Professional recognition

Anyone who has acquired a professional qualification abroad can apply for it to be recognised in Germany. A foreign professional qualification is recognised in Germany if it is equivalent to a German qualification. An academic or professional qualification obtained abroad is therefore not automatically recognised in Germany. Instead, it must first be checked whether the respective qualification is equivalent to a qualification in the corresponding reference profession in Germany (= equivalence check of the qualification).

For a skilled worker from a third country, the recognition of the foreign professional qualification or the assessment of the university degree can be a key requirement for entry.

You can find more information on professional recognition at "Recognition in Germany": Overview of professional recognition

Yes, there are the following special regulations:

- Immigration with professional experience:
Since March 2024, skilled workers from third countries have been able to enter Germany via the"experience pillar". The experience pillar allows skilled workers to immigrate even if their professional qualification is not recognised in Germany. The requirements for this are
- an employment contract in a non-regulated profession and
- a certain minimum salary or the validity of a collective agreement and
- a professional qualification that is state-recognised in the country of origin and
- at least two years of professional experience
The Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) is responsible for the relevant examination. You can find more information on the exact requirements here: Experience column (under the point "Special regulation for practical work experience")

- Immigration of IT specialists:
IT specialists can also enter Germany for employment without a professional or university degree if they have the necessary professional experience (currently two years of professional experience) and a job offer. They do not need formal recognition if they are employed in a non-regulated profession.

- Immigration of professional drivers:
Professional drivers can come to Germany to work without professional recognition. All they need for the visa is a corresponding driving licence and an employment contract from Germany.

- Western Balkans regulation:
If there is a concrete job offer, nationals of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia or Serbia can enter Germany for employment. They do not need formal recognition of their professional qualification if they are employed in a non-regulated profession.

It is best to seek advice on professional recognition, including the special regulations. You can find the advice centres in Münsterland for professional recognition here.

The following documents are usually required from your international skilled worker:

• Identity card or passport
• Proof of education (graduation documents/certificates) from the country of origin
• German translations of the documents (important: translations must be prepared by a publicly "sworn" interpreter or "authorised" translator)
• Curriculum vitae in tabular form in German (= list and available evidence of professional experience, activities and further training)
• Application form for recognition

You can find detailed information on the documents required for the application on the "Recognition in Germany" website.

If your skilled worker does not have complete documentation, the competent authority can also determine the skills, knowledge and abilities through other procedures (e.g. a qualification analysis).

The equivalence assessment of foreign professional qualifications is subject to a fee. The actual amount of the application fees is up to 600 euros, depending on the effort involved. At the IHK FOSA, for example, the average cost is 550 euros. Additional costs are often incurred, for example for the procurement of documents from abroad, correspondence, postage and copies, notarisation and translations.

In addition, if the foreign qualification is certified as "partially equivalent", costs may be incurred for an adaptation qualification. The adaptation qualification must be completed in order to receive "full equivalence" in a subsequent application for recognition.

Various subsidies can be applied for to cover the costs incurred during the recognition process.

The BQ-Portal provides an overview of the costs associated with the process and selected fee schedules from various competent bodies as well as options for financial support. On the BQ-Portal you will also find comprehensive information on foreign initial and further training qualifications, which can help you to better evaluate and assess them.

Our recommendation is: As an employer, get advice on the professional recognition of your skilled worker! Ideally before you submit your application. Depending on the profession, personal background and qualifications, there are different requirements and competent bodies for the application for recognition. The counselling will guide you through the process and can help you to avoid mistakes in the application or delays.