Residence permit for recognition of foreign vocational qualifications
General information
Skilled workers from third countries can apply for a residence permit for the duration of 18 months, in order to take part in an educational measure for the recognition of the vocational qualifications they have acquired abroad. Whether a recognition of your vocational qualification is necessary depends on whether it's a regulated or a non-regulated profession.
Non-regulated professions are all so-called qualified jobs for which you undergo training in Germany in the 'dual' system. If you would like to carry out such a profession, you do not necessarily need to obtain recognition.
To access a regulated profession, a recognition of the vocational qualification is compulsory. Without recognition of your foreign vocational qualification, you are not allowed to work in these professions. The application for professional recognition should be made to the authority responsible for the profession. You can find further information at www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de and www.bq-portal.de.
If differences in the vocational qualification are established, you have to compensate for them successfully with qualification measures to obtain the recognition. This can take place through an adaptation course or an examination. You can find further information about the qualification programmes on the page www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de. During the training course, it's possible to have a job that is independent of the qualification course for up to ten hours per week.
The recognition of a vocational qualification means the establishment of the equivalence with a German vocational qualification. A recognised degree can be helpful in searching for a job and improve your chances on the job market. In some cases, a recognised vocational qualification is a requirement for being allowed to practise this profession in Germany at all.
Legal basis
- § 16d Residence Act
- § 8 Employment Regulation
Documents/ forms to be submitted
You can submit this application completely online. If you are not able to use the online application, please use the "Residence permit application/Application for renewal of a temporary residence permit" (PDF 227 KB) and submit the documents by mail.
- Valid passport (copy)
- Entry visa for recognition of foreign vocational qualifications (with the exception of nationals from Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, South Korea, New Zealand, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America) (copy)
- Certificate/official notification of your foreign vocational qualification including overview of individual grades (copy)
- Assessment/notice of deficit about the need for further vocational qualifications from the authority responsible for the profession (copy)
- Proof of participation in a suitable adaptation or qualification measure (copy)
- Proof of the required language knowledge - minimum level A2; B1 for doctors and nurses - The language certificate is not necessary if the acquisition of language is part of the planned qualification measure. (copy)
- Proof of ability to secure living costs - work contract/offer of work including description of job, or blocked account or letter of obligation, or scholarship; at least 1,027.00 euros (net) per month (copy)
- Proof from the health insurance company about current health insurance coverage
- in the case of statutory health insurance: informal letter from the health insurance company
- in the case of private health insurance: Certificate of insurance (see below)
- Current (sub-)rental contract (copy)
Deadlines/ processing time
After the documents have been submitted in full, the processing is usually complete within four weeks. Deviations from this are possible in individual cases.
Process and procedure
Please submit your application and related documents via online application. You will be invited to collect your biometric data after a decision has been made on your application. After the decision about your application, you will be invited to have your biometric data recorded.
Costs and fees
93 euros to 113 euros
If you are receiving a scholarship from public funds for your stay in the Federal Republic of Germany, you do not have to pay the fees.
Payment possibilities:
- Paying by cash
- Paying by EC card
Paying by credit card is possible.
Special requirements
After successful completion of the qualification measure, it is possible to look for a job for up to 12 months (§ 20 Section 3 No. 1 Residence Act). If you already have a job offer, a residence permit for the purposes of qualifying employment can be issued immediately.