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The recognition of foreign qualifications in Germany often involves a lengthy process. Since 2024, under the Recognition Partnership .specialists from third countries have, for the first time, been able to initiate the recognition of their foreign qualifications only after entering Germany and to work while the recognition process is underway (Section 16d(3) of the Residence Act [Aufenthaltsgesetz, AufenthaltG] in conjunction with Section 8(2) of the Employment Regulation [Beschäftigungsverordnung, BeschV]).
Qualification
To obtain a residence permit based on a recognition partnership, applicants must provide proof of either a foreign university degree or a vocational degree requiring a minimum of two years of training. The university or vocational degree must be officially recognized by the government of the country in which it was received. The Central Office for Foreign Education (Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen, ZAB) checks whether the qualification obtained is recognized in the country in which it was obtained. The ZAB issues a Statement of Comparability for university degrees. If the foreign institution of higher education is listed in anabin with the status “H+” and the degree is classified as “equivalent” or “conditionally comparable”, the foreign degree is considered to be state-recognized. In this case, the ZAB's certificate evaluation is not necessary. For training courses, the ZAB issues a Statement on a Foreign Vocational Qualification. Alternatively, the partial recognition certificate issued by the competent recognition authority can also serve as proof.
Job offer
There must be a specific job offer from an employer in Germany. As a general rule, the employment must be a skilled position. This means that a college degree or qualified vocational training is typically required to perform the job. Ancillary or entry-level positions do not qualify. There is an exception for employment in regulated professions where a license to practice is required (for example, in the case of a doctor or a qualified nurse). In the case of regulated professions, therefore, an individual may perform an auxiliary role until a license to practice is obtained. However, this must lead to skilled employment in the target occupation.
For nursing professions, the employer must be a licensed nursing facility. For employers that are not care facilities, employment in the regulated sector is also possible under certain conditions. For this to apply, the employer must either be bound by a collective bargaining agreement or be a church-affiliated employer that establishes working conditions based on church law.
The employer itself must be professionally qualified to serve as a recognition partner so that the recognition process has a reasonable chance of success in the target occupation. Criteria for professional competence may include, for example, the company’s authorization to provide training, its registration as a training company or a company run by a master (‘Meister’) craftsperson, successful completion of additional training, or the presence of employees with the necessary professional qualifications to conduct training or qualification programs.
The terms of employment (salary, working hours, vacation entitlement) must be comparable to those of domestic employees. These are reviewed by the Federal Employment Agency of Germany as part of the approval process.
Secondary employment
With a residence permit for a recognition partnership, the holder may engage in part-time work for up to 20 hours per week in addition to the employment for which the recognition partnership was established.
Recognition process
The planned recognition process should apply to a profession within the same occupational group as the one in which the individual is currently employed.
At the time of the initial application for a residence permit based on a recognition partnership, a (partial) notice of recognition from the competent recognition authority does not yet need to be presented. However, a recognition partnership is also possible if a corresponding (partial) notice of recognition has already been issued.
Since a (partial) recognition decision does not need to be presented at the time of the initial application, the competent recognition authority has not yet designated a reference occupation. Therefore, as part of the approval process, the Federal Employment Agency of Germany reviews whether the employment has a sufficient connection to an occupation for which a professional recognition process can be conducted based on the qualification obtained.
Accordingly, the recognition partnership agreement must specify the target profession for which professional recognition is being sought. A reference occupation does not yet have to be definitively established. It is possible to amend the agreement at a later date if the (partial) recognition decision reveals that the reference occupation differs from the target occupation specified in the initial application process, or if another target occupation should be considered.
In a recognition partnership, however, it must be sufficiently likely that the foreign professional qualification or higher education degree can be recognized in Germany as fully equivalent to a target occupation in Germany, taking into account any necessary additional training requirements. Therefore, there must be a professional connection between the completed training, the current occupation, and the desired career. A professional connection exists when the qualification obtained enables the individual to perform the job.
The application for recognition must be submitted to the appropriate recognition authority immediately upon entry into Germany. You can find the appropriate authority using the Recognition Finder.
Agreement on a recognition partnership
A written agreement must be entered into to establish a recognition partnership. This agreement may also be part of the employment contract.
The foreign national agrees with the employer to submit an application for professional recognition to the appropriate recognition authority no later than immediately after entering the country. In return, the employer agrees to facilitate the employee’s participation in training programs as part of the employment. This includes, for example, time off to participate in training programs, language courses, and on-the-job training at the workplace. These obligations are governed by private law.
Language skills
To qualify for a recognition partnership, applicants must demonstrate German language proficiency at least A2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). If a higher level of German proficiency is required for the position, proof of proficiency at that higher level must be provided. However, German language proficiency does not yet need to be at the level required for the intended target occupation, but rather at the level required for the job held during the recognition partnership. A higher level of German proficiency may also be required to participate in certain training programs in Germany.
Possibilities
The residence permit for a recognized partnership is initially issued for up to 12 months. This may be extended by one year at a time, up to a maximum stay of 36 months.
A (partial) recognition decision should already be available after 12 months. The (partial) recognition decision issued by the competent recognition authority determines whether, and in which reference occupation, the qualification obtained abroad can be recognized.
For regulated professions, the recognition partnership covers the period until the professional license is granted. If the relevant recognition authority determines that recognition is not possible and recognition in another profession is also out of the question, the recognition partnership cannot continue.
In cases of partial recognition, an adjustment or compensatory measure is necessary to acquire the skills and knowledge still required for a full recognition. The employer must plan this based on the (partial) recognition decision. A training plan organized by subject and timeline may be requested if, according to the (partial) recognition decision, theoretical training is required in addition to practical training.
Information on training programs for individuals with foreign qualifications is available on the “Recognition in Germany” information portal and through the “IQ – Integration through Qualification” network (website only available in German).
If a continuing education plan is not required, the employer must specify the timeframe within which the recognition process is expected to be completed. If it is foreseeable that the necessary measures can be completed before the end of the maximum approval period of 36 months, the recognition partnership may also be established for a shorter period.
If full recognition is granted, no follow-up application for a recognition partnership is required in the non-regulated sector. It is possible to switch directly to a residence permit for specialists. To do so, a job offer for a skilled position must be submitted, either by the employer with whom the recognition partnership was established or by another employer. If no job offer is available, applicants have the option to remain in Germany for up to 18 months with a residence permit for job seeking in order to find a suitable job. While looking for a job, they may engage in any type of employment.