Ingenieurin oder Ingenieur aus dem Ausland Erlaubnis zum Führen der Berufsbezeichnung beantragen

In order to be allowed to use the professional title "Ingenieurin" or "Ingenieur" in Germany, you need a permit. For the permit, you need the recognition of your foreign professional qualification as an engineer.

The profession of engineer is regulated in Germany. The professional title is specially protected. This means that you must have a specific qualification in order to be allowed to use the professional title "engineer". For proof of a foreign qualification, you can apply for recognition of your professional qualification. You can also apply for the recognition procedure from abroad.

In the recognition procedure, the competent authority compares your professional qualification from abroad with the professional qualification in the selected federal state. The procedure is called: equivalence determination. You will receive a notification of the result of the equivalence determination. The notification states your professional qualifications. If you lack professional qualifications for recognition, the notification also mentions the main differences.

In order to use the professional title "Ingenieurin" or "Ingenieur", you must meet other requirements in addition to the equivalence of the professional qualification. You may need to prove these requirements at a later date:

• Main residence, branch or predominant work in the selected federal state. Or: You soon want to live or work in the chosen federal state.
• Personal suitability

If your qualification is equivalent and you meet all other requirements, you may use the professional title "Ingenieurin" or "Ingenieur".

• Application form from the competent body
• Proof of identity (e.g. passport or identity card)
• Marriage certificate (if your name has changed due to marriage)
• Curriculum vitae
• Proof of your professional qualification (e.g. certificates, professional certificate)
• Proof of your professional experience (e.g. employment references)
• Proof of your other qualifications (e.g. continuing vocational training, seminars)
• Perhaps: Certificate evaluation of the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB)
• Information about an application for recognition that has already been submitted. Then indicate to which body you have submitted the application.
• You come from a third country and do not yet live or work in the EU, EEA or Switzerland? Then you must prove that you want to work in the profession in the selected federal state (e.g. applications, entry visa for gainful employment, personal declaration).
• Perhaps: Proof of your personal suitability: Certificate of good conduct (e.g. extract from the criminal record, Certificate of Good Standing)
• If the profession is not regulated in your country of training, then you may need to prove: at least one year of professional experience in the profession in the last 10 years.
• If the profession is regulated in your country of training, then you may have to prove that you are allowed to work in the profession in the country of training.
• Perhaps: Registration certificate of your residence in the respective federal state
   

The competent authority will inform you which documents you must show in the original or hand in as copies. Some copies must be officially certified. We recommend that you do not send originals by post.

You must present your documents in German. The translations must be made by publicly appointed or authorised translators.

• You have a completed professional qualification as an engineer from abroad.
• You have your main residence, your branch or your predominant work in the selected federal state. Or: You soon want to live or work in the chosen federal state.
   

You may also need to meet the following prerequisite:

• Personal suitability: You are reliable and have no criminal record.

In addition, additional costs may arise (e.g. for translations or certifications of your documents or compensatory measures). These costs vary from person to person.

You can submit the application with the documents to the competent authority or send it by post. Do not send originals. Sometimes you can also send the application electronically. The competent authority will inform you.

The competent authority receives the application. It will confirm to you after one month at the latest that the application has been received. Once the competent body has received all the documents from you, it will process your application.

The competent authority then checks: Is your professional qualification equivalent to the professional qualification in your federal state? For comparison, for example, the content of the training and the duration of the training are important. The competent body shall also take into account your professional experience, other qualifications and qualifications.

During the equivalence assessment, the competent body often also checks:

• Have you completed your studies at a university? Or have you completed an apprenticeship at the same level?
• Have you mainly passed examinations in mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology (MINT subjects) during your studies?
• Did the study last at least 3 years?
• Are you allowed to work as an engineer in your country of training?

You may need to submit additional documents for this. The competent authority will inform you.

The competent authority then examines further requirements for the use of the professional title. This includes, for example: Your place of residence or your intention to work in the selected state.

If your qualification is equivalent and you meet all other requirements, your professional qualification will be recognised. You may use the professional title "Ingenieurin" or "Ingenieur". You will receive a certificate. Then you have the same professional rights as a person with the German professional qualification.

Are there any significant differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification? Then your professional qualification will not be recognised. In most cases, you can then make a compensatory measure. This allows you to compensate for the essential differences.

There are several compensatory measures:

• Adaptation course: You work as an engineer. In doing so, it shall supervise a qualified person. Maybe you need to do additional training.
• Fitness test: The aptitude test examines only those areas in which significant differences have been identified.

Often you can choose between an adaptation period or an aptitude test. If you successfully complete the compensatory measure, you will receive the recognition. You may use the professional title "Ingenieurin" or "Ingenieur".

In some federal states, you may not be able to make a compensatory measure with a qualification from a third country. Then you can complete an educational measure. For example, you can take part in courses or do further training. You must organize participation in the courses yourself. After that, you can submit a new application. The competent authority will inform you about your options.

None.

Sometimes documents are still missing in the procedure. The competent authority will then inform you by when you must submit the documents.

Working without recognition

You can also work without the recognition, e.g. employed in an engineering office.

But: The professional title "engineer" or "engineer" is specially protected. They may not use the professional title. This also applies to a word combination with the job title.
 

Freedom to provide services

Would you like to offer services in Germany only occasionally and for a short time? Then you usually don't need recognition. You must meet these requirements:

• You must be established in another EU, EEA or Swiss country.
• You must provide proof of your professional qualifications.
• You must report or register your activity in writing to the competent authority.
• You may need to prove: At least one year of professional experience in the profession in the last 10 years.
• If you are self-employed, it may also be true that you must have adequate professional liability insurance.

Certificate evaluation of a foreign university qualification

A certificate evaluation can make it easier for you to access the German labour market. The Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) will evaluate your certificate. Please note: The certificate evaluation does not replace the recognition of your professional qualification. You will only receive recognition of your professional qualification from the competent authority.

You can take legal action against the decision of the competent authority. The decision will then be reviewed. Details of this procedure can be found in the information on the right of appeal at the end of your decision. We recommend: Talk to a counselling centre first before you object or sue.

• Engineer with foreign professional qualifications, apply for recognition
• Application for authorisation to use the professional title "Ingenieurin" or "Ingenieur"
• In order to be allowed to work as an engineer without restrictions, the foreign professional qualification must be recognised.
• Recognition is necessary in order to apply for permission to use the professional title "Ingenieurin" or "Ingenieur"
• In the recognition procedure, it is checked whether the foreign professional qualification is equivalent to the German professional qualification.
• If there are significant differences, compensatory measures or educational measures can usually be made.
• The application for recognition can also be submitted from abroad.

• There are many advisory services. These can be found on the portal Recognition in Germany.
   
• Let yourself be contacted by an IQ counselling centre
  personally advise on this procedure and your qualifications. The advisors will also help you with your documents before applying. The consultation is free of charge.
   
• You can also call the hotline of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees. The hotline answers your questions about "Working and living in Germany".
  Phone number: +49 30 1815-1111
  Hours:
  Monday to Friday 08:00 – 18:00 (CET)
  
  If you are abroad: You can also reach the Central Service Centre for Professional Recognition (ZSBA) via the hotline. This offers you in-depth advice and support in the recognition procedure and carries out location consulting.

Forms can be obtained from the competent authority.