Resources
The following platforms provide more detailed information regarding the recognition of professional qualifications in Germany. Some of them also offer personal consultation.
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Recognition of professional qualifications
The recognition of foreign professional qualifications is independent from your country of origin or resident status. The recognition is needed if you want to work in a so-called regulated profession, e.g. nursing, health and education sectors. For other professions, including ones that need higher education qualifications, recognition is voluntary. However, you may need a statement of comparability (“Zeugnisbewertung”) which is offered by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) and compares foreign degree qualifications with German ones.
The recognition procedure can cost up to 600 euros. These costs do not include translations, certifications, compensation measures, refresher trainings or travel costs that in individual cases need to be covered, too. Financial assistance is, among others, offered by the Federal Employment Agency or via the Federal Government recognition grant. Whether you are eligible to receive such financial assistance depends on your individual situation and should be checked in advance.
Anerkennung in Deutschland (“Recognition in Germany”) is the central information portal for the recognition of foreign professional and vocational qualifications, initiated by the German Federal Government. The information is offered in 12 languages.
- Website of Anerkennung in Deutschland [several languages to choose from]
- Hotline for personal consultations: +49 30 1815-1111 (Mon–Fri 9:00–16:00)
- Find your local counselling centre
Make it in Germany is another government portal which compiles information about all issues concerning migration to Germany. Among other things, you can find descriptions of job application processes and the recognition procedure for professional qualifications, including video explainers. The website is available in various languages.
With the anabin database (as of date only available in German), you can obtain initial information about whether and how your academic or professional degree will be recognised in Germany. You can filter the results by country of origin and your individual profession and/or degree. Moreover, the website offers links to recognition authorities and consultation offices, sorted by the German federal states.
- anabin website [German]
The ProRecognition project provides local recognition counselling for skilled workers in 10 countries: Algeria, Egypt, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, India, Iran, Italy, Colombia, Poland and Vietnam. The counselling is offered at the German Chambers of Commerce Abroad and Delegations of German Industry and Commerce (AHK).
Good to know
For PhD candidates, both the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) and the Higher Education Compass (a service of the German Rectors’ Conference HRK) offer concise summaries of the most important information regarding recognition for postgraduate and doctorate programmes.
Professional recognition is also possible in case of missing documents, for example by providing practical proof. Find more information on the Anerkennung in Deutschland website and at the ZAB.
More information
- More information on the Statement of Comparability by the ZAB
- Information by the ZAB for refugees from Ukraine [German]
- Germany4Ukraine: the federal government's central support portal for refugees from Ukraine
- FAQ for people working at German universities regarding applicants from the Ukraine on the anabin website