Recognition of your qualification in Germany (Anerkennung)

Are you planning to work in Germany but are unsure whether your qualification needs to be recognised? Or has your employer, an embassy or a German institution asked you for proof that your professional qualifications have been recognised?

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The recognition procedure (Anerkennung) is one of the most important steps for many people who want to work in Germany. Depending on the occupation and the type of education, recognition may be a legal requirement or a significant advantage when applying for a job and for a visa or residence permit.

At the Visa Center we provide complete support throughout the entire procedure, from checking whether recognition is needed to preparing the documentation and communicating with the competent institutions.

Important!

In everyday speech people often use the term "nostrification of a diploma", but in Germany the procedure is officially called the recognition of professional qualifications (Anerkennung). Depending on the occupation, both the competent institution and the procedure itself may differ.

When is recognition of a qualification required?

That depends on your occupation and the type of your education. For certain regulated professions, such as doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, physiotherapists, teachers and some other occupations, the recognition of professional qualifications is a prerequisite for practising the profession in Germany.

For many other occupations recognition is not legally required, but it can significantly improve your employment prospects, make it easier to obtain a work visa or an EU Blue Card, and give the employer clear confirmation of your qualifications.

What does the procedure look like?

The first step is to determine which institution is competent for your occupation and whether recognition is required in your particular case.

The required documentation is then gathered; it usually includes the diploma, the diploma supplement or a list of examinations passed, proof of work experience and other documents, depending on the type of education and occupation.

The competent institution then compares your qualifications with the corresponding German education and issues a decision on recognition. In some cases it may be necessary to submit additional documents or to meet certain supplementary requirements.

How can the Visa Center help you?

Our support includes:

assessing whether recognition of your qualification is required in your case
determining which institution is competent for your profession
assistance in gathering and preparing the required documentation
completing the forms and preparing the application
communication with the competent institutions where necessary
professional support throughout the entire procedure

Before the procedure begins we analyse your situation in order to find the most efficient solution and avoid unnecessary costs and delays.

From our practice

Clients often come to us unsure whether they need to have their qualification recognised at all. The answer depends on the specific occupation, the type of education and the work they wish to do in Germany. That is why we always analyse each case in detail first, so that we can recommend the procedure the client actually needs.

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Blue Card / skilled professionals

A residence permit for highly qualified professionals, from assessing the requirements and the recognition of your degree to filing the application and communicating with the institutions.

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Work visa

A work visa without recognition of qualifications for nationals of the Western Balkans, full legal and administrative support up to the issuing of the visa.

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Student visa

Support from checking the requirements and preparing the documentation to filing the student visa application.

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Are you planning to take up employment in Germany?

If you would like to check whether your degree or professional qualifications need to be recognised, contact the Visa Center. We will gladly analyse your case and help you carry out the procedure properly and efficiently.

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