Regalis, as of
In brief
A foreign qualification is not valid in Germany automatically; it is assessed for equivalence with a German qualification. In regulated occupations recognition is a condition for the work, and in many other occupations the residence permit as a skilled worker usually requires it. Depending on the occupation and the federal state, one particular office is responsible, and that office alone decides on the application.
Why recognition weighs so heavily
A foreign certificate does not count in Germany by itself. What is examined is whether the training matches a German one in substance. The result is called equivalence.
Recognition has two effects. In regulated occupations it is what makes the work lawful at all. And it is the condition for several residence permits.
The question of the occupation therefore stands at the start of every plan. It settles the route and the effort involved.
The decision matters to the candidates as well. It tells them whether they can work in the occupation they trained for. Without that prospect many good people say no.
Regulated or not
The law sorts occupations into two groups. In practice the difference is considerable.
Regulated occupations may only be practised with a state licence. They include nursing and the health professions, parts of the skilled trades and occupations in education and teaching.
Many technical and commercial occupations are not regulated. There somebody may work without a recognised qualification. For a residence permit as a skilled worker, equivalence is usually asked for all the same.
Who carries out the assessment
There is no single office for all occupations. One particular recognition body is responsible, depending on the occupation and the federal state.
As a rule the state where the work is to start decides. A move to another federal state during the procedure therefore costs time.
- For many trained occupations the chambers of industry and commerce or the chambers of skilled crafts assess the case.
- For health and nursing occupations the authorities of the federal states are responsible.
- University degrees are assessed by the Central Office for Foreign Education (Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen); its database gives a first indication.
- The federal recognition portal leads step by step to the right office.
Sorting the case before the application
A short run-up saves a good deal of time later. Clarify first which qualification exists and in which country it was obtained.
For university degrees a look into the database of the Central Office helps. It does not replace a decision, but it shows the direction.
Then check whether the planned duties match the qualification. A recognised qualification is of little use if the post calls for something else.
The recognition bodies and the federal advice centres answer such questions beforehand. A phone call before the application is usually quicker than a query in the running procedure.
The procedure in outline
In almost every occupation the procedure follows the same pattern. The skilled worker files the application, and the company can support them in doing so.
- Identify the responsible body and file the application there
- Collect the papers: final certificate, list of subjects and hours, evidence of work experience
- Have translations and certifications prepared
- Budget for the fees of the procedure
- Wait for the decision: full equivalence, partial equivalence or refusal
When differences remain
The assessment often ends in partial equivalence. The decision then names the content that is missing.
Those gaps can be closed. The usual ways are an adaptation course in the company, a knowledge test or an aptitude test. In nursing the adaptation course is the familiar route.
Since the last reform a recognition partnership is possible as well. Skilled worker and company agree to finish the procedure together after entry. Whether that carries in your case is a question for the foreigners authority (Ausländerbehörde).
Where the decision turns out partial, the gap is often closed in the company. The course follows a plan that the responsible body confirms.
That calls for supervision in house. An experienced colleague guides the tasks, records the progress and confirms the content at the end.
Allow for this time in the duty roster. If the supervision is done on the side, the course drags on and both sides lose patience.
- Name a supervisor and set aside working time for the role
- Agree content and evidence with the responsible body
- Record the progress in writing
- Allow for examination dates in the duty roster early
Language and the language of the job
In regulated occupations language belongs to the licence. Besides the general certificate, many federal states ask for a test in occupational language.
What is tested there is the working day. In nursing that means handovers, documentation and talking to relatives. A good general course is often not enough for it.
Plan this preparation in from the start. It frequently settles whether an adaptation course succeeds.
What this means for your company
Recognition costs time and attention. Planning for it early keeps the weeks after arrival from running empty.
Keep copies of everything you file. Later in the procedure the authorities often ask for the same evidence a second time.
- Sort the post early: regulated or not
- Ask for certificates and evidence in full before the application starts
- Allow for the language level that tests and courses call for
- Clarify which duties are permitted before recognition is finished
- Name one person in the company who follows the case
Frequently asked questions
How long does a recognition procedure take?
That depends on the occupation, the federal state and the completeness of the papers. The bodies themselves name no fixed periods. Missing evidence is the most frequent cause of delay.
Who files the application, the company or the skilled worker?
The skilled worker files it. The company can support them, carry the costs and help to obtain papers.
What does recognition cost?
There are fees charged by the assessing body, plus the cost of translations and certifications. The amount differs by occupation and country. Many companies carry these costs.
Is a decision valid across Germany?
For occupations regulated by federal law the decision is usually accepted nationwide. For occupations regulated by state law, a move can trigger further steps.
May somebody work before recognition?
In occupations that are not regulated this is possible if the residence permit allows the work. In regulated occupations a licence from the responsible authority is needed first.
- For Employers How Regalis works with employers: capture requirements, present candidates, coordinate entry and the start of work. Direct employment, no staff leasing.