Regulated or not regulated?
In regulated professions you may only work with official recognition – for example doctors, nurses, pharmacists, teachers, educators in many states, lawyers and some engineering titles. For non-regulated professions (most jobs in IT, business, marketing, trades in companies) recognition is not legally required, but it helps employers understand your degree and is often needed for a visa.
The official portal anerkennung-in-deutschland.de has a “Recognition Finder” that tells you the competent authority for your profession and city.
University degrees: anabin and ZAB
- Check your university and degree in the anabin database. “H+” for the university and a matching degree entry means it is generally comparable.
- If it is not listed, or an employer or the immigration office asks for proof, apply to the ZAB (Central Office for Foreign Education) for a Zeugnisbewertung (statement of comparability). It is done online and costs around €200.
- For the EU Blue Card the degree must be recognised or comparable to a German degree.
Vocational training: IHK, HWK and the professional chambers
Training such as industrial mechanic, electrician, cook or office clerk is checked against a German reference occupation. For IHK occupations the IHK FOSA is responsible, for crafts the Handwerkskammer, for nursing and health professions the authority of the federal state. The result can be full recognition or partial recognition with a list of gaps; you can close these gaps with an adaptation course or a test.
Documents and translations
- Degree certificate and transcript of records (grades, subjects, hours).
- Proof of work experience (employer references).
- Passport and, if your name changed, the relevant certificate.
- Certified translations into German by a sworn translator (“beeidigter / ermächtigter Übersetzer”). You can find them in the official database justiz-dolmetscher.de.
- Depending on the country: an apostille or legalisation.
Time and costs
Once your file is complete, authorities usually decide within three months. Fees vary by profession and state, often between €100 and €600, plus translation costs. Some job centres, employment agencies and support programmes pay part of the costs – ask before you apply.
How to show it in your CV
Translate the degree title meaningfully and add a short note in the education section, for example: “Bachelor Bauingenieurwesen, Universität Damaskus – anabin H+, Zeugnisbewertung der ZAB liegt vor.” If recognition is still in progress, write “Anerkennung beantragt (Oktober 2026)”. Employers value seeing that you have started the process.
Put it into practice
Open the editor, pick a template and watch every change on the A4 page. The built-in check tests exactly the points from this guide.
Start for freeFrequently asked questions
Do I need recognition to apply for a job?
Only in regulated professions. For other jobs it is optional but helpful and often required for a visa.
What does anabin H+ mean?
The university is recognised in its home country and its degrees are generally comparable to German ones.
Can I apply while recognition is still running?
Yes. Mention in your CV that recognition has been applied for.