Recognition of foreign professional qualifications (Anerkennung)

Drafted from the official pages listed under Sources, last read on 29 October 2026. Rules, fees and thresholds change: check the official page before you act. This is not legal advice and does not guarantee any outcome.

Who it is for

Anyone with a foreign vocational or university qualification who wants to work in Germany in a profession where recognition is required, or who wants an official statement of equivalence. The government portal Recognition in Germany describes recognition as making a foreign professional qualification legally equivalent to a German one. The portal is an offer from the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB).

This guide is about the professional recognition procedure. For the academic-degree database, see the anabin entry; for how recognition fits a residence permit, see the Skilled Worker guide.

How it works

The official information flyer describes these steps:

• Find your reference occupation in the Recognition Finder (English and German). It shows whether recognition is required for that profession.
• Get advice before applying. Counselling centres are free of charge.
• Apply to the competent authority. You need a completed vocational training or degree. The Recognition Finder lists the required documents.
• The authority notifies you within one month at most whether your documents are complete.
• The authority compares your qualification with the German reference occupation, taking work experience and other qualifications into account.
• You receive a recognition notice.

Communication is generally in German, although advisory centres often help in other languages. The Recognition Finder is at anerkennung-in-deutschland.de. A digital application service is offered through it.

This platform does not submit applications.

Main requirements

• A completed foreign vocational training or university degree.
• Recognition is mandatory for regulated professions. For non-regulated occupations it is optional unless the residence rules require it (see the Skilled Worker guide).
• Documents as listed by the competent authority and the Recognition Finder, usually with translations.
• Possible outcomes: full recognition, partial recognition, or no recognition.

With partial recognition or none, you may still be able to work in the profession without full recognition, or complete additional training in Germany. The authority advises on options. For a person from abroad, a recognition partnership (see the Skilled Worker guide) allows the procedure to take place in Germany.

Costs and timing

Published figures differ by source and by competent body, so treat them as ranges and ask the authority for the exact amount:

• The information flyer says costs vary by profession and federal state, generally EUR 200 to EUR 600.
• The chamber body IHK FOSA says application fees range from EUR 100 to EUR 600 depending on workload. The BQ-Portal says chambers of crafts agreed a nationwide range of EUR 100 to EUR 600, with an additional EUR 411 for a fast-track procedure.
• Translations, certified copies and, if needed, a qualification analysis cost extra.

Funding: the BQ-Portal says federal and state programmes can cover fees fully or partly, that you must apply before submitting the recognition application, and that (as of September 2021) only people living in Germany receive this support. IHK FOSA mentions a recognition grant of up to EUR 600 but its page shows an old funding deadline (30 June 2023), so check whether it is still available.

Timing: the flyer states a notification within one month and a full procedure that normally takes three to four months. These are estimates published by the authority, not promises.

Preparing your file

• Identify your reference occupation in the Recognition Finder and note whether recognition is mandatory.
• Book free counselling before you apply, especially if your profession is not listed.
• Collect certificates, transcripts and proof of work experience; arrange certified translations as the authority requires.
• If you need funding, apply for it before submitting the recognition application.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying to the wrong authority: use the Recognition Finder to find the competent one.
• Applying for funding after submitting the application.
• Quoting one fee for all cases: the amount depends on the body, state and workload.
• Confusing a recognition notice with a visa or a job offer. It is neither.