For you to be able to work in Germany, your degree or professional certificate may need to be recognized according to the German system.
Anerkennung in Deutschland or simply Recognition in Germany is the central information portal of the Federal Government for recognizing foreign professional qualifications in Germany. At both the federal and state levels, the portal implements the legal regulations on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
What is it like to work in Germany?
Do you want to work in Germany in the field in which you earned a professional qualification in your home country? There is no need to have a confirmed job offer before applying for recognition. This is also possible from abroad.
Find out more about working in Germany at Expatova
Recognizing your professional qualifications
Obtaining information about reference occupations and receiving advice
Find your profession in the Recognition Finder: www.recognition-in-germany.de/finder (the site is availalbe both in German and English). On this page, you will find information about different German professions, and you can select the reference occupation that is relevant to you and figure out whether recognition is needed for you. There are several factors to consider, including your profession and your country of origin. When looking for a job, recognition is always helpful.
You can find contact information for a recognition advisory center and the authority responsible for processing your application through the Recognition Finder. Even though the competent authority communicates only in German, the advisory centers often offer guidance in a variety of languages.
It's a good idea to seek advice before submitting an application for recognition. Guidance is also available if you are unable to locate your profession in the Recognition Finder. In addition, you will receive information about financial support.
The application process
In order to apply, you must hold a professional qualification such as completion of vocational education and training or completion of a degree. Application for recognition must be submitted to the competent authority that is responsible for you. Information regarding the necessary documents is provided by the recognition finder. The cost of obtaining recognition varies depending on the profession and the federal state. The cost of recognition generally ranges from 200 to 600 euros. However, a detailed estimate of the costs will be provided to you by the competent authority.
Evaluation of the application
Upon receipt of your application, the competent authority processes it. Approximately one month after the application is submitted, you will be notified. Depending on the situation, this may indicate that the competent authority has received all the documents or that additional documents need to be submitted. A comparison is made between your professional qualification and that of the German reference occupation by the competent authority. During this process, your professional experience and other qualifications are taken into consideration.
Receipt of your recognition notice
It usually takes three to four months for the recognition process to be completed. Following this, you will receive your recognition notice. The full recognition of your qualification means that it is fully equivalent to the German qualification.
Recognized partially or not recognized at all?
It is possible that your notice indicates that there has been no recognition or partial recognition on your application.
However, you may also be able to work without full recognition depending on your profession. You may also be able to complete additional training in Germany in many cases. You will receive advice from the competent authority regarding your options.
On your way to Germany
You can find all the information you need about living and working in Germany at www.expatova.com.
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