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

  • Schule, Ausbildung und Studium
  • Arbeit

Do you have a training qualification from abroad? Then you can apply for official recognition of your training qualification.

  • Basic information

    You can have a training qualification from abroad officially recognized in Germany by the Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK). The procedure for recognition is called: equivalence assessment (BQFG).

    During the equivalence assessment, your training qualification is compared with a specific German training qualification. Important criteria for the comparison are the content and duration of the training. You will receive a notification of the result of the procedure. The notification will state any existing and any missing professional qualifications.

    The certificate 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 obtaining a visa.
    There are around 350 state-recognized training and further education qualifications in the area of the Chambers of Industry and Commerce in Germany. You can find a list of these qualifications on the IHK FOSA website, for example.

    To apply for an equivalence assessment, you must identify a German training qualification. This German training qualification must match your training qualification. This is why it is important to obtain detailed advice before submitting an application.
    The Bremen Chamber of Commerce - IHK for Bremen and Bremerhaven can provide you with initial advice on a possible application to the IHK FOSA. You can also obtain information on the recognition of foreign qualifications from other advice centers, for example the Recognition Advisory Service of the State of Bremen or the Central Service Center for Professional Recognition (ZSBA) of the Federal Employment Agency.

    You can submit your application to the IHK Foreign Skills Approval (IHK FOSA) in Nuremberg. The IHK FOSA is centrally responsible for equivalence assessments from the area of the Bremen Chamber of Commerce - IHK for Bremen and Bremerhaven.

    The application is independent of nationality and residence status; applications can also be submitted from abroad.

    Accelerated skilled worker procedure
    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 skilled worker's power of attorney at the responsible immigration authority at your company headquarters in Germany. Among other things, this accelerated skilled worker procedure shortens the duration of the equivalence assessment procedure at the IHK. There are additional fees depending on the specific effort required for the accelerated skilled worker procedure. Further information on this can be found on the portals "Make It In Germany" and "Recognition in Germany".

    Requirements

    • You have a state-recognized training qualification from abroad and can prove your professional qualification with a certificate.
    • The training qualification can be assigned to a German IHK training qualification.
    • You want to work in Germany.

  • Procedure

    The recognition procedure begins with the submission of an application to the IHK FOSA. As soon as the necessary documents and information have been submitted in full, the equivalence assessment is carried out:

    • The IHK FOSA compares your foreign training qualification with the corresponding German IHK profession
    • Once the recognition procedure has been completed, you will receive an official notification of the result of the equivalence assessment. The procedure usually ends with full or partial equivalence.
    • Full equivalence is given if there are no differences.
    • If you receive a notification of partial equivalence, there are still differences that need to be made up. Full equivalence can be achieved after completing an adaptation qualification.
    • If the foreign training qualification is not comparable with the German reference occupation, the application will be rejected.

    More information

    Legal remedies

    • objection
    • Administrative court action

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

  • Necessary Documents
    • For the standard procedure:
      • Proof of identity (e.g. identity card or passport, color copy of proof of name change if applicable)
      • Curriculum vitae (tabular list of completed training and further education and employment)
      • Degree certificate including list of subjects in color copy in original language and in German translation by publicly appointed or sworn interpreters.
      • Proof of relevant professional experience (e.g. job references, employment records, social security certificates) in color copy in original language and in German translation by publicly appointed or sworn interpreters
      • Other certificates of qualification (e.g. courses, retraining, further training) in color copy in original language and in German translation by publicly appointed or sworn interpreters
      • You do not yet live or work in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland? Then you must provide proof of your intention to work in Germany. Proof can be, for example:
        • employment contract
        • Applications for jobs,
        • invitations to job interviews,
        • proof of a location consultation from the Central Service Center for Professional Recognition (ZSBA).
      • A copy of the training content (in particular the framework curriculum). A translation of curricula in the nine languages of the IHK FOSA website is not required.

      Documents in English do not need to be translated.

    • For the accelerated recognition procedure:
      • Documents mentioned above
      • Power of attorney according to § 81a Residence Act

      In the accelerated recognition procedure, all communication takes place via the responsible foreigners authority at the employer's place of business.

      The IHK FOSA may request further documents in the course of the recognition procedure. This is usually due to country-specific features of your training.

  • Competent Department

  • Online Services

    • Online application for recognition in Germany
      You can access the digital application in German and English via the Recognition Finder on the Recognition in Germany portal. You will find the "Online application" button in the last step "Your procedure"

  • Forms

  • Fees / Costs

    100,00 EUR bis 600,00 EUR for the regular procedure (depending on the actual effort involved).

    As the applicant, you must bear these costs yourself. You may also incur additional personal costs (e.g. for translations or notarizations). Under certain conditions, you can receive financial support for these costs.
    411,00 EUR additional costs for the accelerated procedure.

    These are borne by the employer.

  • Deadlines & processing time

    What deadlines must be paid attention to?

    Standard procedure:
    - Preliminary review of whether all required documents and the application requirements have been met within one month of receipt of the application
    - Statutory decision deadline: 3 months as soon as the application is complete
    - Appeal period/complaint: 1 month from the date of the decision

    Accelerated recognition procedure for employers:
    - Preliminary check as to whether all necessary documents and the application requirements have been met within 2 weeks of receipt of the application
    - Statutory decision deadline: 2 months as soon as the application is complete
    - Appeal period/complaint: 1 month from the date of the decision

    How long does it take to process

    1 month in the standard procedure.

    Once the application has been received, we will check whether the documents submitted are complete and whether the application requirements have been met. If required information is missing, you will be informed of this in writing. You will also receive a fee notification with payment information.
    3 months statutory decision deadline for carrying out the equivalence assessment in the standard procedure.
    2 weeks in the accelerated recognition procedure for employers.

    If required information is missing, employers will be informed in writing as authorized representatives in the accelerated recognition procedure. You will also receive a notification of fees with payment information.
    2 months statutory decision deadline for carrying out the equivalence assessment in the accelerated recognition procedure for employers.

    All communication takes place via the responsible immigration authority at the employer's place of business.

  • Legal Bases

  • More Information

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This page has been automatically translated by DeepL. We cannot guarantee that the translation is correct.

The official information in German is complete and correct. 09.03.2026

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