Applying for a residence permit to recognise professional qualifications whilst in employment

Are you planning to have your professional qualification or university degree obtained abroad recognised in Germany? If so, you can undertake a qualification programme in Germany to acquire any missing theoretical and practical knowledge. It is also possible to undertake this qualification whilst working in Germany.

You may be granted a residence permit for the duration of your training whilst in employment, provided you undertake to submit an application for a declaration of equivalence or for a licence to practise your profession. You must play an active role in the recognition process in Germany and provide evidence of a specific job offer or an employment contract.

The Federal Employment Agency must approve your employment. As part of this approval process, it checks, amongst other things, whether the terms and conditions of your employment are no less favourable than those of comparable domestic employees. It checks,

• whether a qualified role is required in a non-regulated profession, or
• whether a licence to practise is required in a regulated profession and whether unqualified work is to be carried out in that context.

The Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) must confirm that you hold one of the following foreign professional qualifications:

• at least two years’ training or
• A university degree recognised in the relevant country

The residence permit issued for the recognition of professional qualifications whilst in employment is valid for a limited period. It is granted for the duration of the approval granted by the Federal Employment Agency (BA), but for no longer than one year.