General information as of October 2026, not legal advice. Rules, offices and fees differ by profession and by federal state: always check the official source before you act.
Many skilled people lose months because they start the recognition of their certificates too late, or at the wrong office. This is a first orientation.
1. Find out whether you need it
- Regulated professions (for example nurses, doctors, teachers, many engineering titles): to work in the profession you usually need formal recognition first.
- Other professions: recognition is often not required by law, but a recognised or assessed qualification makes it much easier for an employer to understand what you can do, and it matters for some visas.
The official portal Make it in Germany has a recognition finder that tells you, for your profession and country, whether and where to apply.
2. Find the right office
The office that decides depends on your profession and on the federal state where you want to work. Applying to the wrong one costs time. The recognition finder and the free counselling centres (the IQ Network offers recognition advice in many cities) can tell you the right one.
3. For university degrees: look at anabin and the ZAB
- anabin is a database where German authorities show how foreign universities and degrees are rated.
- The ZAB (Central Office for Foreign Education) issues a statement of comparability for foreign degrees, for a fee. Employers often accept it as a clear proof of what your degree means in Germany.
4. Collect your documents early
Typically you need:
- your certificates and transcripts (originals and copies),
- proof of your identity,
- your CV and proof of work experience,
- certified translations into German of what the office asks for.
Ask the office for its exact list. Translations and certifications take time and cost money, so do them once and carefully.
5. Expect time and cost
It can take from weeks to several months, and the fees vary. Ask early whether financial support for the costs exists in your situation.
6. Full or partial recognition
Sometimes the result is "partly equivalent": you may be asked to pass an exam or an adaptation course. That is not a failure. It is a plan, and many people finish it while they already work or learn German.
Tips that save months
- Start before you arrive if you can: much of the process can be done from abroad.
- Keep every paper and every date in one folder.
- Do not pay anyone who promises a guaranteed result.
- Learn German in parallel: it speeds up everything else.
If you are unsure where to start, tell us your profession and country through the request form, and we will point you to the right first step.