Visa for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications
Foreign qualifications can be recognized in Germany so that people who have completed their training abroad can also work in their profession in Germany. This is done by the so-called recognition offices. However, sometimes some qualifications are missing that are necessary for full recognition of the foreign qualification. If this is the case for you, you can attend a qualification program in Germany. This could be a technical training course or a job-related German course, for example. To participate, you will need a visa or a residence permit for the purpose of recognition of foreign professional qualifications in accordance with Section 16d of the Residence Act.
Please note:On July 7, 2023, a new law was passed regarding the immigration of skilled workers to Germany. It contains numerous changes and innovations as well as simplifications to make Germany more attractive for skilled workers. It is not yet clear exactly when the various changes and innovations will be introduced. When the time comes, we will publish updates on our website. We recommend that you visit our website regularly to stay well informed.
If you have any further questions, you can also contact our community platform "Together in Germany", our community managers will be happy to answer your questions!
What do I need to know?
Can I get a visa for the purpose of recognition of my professional qualification?
First of all, you must submit your foreign professional qualification from your home country to a competent authority. If the competent authority decides that further qualification is necessary for the recognition of your professional qualification and you can provide proof of sufficient German language skills (A2), you can obtain further qualification in Germany.
Where can I submit my foreign professional qualification for recognition?
You can find the office responsible for recognizing your qualification at anerkennung-in-deutschland.de. You can also seek advice in advance. You can find local addresses for some countries under "Advice abroad". Alternatively, you can also use the make-it-in-Germany contact form or the "Working and living in Germany" hotline on +49 30 1815 1111. The staff speak German and English and can be reached Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. CET. Please note that a call abroad usually costs money.
You can find out more about recognition in our chapter"Recognition of foreign professional qualifications".
Where do I apply for a visa?
If you need a visa to enter Germany, you must first apply for a visa at the German embassy/consulate in your home country or a neighboring country and present the above-mentioned documents there.
Please note that it may take several months to process your visa application.
If you do not need a visa to enter Germany, please report to the immigration office at your new place of residence after entering the country and present the required documents there. There you can then apply for a residence permit for the purpose of recognition of a foreign professional qualification.
Whether you need a visa depends on your country of origin. At auswaertiges-amt.de you will find a list of countries whose citizens need a visa to enter Germany.
What documents do I need for the visa / residence permit?
In our chapter"National visa" you will find a list of all the documents that all third-country nationals need for a national visa.
For a visa for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications, you will also need the following documents:
- Proof from the recognition body that a qualification is required.
- An application for a corresponding qualification measure.
- Proof of your German language skills. You need at least A2.
- Proof that you will be able to support yourself for the duration of the training course.
What happens after entry?
Once you have entered Germany, you must register with the foreigners authority at your new place of residence within three months and apply for a residence permit there. To do this, you must submit the above-mentioned documents and, as a rule, a police registration and a tenancy agreement. The authorities will check your documents and then decide whether you will be granted a residence permit.
A residence permit for the recognition of a foreign professional qualification is usually valid for 18 months. It can be extended by a maximum of 6 months if the end of your qualification measure is delayed. For example, if you have to retake an examination.
Can I work alongside the qualification measure?
You can work for up to ten hours per week in addition to your qualification measure. If you already have a concrete job offer from a company for a job in your profession, you can also work more than 10 hours per week for this company. However, the Federal Employment Agency must first approve this. To do this, you must submit the specific job offer to them. The employees of the Federal Employment Agency will check the offer and then issue you with a work permit for this job. You can find the Federal Employment Agency in your area at arbeitsagentur.de.
What happens after successful completion of the training program?
If you have successfully completed the qualification measure and have already found a suitable job or training place or place at university, you can apply for a residence permit as a skilled worker or for training or studies. You can do this directly at the immigration office responsible for you.
If you have not yet found a job, you can apply for a residence permit to look for work. You can also apply for this directly at the immigration office responsible for you.
Important
You can find out more about recognition in our chapter"Recognition of foreign professional qualifications". You can find out more about looking for work in our chapter "Job search and application".
Source: handbookgermany.de
