Getting Your Foreign Qualification Recognised: anabin, ZAB and the Anerkennungs-Finder

Anerkennung (recognition) means a German authority checks whether your foreign qualification is equivalent to a German one. Whether you need it depends mainly on two questions: what kind of qualification do you have — and what do you want to do with it in Germany?

Regulated and unregulated professions

In regulated professions you may only work, or use the professional title, with official recognition — for example as a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, teacher, or with the title “Ingenieur”. Recognition is mandatory here.

In unregulated professions (e.g. many IT, business or science jobs) you can apply for jobs directly. Recognition or an evaluation may still be needed — for a visa, for instance — or improve your chances with employers.

University degree or vocational qualification?

• University degree: in regulated professions, the responsible authority decides on professional recognition. In unregulated professions, anabin shows how your university and degree are assessed, and the ZAB issues a Statement of Comparability on request.
• Vocational qualification / Ausbildung: it is compared with a German reference occupation. Depending on the occupation, this is usually done by the IHK (Chamber of Industry and Commerce), the Chamber of Crafts or a state authority.
• School certificate: recognised by the states’ certificate recognition offices; for university admission, the university or uni-assist usually checks it.

anabin, ZAB and the Anerkennungs-Finder — what’s what?

• anabin is a database run by the Standing Conference of Education Ministers. It shows whether your university is recognised (status “H+”) and how your type of degree is assessed. anabin is an information source, not an application.
• The ZAB (Central Office for Foreign Education) issues the Statement of Comparability — an official document comparing your university degree with a German one. It costs a fee and is mainly useful when your degree isn’t clearly listed in anabin.
• The Anerkennungs-Finder on the “Recognition in Germany” portal tells you, once you enter your profession and place of work, whether you need recognition and which authority is responsible.

Which documents are commonly required?

The responsible authority gives you the exact list. It often includes:

• proof of identity (passport)
• your degree certificate or diploma
• a transcript of subjects and grades
• proof of work experience
• a CV in table form
• translations by publicly appointed or sworn translators, often also certified copies

What happens after you apply?

The authority first checks that your documents are complete and asks for anything missing. Once they are complete, statutory processing deadlines of usually a few months apply. The outcome can be full equivalence, partial equivalence (with compensation measures such as an adaptation course or exam) or a rejection. The procedure costs fees that differ from authority to authority.

Important

Yabino explains the routes and links to the official services — only the responsible authority decides on your application. Free advice on recognition is offered by official counselling services, which you can find through the “Recognition in Germany” portal.