When recognition is required
Recognition means an official confirmation that your foreign qualification is equivalent to a German qualification. For some professions, this recognition is an absolute requirement, while in others it is helpful for getting better job opportunities.
If you wish to work in a regulated profession in Germany, you’ll need to get your education and qualifications recognized. You can find out which professions are regulated professions in Germany on the Federal Employment Agency’s portal.
The Recognition Finder
You need to get your professional qualification recognized to work in Rhineland-Palatinate? The Anerkennung in Deutschland (Recognition in Germany) information portal has a Recognition Finder which can help you. Simply enter your profession and you’ll be guided through the process step by step.
Guidelines for non-regulated professions
Most professions in Germany are non-regulated professions, which means you don’t necessarily have to get your degrees and qualifications recognized if you want to work in one of these professions. In such cases, the employer decides whether your professional qualifications are suitable for the role.
However, if you come from a non-EU country and need a visa or residence permit for Germany, you’ll need to go through the recognition procedure for your professional qualification. If you have a higher education degree, you’ll need to have it evaluated for equivalence to a German degree.
Recognition of university and vocational degrees
or qualifications
Depending on your country of origin and your desired occupation, it might be necessary to get recognition of your degrees or professional qualifications if you wish to work in Rhineland-Palatinate. You can find more information below.
Recognition of qualifications
The Make it in Germany information portal offers a comprehensive overview of when you need to get your qualifications recognized and how the process works.
anabin – information portal for foreign educational qualifications
The database anabin Anerkennung und Bewertung ausländischer Bildungsnachweise (Recognition and evaluation of foreign education credentials), provided by the German Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK), supports international skilled workers, government authorities, and employers in comparing primarily foreign higher education degrees with German ones. Learn more about getting your educational qualifications recognized.
Explanatory video: Comparing higher education degrees via anabin
This video from Make it in Germany shows you how to compare your higher education degree with German degrees using the anabin database and then how to assess it in this context.
More information about recognition of professional qualifications
The recognition procedure itself is dictated by statutory requirements. It checks whether your education and training is equivalent to comparable German education and training. If your qualification is assessed as equivalent, professional recognition will be granted. In many regulated professions, you’ll need not only education and training that is recognized as equivalent, but also professional licensure from a relevant authority. Licensure is an additional authorization to carry out the profession and has further personal and professional requirements that you must meet.
Even if you don’t formally need recognition of your professional qualifications, you can still have them checked to see if they’re equivalent to German ones. This professional recognition can even be helpful for many professions. It makes it easier for you to access the German job market and helps you find well-paid employment that reflects your individual qualifications. Qualification recognition can also help businesses and employers get a better idea of your credentials.
Certain residence permits for Germany require that the qualifications you obtain abroad are recognized by government authorities in the country of origin. This applies in particular to residence permits tied to the recognition partnership visa, the visa for skilled workers with professional experience, and the points-based Opportunity Card. Various forms of evidence may be considered depending on the type of qualification. Further information about visas, residence permits, and recognition requirements can be found in our “Visas for Germany” section.
You may have to pay a fee for the recognition procedure. Currently, this can be up to 600 euros, depending on the type of qualification you have and the office conducting the process. On top of this, there may also be additional costs for notarization, translations, or copy making. In some cases, the recognition procedure may also be free of charge, however.
Points of contact and support
You don’t have to go through the recognition procedure alone. There are numerous points of contact in Rhineland-Palatinate which can support you before and during the process.
The Welcome Center Rhineland-Palatinate
Your first point of contact for all questions: The Welcome Center can help you with more than just the recognition procedure. Contact the Welcome Center now.
Other points of contact in Rhineland-Palatinate
Use the filter function on our overview page to find other points of contact that can help you with recognition of your qualifications.