IHK-Berufe, ausländische Berufsqualifikation anerkennen lassen

• §50a Berufsbildungsgesetz, Gleichwertigkeit ausländischer Berufsqualifikationen (BBiG)
• § 2-8 Gesetz über die Feststellung der Gleichwertigkeit von Berufsqualifikationen, Awendungsbereich (Berufsqualifikationsfeststellungsgesetz - BQFG)
• § 81a Gesetz über den Aufenthalt, die Erwerbstätigkeit und die Integration von Ausländern im Bundesgebiet, Beschleunigtes Fachkräfteverfahren (Aufenthaltsgesetz - AufenthG)

Recognition of the equivalence of a foreign professional qualification according to §50A of the Berufsbildungsgesetz (BBIG)

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

Please note: Your training qualification must be state-recognised in the country in which you trained.

• When determining equivalence, 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.
• For skilled workers abroad outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland, a recognition procedure is usually a prerequisite for the issue of a visa.
• In Germany/Saxony, the IHK FOSA in Nuremberg takes over the centralised assessment of equivalence. 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. You must contact your local Industrie- und Handelskammer for this.

For the standard procedure:

• Proof of identity (identity card, passport, change of name)
• CV
• 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, including details of the body to which this was submitted

You do not yet live or work in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland? Then you must provide proof that:

• You want to work in the profession in Germany
• Proof can be, for example
  
  • Applications for jobs and invitations to interviews,
  • proof of location counselling from the Central Service Agency for Professional Recognition (ZSBA).
  • a personal statement about your plans

For the accelerated skilled labour 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 course of the recognition procedure. This is usually due to country-specific features of your training programme. 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 want to work in Germany
• You have a state-recognised training qualification from abroad
• the qualification must be equivalent to a German qualification recognised by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). As there are around 350 different training qualifications in the area of the Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK) in Germany, it is advisable to seek detailed advice before submitting an application.
• Informal or non-formal qualifications cannot be officially recognised in Germany.

Tip: You can obtain individual initial counselling on the application, procedure, costs and duration as well as financial support options from the local Industrie- und Handelskammer (IHK). The advice centres of the IQ network "Integration durch Qualifizierung", the employment services and other local authorities also provide information on the recognition of foreign qualifications.

For the standard procedure:

• Cost framework: EUR 100.00 - 600.00

For the accelerated skilled labour procedure:

• Cost framework: EUR 500.00 - 1,200

Additional costs may be incurred by you personally (e.g. for translations or notarisations). These costs vary from person to person.

You submit the application for equivalence assessment together with all the necessary documents to the relevant Industrie- und Handelskammer (IHK).

• The IHK compares your foreign training qualification with the German training qualification.
• If your training qualification is equivalent, it will be recognised. You will receive a notice of equivalence (Anerkennungsbescheid).
• 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, so in many cases full equivalence can be established.
• If full equivalence cannot be established, the training qualification will not be recognised. 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 three months. In individual cases, the procedure may be extended once.  

In the accelerated skilled labour procedure:

• The IHK will confirm that your documents have arrived after a maximum of two 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.
• The procedure should take a maximum of two months if all the required documents have been received. In individual cases, the procedure may be extended once. In the accelerated skilled labour procedure, all communication takes place via the responsible immigration authority.

• if documents are missing from the procedure, the IHK will inform you by when you must submit the documents
• if you wish to take legal action against the decision of the IHK, you can lodge an appeal in writing within four weeks of receiving the decision

Appeal (details about the procedure in the official notification)