Anerkennung von Abschlüssen | Third-country Nationals

Recognition of degrees

Here you will find information on the following question:

What requirements do I have to meet in order to obtain a residence permit for the purpose of recognizing professional qualifications in Germany?

Please do not forget that you always have to meet the general requirements for your stay in Germany. You can find information about this here.

Requirements for the recognition of foreign qualifications in Germany (§ 16d AufenthG)

Table of contents:

Purpose of the recognition
Requirements
Specifics

Purpose of recognition

The certificate recognition offices decide which German school-leaving certificate - Hauptschule, Realschule (middle school leaving certificate), general higher education entrance qualification (Abitur) or subject-related higher education entrance qualification (Fachabitur) – the foreign school-leaving certificate is comparable to. Anyone in Germany can apply for the recognition of school achievements, regardless of their nationality.

In principle, the colleges/universities are responsible for the recognition of school qualifications for admission to a course of study. The admissions database of the DAAD, for example, provides a rough overview of whether your certificate is recognized for admission to a course of study in Germany. You can also find more detailed information here in the anabin database.

The recognition of foreign qualifications in Germany is a complex process that can vary depending on the type of qualification and the profession.

2. Requirements

The following documents are regularly required for the recognition of school qualifications:

Copy of the school leaving certificate, officially certified by a German authority (e.g. city or municipal administration),
certified translation of the school leaving certificate,
Curriculum Vitae in tabular form naming all stages of the entire school, training and study period (complete from the time you started school),
Proof of identity, e.g. certified copy of passport.

Depending on the recognition body and the individual case, additional documents may be required.

3. Special features of the procedure

There are basically two ways in which foreign qualifications can be recognized in Germany:

a. Automatic recognition: Some degrees from certain countries are automatically recognized in Germany because they are considered equivalent to German degrees. This is especially the case for degrees from other EU member states.

b. Individual recognition: Individual recognition is necessary for most foreign qualifications outside the EU. There are various recognition procedures for this, which are carried out by the competent authorities. Recognition depends on the respective profession and the federal state in which the application is made. For the recognition you should know these three procedures:

Procedure for determining equivalence: Here it is checked whether the foreign qualification is comparable to a German qualification. A declaration of equivalence can be issued, for example, for degrees in nursing or for teachers.

Procedure for determining knowledge: This tests whether the knowledge and skills acquired abroad are sufficient to be able to work in a specific profession in Germany. Such a procedure exists, for example, for trades.

Admission procedure: Here it is checked whether the foreign degree meets the admission requirements for a specific profession. Such a procedure exists, for example, for doctors or lawyers.

The certificate recognition offices of the federal states are responsible for the recognition of school qualifications for taking up training.

The authorities responsible for the recognition of certificates are listed in the anabin database. The Anabin database provides a wealth of information on the assessment of foreign educational certificates. On Anabin you can search for your country and your degree and find out how these are recognized in Germany, as well as determine the German recognition authority responsible for you.

If the certificate recognition office has already made a decision on the equal treatment of the foreign school-leaving certificate (see above), this can also be submitted when applying for a place at university.

The final decision on admission to the course is always made by the university to which you are applying. It is therefore best to inquire directly there which documents you need for the recognition. Many German universities work together with uni-assist, which checks and evaluates foreign certificates.

If your school-leaving certificate is not recognized in Germany, admission to a course of study can be obtained via a preparatory college.