Beruf in Industrie, Handel und Dienstleistung; Beantragung der Anerkennung einer ausländischen Berufsqualifikation für bundesrechtlich geregelten Beruf

If you have a training qualification from abroad, you can apply 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: equivalence assessment (BQFG).

During the equivalence assessment, your training qualification is compared with a specific German training qualification. Important criteria for the comparison are the content and duration of the training. You will receive a decision on 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 state-recognized education and training qualifications in the area of the Chambers of Industry and Commerce in Germany. You can find a list of these 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. It is therefore important to obtain detailed advice before submitting an application.

You submit the application to the IHK Foreign Skills Approval (IHK FOSA) in Nuremberg. This is the central body responsible for determining equivalence in Bavaria.

The application is independent of nationality and residence status; applications can also be submitted from abroad.

Accelerated skilled worker procedure

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 skilled worker procedure, the duration of the equivalence assessment procedure at the IHK is shortened, among other things. There are additional fees depending on the specific effort required for the accelerated skilled worker procedure. Further information on this can be found on the portals Make It In Germany and Recognition in Germany.

• Required Documents:
  • Curriculum vitae (tabular list of education and training completed and employment)
  • Proof of identity (identity card or passport, if necessary proof of change of name in color copy)
  • Foreign proof of education (diploma/diploma) - In original language in color copy and in German or English translation (original or color copy)
  • If available: Evidence of relevant work experience (e.g., job references, workbooks, letters of reference) - In original language in color copy and in German or English translation in color copy.
  • If available: Other certificates of qualification (e.g. certificates of further education or retraining) - In original language in color copy and in German or English translation in color copy.
  • Only for persons who are not citizens of the EU/EEA/Switzerland or who live outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland: Declaration of intention to work (e.g. proof of application for an entry visa for gainful employment, proof of contact with an employer).
  • Information on the content of the foreign qualification (e.g. curriculum, overview of subjects) - In original language in color copy and in German or English translation in color copy
  • Information on any application for equivalence that has already been submitted
    (Please indicate the office to which you submitted the application).

  For the accelerated procedure:

  • above mentioned documents
  • Power of attorney according to § 81a Residence Act

  Additional documents may be requested during the course of the recognition procedure. This is usually due to country-specific features of your education.

  If your documents are not available in German, you must submit German translations of your documents. The translations must be made by translators who are publicly appointed or sworn.

• You have a state-recognized training qualification from abroad and can prove your professional qualification with a certificate. Informal or non-formal qualifications cannot be recognized in Germany.
• The training qualification can be assigned to a German training qualification in the area of the IHK.
• You want to work in Germany.

For the regular procedure: 100 euros - 600 euros depending on the specific effort involved

As the applicant, you must bear these costs yourself. You may also incur additional personal costs (e.g. for translations or notarizations). Under certain conditions, you can receive financial support for these costs.

The additional costs of EUR 411 for the accelerated procedure are borne by the employer.

The application for equivalence assessment together with all necessary documents is submitted to the responsible IHK FOSA. They will check 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. However, you will receive a notification of partial equivalence. In the notification, the existing qualifications are presented positively and the main differences to the German reference occupation are described. This enables you to gain further qualifications in a targeted manner and to submit a new application for equivalence assessment at a later date.
• If no equivalence could be established between your foreign professional qualification and the German reference qualification, the application will be rejected. In this case, the positive qualifications will not be presented.

In the regular procedure:

• The IHK FOSA will confirm within four weeks that your documents have arrived. At the same time, it 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 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 FOSA will confirm that your documents have arrived after a maximum of 2 weeks.
• It 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 necessary documents have been received, 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 FOSA will then inform you by when you must submit the documents.

If you wish to take legal action against the IHK FOSA's decision: You can lodge an appeal in writing within 4 weeks of receiving the decision.

• You can obtain free individual initial advice on the application, procedure, costs and duration as well as financial support options from the local Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). You can find your local IHK using the IHK finder under "Further links".
• There are numerous other advisory services (see link under "Further links").
  • You can find these on the "Recognition in Germany" portal.
  • The advice centers of the IQ network ("Integration through Qualification"), the employment services and other local authorities also provide information on the recognition of foreign qualifications. The advisors will also help you with your documents before you submit your application.
  • If you are abroad, the "Working and living in Germany" hotline is available to answer questions about the recognition of your qualifications. If necessary, the hotline will refer you to the Central Service Center for Professional Recognition (ZSBA) for more in-depth advice.

Appeal or administrative court action

We recommend that you first talk to the competent authority before taking legal action against the decision.