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Source: BUS Sachsen-Anhalt (Linie6PLus)

Training occupations under the responsibility of the Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK), have foreign professional qualifications recognised

Description

In Germany, you can have a training qualification from abroad officially recognised by the Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK). The procedure for recognition is called: Equivalence Assessment (BQFG).

Please note: Your training qualification must be recognized by the state of your training. Informal or non-formal qualifications cannot be officially recognised in Germany.

When determining equivalence, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) compares your training qualification with a specific German training qualification. The German training qualification must match your training qualification. Important criteria in the comparison are the content and duration of the training.

You will receive a notification of the result of the procedure. The decision mentions existing and possibly still missing professional qualifications.
The decision makes your foreign training qualification transparent for employers and thus increases your chances on the job market. For skilled workers abroad outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland, a recognition procedure is usually a prerequisite for the issuance of a visa.

There are around 350 different training qualifications in the field of the Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK) in Germany. A list of training qualifications can be found, for example, on the website of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce FOSA. In order to apply for an equivalence assessment, you must identify a German educational qualification. This German training qualification must match your training qualification. That's why it's important to get detailed advice before you submit an application.

You can obtain an individual initial consultation on the application, procedure, costs and duration as well as opportunities for financial support from the local Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK). The counselling centres of the IQ network ("Integration through Qualification"), the employment service and other municipal offices also provide information on the recognition of foreign qualifications.

You submit the application to the responsible Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). There are 79 Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Germany. For 76 Chambers of Industry and Commerce in Germany, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce FOSA in Nuremberg is centrally responsible for determining equivalence. Exceptions are the Hanover Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Braunschweig Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the Wuppertal-Solingen-Remscheid Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

You can also apply for a determination of equivalence from abroad.

In the case of degrees from Austria and France, there is the possibility of a simplified determination of equivalence, as there are special agreements with these countries. To do this, you must contact your local Chamber of Industry and Commerce. You can find a way to find the Chamber of Industry and Commerce responsible for you under "Further information".

Hint:
As an employer in Germany, you can apply for an accelerated skilled worker procedure for skilled workers from third countries. You apply for the procedure with the power of attorney of the specialist at the competent immigration authority at your company headquarters in Germany. In this accelerated procedure for skilled workers, among other things, the equivalence determination at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce is accelerated. There are additional fees for the accelerated skilled worker procedure.

  • You have a state-recognised training qualification from abroad. The training qualification must be able to be assigned to a German training qualification in the field of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
  • They want to work in Germany.

For the standard procedure:

  • Proof of identity (identity card, passport, name change)
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Graduation certificate including list of subjects
  • Proof of relevant professional experience (job references, workbooks)
  • other qualifications (courses, retraining, further training)
  • Contents of the training (in particular framework curriculum)
  • Information about any application for a determination of equivalence that may have already been submitted. Then indicate to which office you submitted the application.
  • You don't live or work in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland yet? Then you have to prove that you want to work in the profession in Germany. Proof can be, for example: applications for jobs and invitations to job interviews, a personal declaration about your project, proof of location advice from the Central Service Agency for Professional Recognition (ZSBA).

For the accelerated skilled worker procedure:

  • Documents for the standard procedure
  • in addition, a power of attorney according to § 81a AufenthG

Further documents can be requested from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce in the course of the recognition procedure. This is usually done because of the country-specific characteristics of your training.
The Chamber of Industry and Commerce will inform you in which form you must submit the documents in each case. Most of the time, you will have to provide simple copies.
If your documents are not available in German, you must submit German translations of your documents. The translations must be carried out by translators who are publicly appointed or sworn.

For the standard procedure:

  • Costs: EUR 100 – 600

For the accelerated skilled worker procedure:

  • Costs: EUR 500 – 1,200

In addition, you may incur additional costs (e.g. for translations or certifications). These costs vary from person to person.

  • Sometimes documents are still missing in the procedure. The Chamber of Industry and Commerce will then inform you by when you have to submit the documents.
  • If you wish to take legal action against the decision of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce: You can file a written objection within 4 weeks of receipt of the decision

In the standard procedure:

The Chamber of Industry and Commerce will confirm that your documents have arrived after a maximum of one month. At the same time, the competent authority will inform you whether and, if so, which documents are missing. The letter is also accompanied by the fee notice with the necessary payment information.
If all the necessary documents are available, the procedure should take a maximum of 3 months. In individual cases, the procedure may be extended once.

In the accelerated skilled worker procedure:

The Chamber of Industry and Commerce will confirm that your documents have arrived after a maximum of 2 weeks. The Chamber of Industry and Commerce will inform you whether and, if so, which documents are missing. The letter is also accompanied by the fee notice with the necessary payment information.
If all the necessary documents are available, the procedure should take a maximum of 2 months. In individual cases, the procedure may be extended once. In the accelerated procedure for skilled workers, all communication takes place via the responsible immigration office.   

  • Contradiction
  • administrative court action

You can take legal action against the decision of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce. The decision will then be reviewed. We recommend that you first talk to the Chamber of Industry and Commerce before taking legal action against the decision.

If you are abroad: You can also reach the Central Service Centre for Professional Recognition (ZSBA) via the hotline "Working and Living in Germany".
The ZSBA offers you in-depth advice and support in the recognition procedure and provides location advice.

The Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK) are responsible for determining equivalence. For most Chambers of Industry and Commerce in Germany, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce FOSA ("Foreign Skills Approval") in Nuremberg is responsible for determining equivalence centrally. Exceptions are the Hanover Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Braunschweig Chamber of Industry and Commerce and Wuppertal-Solingen-Remscheid.

The application for equivalence determination together with all necessary documents is received by the responsible Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) and the IHK checks the equivalence of the training qualification:

  • The Chamber of Industry and Commerce compares your foreign training qualification with the German training qualification.
  • If your educational qualification is equivalent, it will be recognized. You will receive the notification of equivalence (notification of recognition).
  • If there are significant differences to the German training qualification, the proven professional experience or other relevant evidence (e.g. further training) will also be checked. Thus, in many cases, full equivalence can be established.
  • If full equivalence cannot be established, the training qualification will not be recognised. You will receive a notification of the differences to the German training qualification. With this decision, you can further qualify yourself in a targeted manner and later submit a new application for equivalence determination.
  • If your educational qualification is not equivalent at all, the application will be rejected.

Federal Ministry of Education and Research

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.

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