Authorities, employers and advice centres use many technical terms. This glossary explains the most common ones so that you can follow letters and conversations more easily. For many terms there is an article in our guides that covers the topic in detail.
The explanations are general and are not legal advice. The competent authority tells you what applies in your case.
A
Adaptation course
A period of supervised learning and work in which a skilled worker makes up for missing parts of their training.
It usually takes place in practice, in nursing for example in a hospital or care home, often with classes alongside. In nursing it is, alongside the knowledge test, one route to full recognition. The competent authority sets its duration and content. How long it takes depends on the differences listed in the notice.
As of: October 2026 · Source: Recognition in Germany, German federal law online
More in our guides: Recognition in nursing; Occupations: Registered nurse, Nursing assistant
Advance approval
The approval of the Federal Employment Agency for an employment, obtained by the employer before the visa application.
The employer applies for it at the Federal Employment Agency for a specific job. The skilled worker then submits it with the visa application at the German mission abroad, so one step of the review is already done. The advance approval does not replace the visa. It is a different document from the advance approval of the foreigners authority in the fast-track procedure for skilled workers.
As of: October 2026 · Source: Federal Employment Agency, German federal law online
More in our guides: Advance approval from the Federal Employment Agency, The fast-track procedure for skilled workers
Approval of the Federal Employment Agency
The statement of the employment administration that it agrees to a specific job for a person from a country outside the EU.
It is needed for many residence titles for work, but not in every case. The Federal Employment Agency mainly compares pay, working hours and other conditions with those of comparable employees. Usually the German mission abroad requests the approval itself, but the employer can also obtain it in advance. The approval applies to the job described in the application.
As of: October 2026 · Source: Federal Employment Agency, German federal law online
More in our guides: Advance approval from the Federal Employment Agency, Skilled immigration to Germany: an overview for employers; Occupations: Truck driver
E
Equivalence assessment
The procedure in which an authority compares a foreign qualification with a German reference occupation.
The authority mainly compares the content and scope of the training. In certain cases, work experience also counts if it makes up for differences. The procedure starts with an application and the documents the authority asks for, often with translations. At the end there is a notice that states the result.
As of: October 2026 · Source: Recognition in Germany
More in our guides: Recognition of foreign qualifications, Recognition in skilled trades and metalwork; Occupations: Registered nurse, Nursing assistant, Electrician, Plumbing and heating technician, Welder, Bricklayer, Truck driver, Cook and chef
EU Blue Card
A European Union residence title for skilled workers, mainly with a university degree.
It requires a job that matches the qualification. The detailed requirements are set out by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees and the Make it in Germany portal. The German mission abroad and the foreigners authority decide on issuing it.
As of: October 2026 · Source: Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, German federal law online
More in our guides: Skilled immigration to Germany: an overview for employers
F
Fast-track procedure for skilled workers
A procedure that the employer starts at the competent foreigners authority in Germany with a power of attorney from the skilled worker.
The foreigners authority then coordinates with the recognition authority and the Federal Employment Agency. It is based on an agreement between the employer and the authority. A fee is charged for the procedure, and the authority states the amount. The skilled worker still applies for the visa at the German mission abroad, and there is no promise about the outcome or duration.
As of: October 2026 · Source: Federal Employment Agency, German federal law online, Federal Ministry of the Interior
More in our guides: The fast-track procedure for skilled workers
Foreigners authority
The authority in Germany that decides on the residence titles of people from abroad.
As a rule, the authority at the place of residence is responsible. After entry, the skilled worker applies there for the residence title while the visa is still valid. In the fast-track procedure, the employer starts the procedure at the competent foreigners authority, and some federal states have a central authority for this.
As of: October 2026 · Source: Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, German federal law online
More in our guides: The fast-track procedure for skilled workers
R
Recognition of qualifications
The official decision on whether a foreign vocational qualification is equivalent to a German one.
A competent authority compares the foreign qualification with a German reference occupation. Which authority is responsible depends on the occupation and often on the federal state. The result is set out in a notice: full equivalence, partial equivalence or rejection. In regulated professions, recognition is required to work in the occupation, and it is also required for many residence titles. Only the competent authority decides on the application.
As of: October 2026 · Source: Recognition in Germany, German federal law online
More in our guides: Recognition of foreign qualifications, Recognition in nursing, Recognition in skilled trades and metalwork; Occupations: Registered nurse, Nursing assistant, Electrician, Plumbing and heating technician, Welder, Bricklayer, Truck driver, Cook and chef
Recognition partnership
A route in which a skilled worker enters Germany before recognition, starts work and completes the procedure in Germany.
The employer and the skilled worker agree that recognition will be applied for and that the employer will make it possible to close any differences. The route suits occupations in which differences can be closed well at work. The detailed requirements, for example on the qualification and German language skills, are set out by the German mission abroad and the foreigners authority. In the end, equivalence has to be established.
As of: October 2026 · Source: German federal law online, Federal Employment Agency, Recognition in Germany
More in our guides: Recognition partnership: entry before recognition; Occupations: Registered nurse, Nursing assistant, Electrician, Plumbing and heating technician, Bricklayer, Cook and chef
Regulated profession
An occupation that may only be practised in Germany with a state licence or a recognised qualification.
Examples are the nursing professions and the medical professions. Anyone who wants to work in such an occupation first needs recognition of the qualification or a licence from the competent authority. In non-regulated occupations, recognition is not required for the work itself. For entry as a skilled worker, however, it is often still required. The Recognition in Germany portal helps to find out whether an occupation is regulated.
As of: October 2026 · Source: Recognition in Germany, German federal law online
More in our guides: Recognition of foreign qualifications, Recognition in nursing; Occupations: Registered nurse, Nursing assistant, Electrician, Plumbing and heating technician, Welder, Bricklayer, Truck driver, Cook and chef
Residence title
The official permission to stay in Germany and, depending on its type, to work.
The visa is also such a title, and after entry there is usually a title issued by the foreigners authority. It states the purpose of the stay and, in its supplementary provisions, which employment is allowed. Employers check before the first working day that the title allows the employment. The foreigners authority decides on issuing and extending it.
As of: October 2026 · Source: Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, German federal law online
More in our guides: From offer to visa: how the process runs
