and what happens if the placement does not happen. Vague answers are red flags.

8 Do you charge a placement or recruitment fee to candidates?

Under fair recruitment principles — which Germany's recruitment framework is built on — placement fees should be paid by the employer, not the candidate. Any agency charging you a non-refundable placement or processing fee upfront should be scrutinised carefully.

9 Is any part of what I pay refundable? Under what conditions?

At Jet Set Jobs, we collect a ₹75,000 refundable security deposit in three instalments. It is returned in full when you are placed in Germany. Ask any agency: what is refundable, what is not, and under what exact conditions? Get this in writing.

10 Who pays you — the candidate or the German employer?

A legitimate agency earns primarily from employer placement fees. If an agency's business model is heavily dependent on candidate fees — large upfront payments from nurses — it is a serious red flag. Their incentive should be your placement, not your payment.

Questions About Language Training

11 Where does the German language training happen and who teaches it?

Ask for the names and qualifications of the trainers. Ask to visit the classroom. Ask how many batches are currently running. A legitimate training organisation has real infrastructure and real people. Fraudulent agencies will give you vague answers about "partner institutes" or "online platforms."

12 What is your B2 pass rate?

A serious training organisation tracks this number. Ask for it specifically. If they cannot tell you what percentage of their candidates pass the TELC B2 exam, they either do not track it or the number is not favourable.

13 How do you handle candidates who fail B2 or struggle with the language?

The answer tells you a great deal about the organisation's culture. Legitimate agencies support struggling candidates — additional classes, one-on-one sessions, rescheduled exams. Fraudulent agencies lose interest in candidates who are not progressing because they have already collected their fees.

Questions About the Placement Process

14 Which German or Austrian employers do you currently have active relationships with?

Ask for specific names — not categories like "various hospitals." A serious placement organisation has named, verifiable employer relationships. You do not need a complete confidential client list — but the agency should be able to name at least some of their employer partners.

15 How is the employer matching done — what criteria do you use?

Good matching considers: the candidate's clinical specialisation, the employer's department needs, location preference, and language level. Generic "we match everyone" answers are less reassuring than specific matching criteria.

16 How long does it typically take from B2 clearance to job offer?

The honest answer is usually 4–12 weeks, depending on employer availability and document readiness. Agencies that promise job offers within days of B2 clearance are likely overselling.

Questions About the Process

17 Who guides me through the Berufsanerkennung (qualification recognition) process?

This is one of the most complex parts of the Germany journey. Ask who specifically handles this guidance — is it an in-house team, or is it outsourced? What happens if the recognition authority requests additional documents?

18 What support do you provide after I arrive in Germany?

Legitimate agencies do not disappear after you board the flight. Ask about post-arrival support — Anmeldung guidance, settling-in help, what to do if there are problems with the employer.

19 What happens if my employer withdraws the offer after I arrive?

This is rare but it happens. A legitimate agency has a plan — alternative employer matching, a support period. An agency with no answer to this question has not thought beyond collecting its fee.

20 Can I visit your office and meet your trainers before enrolling?

This is the simplest and most revealing question of all. A legitimate organisation will say yes immediately. A fraudulent one will make excuses, suggest a video call instead, or become evasive. If you cannot visit their physical office and meet their team in person — do not enrol.