Recognising qualifications in Germany

Determine whether your profession is regulated in Germany

Use the BMBF Recognition Advisor at anerkennung-in-deutschland.de to check whether your target profession requires a licence to practise in Germany. Regulated professions need formal recognition before you can work; unregulated professions require only a comparability assessment if an employer requests it.

Identify the competent authority for your profession and state

Germany has no single national recognition body. Authority is split between federal and state levels and by profession. Use the Recognition Portal's authority finder or the BMBF database to locate the exact authority responsible for your profession in the Bundesland where you intend to work.

Assemble your documents

Standard documents required include: certified copy of degree certificate and transcripts, official sworn translation into German (Beglaubigte Übersetzung), proof of identity (passport), curriculum vitae, and evidence of professional experience. Academic certificates from countries listed as H+ in ANABIN may need additional authentication (apostille or full legalisation depending on the issuing country).

Submit the application to the competent authority

Submit your application package directly to the competent authority identified in step 2. Many authorities now accept applications online. Pay the applicable assessment fee (amounts vary by authority and profession, typically €100–€600). Retain proof of submission — the statutory clock for the decision period starts from the date the complete application is received.

Await the assessment decision

Under the BQFG, the authority must issue a decision within four months of receiving a complete application for vocational qualifications. Regulated professions (medicine, law, etc.) have varying statutory periods. The decision will be full recognition, partial recognition with compensation measures, or rejection. The authority must provide written reasons.

Complete any required compensation measures

If partial recognition is granted, you may be required to complete an aptitude test (Eignungsprüfung) or an adaptation period (Anpassungslehrgang) supervised by a competent authority. Once completed successfully, full recognition is issued. For medicine and certain other professions, a Kenntnisprüfung (knowledge examination) may be required instead.