Foreign degree recognition in Germany: steps and costs

You were a doctor, nurse, accountant or electrician, and in Germany you're working whatever job you can get? A very common story. Recognition of your qualification (Anerkennung) is the way back into your profession and a fair salary, and for some professions you can't work without it at all. The process looks confusing, but it's really a few clear steps.

Step 1: Find out whether your profession is regulated

Everything else depends on this.

Regulated professions (reglementierte Berufe): you can't work in them without recognition. For example doctors, nurses (Pflegefachkraft), pharmacists, teachers, childcare workers, lawyers.
Non-regulated professions: you can work without recognition, and the employer decides whether your qualification fits. This covers most vocational trades (Ausbildungsberufe) and many university degrees, for example in economics or IT. Recognition isn't required here, but it helps a lot with job hunting and with your residence permit.

How to check: the portal anerkennung-in-deutschland.de has the "Anerkennungs-Finder". Enter your profession and city, and it shows whether the profession is regulated, which German reference profession matches, and which authority handles your case.

Step 2: Find the right authority

Regulated professions: usually a state (Land) authority (with separate state bodies for doctors, nursing and pharmacists). The Anerkennungs-Finder shows the exact address.
IHK vocational trades (retail, industry, hospitality etc.): IHK FOSA in Nuremberg, responsible for all of Germany.
Craft trades (Handwerk): your local Handwerkskammer.
Non-regulated university degree: there is no formal recognition, but you can get a Zeugnisbewertung (statement of comparability) from the ZAB (Central Office for Foreign Education). It's an official document that places your degree in the German education system. It costs 208 euros and usually takes about three months. You apply online with a BundID account and upload documents as PDFs. The Vorab-Check on the ZAB website tells you which documents you need.

If it's a school-leaving certificate rather than a profession, your state's Zeugnisanerkennungsstelle handles it.

Step 3: Gather your documents

The authority will give you the exact list, but you'll usually need:

the application (Antrag) on the authority's form;
passport or other ID;
your diploma with the transcript of subjects and hours;
proof of work experience (employment record book, references);
a CV in table form (tabellarischer Lebenslauf) in German;
if required, a German language certificate (mandatory for many health professions).

Important:

Translations must be done by a sworn translator (öffentlich bestellter oder beeidigter Übersetzer). You can find one in the database justiz-dolmetscher.de.
Don't send originals. Certified copies (amtlich beglaubigte Kopien) are usually enough, for example from the Bürgerbüro or a notary.
Before translating everything, ask the authority what actually needs translating. Translations are the most expensive part of the process.

What it costs and who can pay

The fee depends on the profession and the state and is usually between 100 and 600 euros. Translations and certifications come on top.

But you often don't have to pay it all yourself:

Anerkennungszuschuss: a government grant of up to 600 euros towards the costs of the procedure (fees, translations, certifications). It's for people living in Germany with a taxable income of no more than 32,000 euros a year (50,000 for jointly assessed couples). Applications are possible until 30 June 2027. Crucially: you must apply for the grant BEFORE you submit your recognition application. It isn't granted retroactively.
Jobcenter or Agentur für Arbeit: if you're registered there, they may cover the costs. Again, ask before paying, not after.

How long it takes

By law the authority has to decide within three months. But that period only starts once it has all your documents. So very often you'll first get a letter asking for more documents (Nachforderung). Reply quickly and on time: it directly determines when the clock starts.

What decision you can get

Full equivalence (volle Gleichwertigkeit): your qualification counts as equivalent to the German one. You can work in your profession.
Partial equivalence (teilweise Gleichwertigkeit): the decision (Bescheid) lists the "substantial differences" from the German profession. For regulated professions you can close them with a compensation measure (Ausgleichsmaßnahme): an adaptation course (Anpassungslehrgang) or an exam (Kenntnisprüfung or Eignungsprüfung). For non-regulated professions: complete an adaptation qualification (Anpassungsqualifizierung) and apply again.
Rejection: your qualification wasn't recognised as equivalent.

Partial recognition isn't a failure, it's a plan: the decision says exactly what's missing. The recognition grant can also cover the cost of such further training.

If you disagree with the decision

Read the end of the Bescheid, the Rechtsbehelfsbelehrung. It says what you can do and by when. Usually it's one month.
In some states you file an objection (Widerspruch) with the authority itself. In others (for example Bavaria in many areas) the Widerspruch has been abolished, and you go straight to the administrative court (Verwaltungsgericht) with a lawsuit (Klage). Your own Bescheid tells you which applies.
Before fighting it, go to free recognition counselling (see below). Sometimes it's smarter to close the gaps with further training.

Common mistakes

Applying for the grant after the recognition application and losing up to 600 euros.
Sending originals instead of certified copies.
Translating everything when the authority only needs some documents.
Missing the deadline on a request for documents (Nachforderung).
Missing the one-month deadline for a Widerspruch or lawsuit.

Where to get free help

The IQ Netzwerk counselling offices help with recognition for free: they name the right authority, check documents and explain the decision. Find the nearest one via the counselling search on anerkennung-in-deutschland.de. If there's nothing nearby, call the "Working and Living in Germany" hotline: +49 30 1815-1111. We've listed more free services in our article "Who helps immigrants in Germany for free?".

Frequently asked questions

How long does recognition of a foreign degree take in Germany?

The authority must decide within three months, but the clock only starts once all documents are in. A ZAB Zeugnisbewertung usually takes about three months.

Can I work in Germany without recognition?

In non-regulated professions yes, the employer decides. In regulated professions (doctor, nurse, teacher etc.) no.

Who pays for recognition?

The Anerkennungszuschuss covers up to €600 if you apply for it before your recognition application. The Jobcenter or Agentur für Arbeit may also cover costs.

Official sources

Letters to the authority: that's where BriefMagic helps

The recognition procedure is correspondence. The authority asks for more documents, you ask for a deadline extension because the translation isn't ready. After three months of silence you want to politely ask about the status (Sachstandsanfrage). And if an unfavourable decision arrives, you need a Widerspruch.

BriefMagic helps with every one of these steps. Take a photo of the authority's letter, and the service explains in your language what they want and by when. Then describe your situation in your own words, and BriefMagic writes the reply in proper official German. You can download it as a PDF or send it by post straight from the service, including by registered mail, so you have proof you replied on time.

Try BriefMagic →

This article is for information only and is not legal advice. Fees, amounts and deadlines are as of October 2026 and may change: check them with your authority or a counselling service.