Gleichwertigkeit von ausländischen Berufsqualifikationen in nichthandwerklichen Gewerbeberufen Feststellung

Do you have a training qualification from abroad? You can apply to the Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK) in Germany for official recognition of your training qualification!

You can have a training qualification from abroad officially recognized in Germany by the Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK). The procedure for recognition is called: Equivalency assessment (BQFG).

Please note: Your training qualification must be recognized by the state in the country where you trained. Informal or non-formal qualifications cannot be officially recognized in Germany.

During the equivalence assessment, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) compares your training qualification with a specific German training qualification. The German training qualification must match your training qualification. Important criteria for the comparison are the content and duration of the training.

You will receive notification of the outcome of the procedure. The notification will state any existing and any missing professional qualifications.
The certificate makes your foreign training qualification transparent for employers and thus increases your chances on the job market. For skilled workers abroad outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland, a recognition procedure is usually a prerequisite for obtaining a visa.

There are around 350 different training qualifications in the area of the Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK) in Germany. You can find a list of training qualifications on the IHK FOSA website, for example. To apply for an equivalence assessment, you must identify a German training qualification. This German training qualification must match your training qualification. This is why it is important to obtain detailed advice before submitting an application.

You can obtain individual initial advice on the application, procedure, costs and duration as well as options for financial support from the local Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK). The advice centers of the IQ network ("Integration through Qualification"), the employment service and other local authorities also provide information on the recognition of foreign qualifications.

You can apply to the relevant Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). There are 79 IHKs in Germany. For 76 IHKs in Germany, the IHK FOSA in Nuremberg is responsible for centrally determining equivalence. Exceptions are the IHK Hannover, the IHK Braunschweig and the IHK Wuppertal-Solingen-Remscheid.

You can also apply for equivalence assessment from abroad.

In the case of qualifications from Austria and France, there is the possibility of a simplified equivalence assessment, as special agreements exist with these countries. To do this, you must contact your local Chamber of Industry and Commerce. You can find out which IHK is responsible for you under "Further information".

Please note
As an employer in Germany, you can apply for an accelerated skilled worker procedure for skilled workers from third countries. You apply for the procedure with the authorization of the skilled worker at the responsible immigration authority at your company headquarters in Germany. In this accelerated procedure for skilled workers, the equivalence assessment at the IHK is accelerated, among other things. There are additional fees for the accelerated skilled worker procedure.

For the standard procedure:

• Proof of identity (identity card, passport, change of name)
• curriculum vitae
• Degree certificate including list of subjects
• Proof of relevant professional experience (job references, work books)
• Other proof of qualifications (courses, retraining, further training)
• Contents of the training (in particular framework curriculum)
• Information about any application for equivalence assessment that has already been submitted. Then state the office to which you have submitted the application.
• You do not yet live or work in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland? Then you must provide proof: You want to work in the profession in Germany. Proof can be, for example Applications for jobs and invitations to interviews, a personal statement about your intention, proof of location advice from the Central Service Center for Professional Recognition (ZSBA).

For the accelerated skilled worker procedure:

• Documents for the standard procedure
• additionally a power of attorney according to § 81a AufenthG

Further documents may be requested by the IHK during the recognition procedure. This is usually due to country-specific features of your training.
The IHK will inform you of the form in which you must submit the documents. In most cases, you must submit simple copies.
If your documents are not in German, you must submit German translations of your documents. The translations must be made by translators who are publicly appointed or sworn translators.

• You have a state-recognized training qualification from abroad. The qualification must be equivalent to a German qualification recognized by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
• You want to work in Germany.

For the standard procedure:

• Cost range: EUR 100 - 600

For the accelerated specialist procedure:

• Cost framework: EUR 500 - 1,200

You may also incur additional costs (e.g. for translations or notarizations). These costs vary from person to person.

The application for equivalence assessment together with all the necessary documents is submitted to the relevant Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) and the IHK checks the equivalence of the training qualification:

• The IHK compares your foreign training qualification with the German training qualification.
• If your training qualification is equivalent, it will be recognized. You will receive a notice of equivalence (notice of recognition).
• If there are significant differences to the German qualification, the proven professional experience or other relevant evidence (e.g. further training) will also be checked. In many cases, full equivalence can be established in this way.
• If full equivalence cannot be established, the training qualification will not be recognized. You will receive a notification of the differences to the German training qualification. You can use this notification to gain further qualifications and later submit a new application for equivalence assessment.
• If your training qualification is not equivalent at all, the application will be rejected.

In the standard procedure:

After a maximum of one month, the IHK will confirm that your documents have arrived. The responsible office will also inform you whether any documents are missing and, if so, which ones. The letter will also include the fee notice with the necessary payment information.
If all the necessary documents are available, the procedure should take a maximum of 3 months. In individual cases, the procedure may be extended once.

In the accelerated skilled worker procedure:

The IHK will confirm that your documents have arrived after a maximum of 2 weeks. The IHK will inform you whether any documents are missing and, if so, which ones. The letter will also include the fee notice with the necessary payment information.
If all the required documents are available, the procedure should take a maximum of 2 months. In individual cases, the procedure may be extended once. In the accelerated procedure for skilled workers, all communication takes place via the responsible immigration authority.

• Sometimes documents are still missing from the procedure. The IHK will then inform you by when you must submit the documents.
• If you wish to take legal action against the IHK's decision: You can lodge an appeal in writing within 4 weeks of receiving the decision

• objection
• Administrative court action

You can take legal action against the IHK's decision. The decision will then be reviewed. We recommend that you talk to the IHK first before taking legal action against the decision.

• Equivalency assessment for foreign training qualifications in the area of the Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK)
• Foreign training qualifications can be officially recognized in Germany via the equivalence assessment according to the Professional Qualifications Assessment Act (BQFG).
• An application is not dependent on nationality, place of residence or residence status. The application can also be made from abroad.
• Advice on professional recognition and the appropriate German training qualification can be obtained from a local Chamber of Industry and Commerce and other advice centers.
• The Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK) are responsible for determining equivalence. For most IHKs in Germany, the IHK FOSA ("Foreign Skills Approval") in Nuremberg is centrally responsible for determining equivalence. Exceptions are the IHK Hannover, IHK Braunschweig and Wuppertal-Solingen-Remscheid.
• Employers in Germany who wish to employ a skilled worker from a third country can apply for an accelerated skilled worker procedure at the foreigners authority with the skilled worker's authorization. The accelerated skilled worker procedure includes the procedure for recognizing the foreign professional qualification. In the accelerated skilled worker procedure, shorter deadlines apply for the equivalence assessment at the IHK.

• Written form required: no
• Personal appearance required: no
• Forms: