Diploma Recognition for the Work Visa in Germany

Have you successfully graduated from a university abroad and are planning to continue your career in Germany? One of the most crucial steps in this process is to determine whether your academic qualification meets German standards.

Regulated and Non-Regulated Professions (Reglementierte & Nicht reglementierte Berufe)

In Germany, professions are divided into two main categories: regulated and non-regulated. The recognition process of your diploma depends on which category your intended profession falls into.

Regulated Professions (Reglementierte)

To legally practice a regulated profession in Germany, you must hold a specific qualification and have your foreign diploma officially recognized. Most professions in health (e.g., doctor, nurse), law (e.g., lawyer), and teaching in public schools fall into this category. Additionally, engineering fields where the title “engineer” is legally protected are also considered regulated professions.
Regardless of your country of origin, you must undergo a formal recognition process (Anerkennungsverfahren) if you want to work fully authorized in one of these professions.
Recognition is also a prerequisite for obtaining residence permits such as the EU Blue Card or the Work Visa for Qualified Professionals.
To find out whether your profession is regulated, you can use the “Anerkennungs-Finder” tool on the “Anerkennung in Deutschland” portal.

Non-Regulated Professions (Nicht reglementierte Berufe)

The majority of professions in Germany (e.g., IT specialist, marketing expert, linguist, hotel manager) are non-regulated. For these jobs, official recognition of your diploma is not mandatory.
However, if you are from a non-EU country, you must still prove that your academic degree is comparable to a German one in order to obtain a visa. This is especially important when applying for the EU Blue Card or the Work Visa for Qualified Professionals.

To prove degree equivalency for a non-regulated academic profession, non-EU nationals can use one of the following two methods:

• Anabin Database

  The higher education institution you graduated from must have an “H+” status in the Anabin database, indicating that it is recognized in Germany. If the status is “H+/-“, your specific diploma must also be explicitly listed. In addition to the institution’s status, the degree/program must be rated as “equivalent (entspricht)” or “of equal value (gleichwertig)”.

• Statement of Comparability (Zeugnisbewertung)

  If the Anabin database does not provide sufficient or positive information (e.g., the university has H+ status but the degree is not listed), an individual assessment procedure is necessary. The Statement of Comparability, issued by ZAB, defines the nature of your foreign qualification and identifies its German equivalent. The application is submitted digitally to ZAB. The process may take several months, depending on the completeness of your documents.
  For EU Blue Card applicants, if a valid job contract is submitted, the processing time for the Statement of Comparability may be reduced to 2–3 weeks.