Getting a Foreign Degree Recognised in Germany

This guide is for internationals who have recently moved to Germany with a university degree from another country and want to know how that degree is treated here. After reading it, you will know when recognition is required, how to check your degree in the anabin database, how to apply for a statement of comparability and where to find free advice.

• When recognition is required and when it only helps
• Checking your degree in anabin
• The statement of comparability
• The procedure for regulated professions
• Free advice and support
• FAQ

When recognition is required and when it only helps

The first question is whether your profession is regulated. Handbook Germany explains that some professions need a university degree as well as a professional licence. These are called reglementierte Berufe (regulated professions) and include doctors, lawyers, nurses and teachers. To work in one of them, you must have your qualification recognised and also apply for a licence to practise from the competent institution in the federal state (Land) where you live or plan to live.

If your job is not regulated, you do not need to have your degree recognised, although recognition improves your chances on the job market. Handbook Germany’s page on foreign professional qualifications adds that regulated professions are mainly found in health, safety and social care. Some are regulated the same way across Germany, while others are regulated by individual federal states and do not exist in every state. You can check your profession in the BERUFENET list of the Federal Employment Agency or on anerkennung-in-deutschland.de.

Anyone with a foreign degree has the right to the recognition process, regardless of residence permit or nationality. A specific residence permit only becomes necessary for a qualification measure, an adaptation course or taking up employment. Questions about your own residence status belong with the Ausländerbehörde (foreigners’ authority) or a migration advice service.

Checking your degree in anabin

Academic degrees are handled by the Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen (ZAB, Central Office for Foreign Education). The ZAB maintains the anabin database, which shows whether your university and degree are already listed as recognised in Germany.

Both the degree and the institution must be recognised. When that is the case, anabin shows the status H+. Handbook Germany also points out that the title of the qualification in anabin must match the title on your degree certificate.

Anabin covers school certificates too, showing whether they qualify you for university entrance. School diplomas are recognised by the Zeugnisanerkennungsstelle (certificate recognition office) of each federal state, and anabin lists the responsible office.

The statement of comparability

If you hold a foreign higher education degree and do not want to work in a regulated profession, you can apply to the ZAB for a Zeugnisbewertung (statement of comparability), which compares your degree with a similar German degree. Handbook Germany suggests first finding out what you could use the statement for, to make sure it is the right document for your plans. The ZAB’s pre-check tool shows whether a statement is possible for your degree and which documents are needed. Financial support may be available.

The application is made online:

1. Create a BundID account, the central user account for digital government services in Germany.
2. Use it to create an account on the ZAB website.
3. Scan the documents listed in your pre-check and save them as PDF files.
4. Fill in the online form and upload your documents. You can save the application and continue later.
5. Pay the fee online when you submit. The fee notice then appears in your ZAB account.

The three-month processing period begins once all documents are complete and the fee has been paid in full. Applications for an EU Blue Card or made through the accelerated skilled worker procedure may take less time. If the ZAB needs more information, it sends a message to your online account, where you can also track the status. When the statement is ready to download, you are notified by message and by email.

The procedure for regulated professions

For regulated professions, the responsible authority depends on your profession and where you live. In the Anerkennungs-Finder (recognition finder) you enter your job title or pick it from an A to Z list, then enter your city to see the responsible office.

According to Handbook Germany, you usually need:

• your certificate or diploma (original or certified copy)
• proof of work in your profession, such as references, work contracts or photos of your work
• an application form from the responsible authority
• possibly a CV, proof of a German language test or medical documents

Confirmation that your application has arrived usually comes within one month. Once the application and all documents are complete, the Anerkennungsbescheid (recognition decision) usually follows after about three months. There are three possible outcomes:

• Full recognition: your qualification is comparable to a German one and you may start working in your profession.
• Substantial differences: the decision states what is missing, which can be made up through an Ausgleichsmaßnahme (compensation measure) before full recognition.
• No recognition: the qualification differs too much from the German standard. Retraining, further training or other options may follow.

Free advice and support

Counselling centres can tell you which authority is responsible, what the next steps are and how the process can be financed. Handbook Germany names the IQ Netzwerk as the best place to seek help. You can find a centre through the search on anerkennung-in-deutschland.de by entering your country and town or postcode.

The helpline “Arbeiten und Leben in Deutschland” (Working and Living in Germany) answers in German and English on +49 30 1815 1111. The consultation is free, but normal telephone charges apply. For regulated professions, counsellors help you prepare but usually cannot fill in or submit the application for you.

FAQ

Do I need recognition if my profession is not regulated?

No. If your job is not regulated, you do not need to have your degree recognised. Recognition still improves your chances on the job market, because employers can better judge your qualifications.

How long does the statement of comparability take?

The ZAB’s processing period is three months. It begins only once all documents are complete and the fee has been paid in full. Applications for an EU Blue Card or made through the accelerated skilled worker procedure may take less time.

How much does the statement of comparability cost?

The sources used for this guide do not state the amount. The fee is paid online when you submit the application, and the fee notice appears in your ZAB account. Financial support may be available, and a counselling centre can explain the options.

Do I need a particular residence permit to apply for recognition?

No. Anyone with a foreign degree has the right to the recognition process, regardless of residence permit or nationality. A specific permit only becomes necessary for a qualification measure, an adaptation course or employment. Questions about your own status belong with the Ausländerbehörde or a migration advice service.

Sources: handbookgermany.de · handbookgermany.de

Last verified: 21 October 2026 against the pages linked above. Rules and fees change; the responsible authority always has the final word.

This is general information, not legal or immigration advice. For your own situation, ask the foreigners’ authority (Ausländerbehörde) of your city, a recognised migration advice service or a lawyer (Rechtsanwalt).