You can have a non-craft-related vocational qualification from abroad officially recognized by the Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK).
This procedure is called "determination of equivalence".
Your educational qualification must be officially recognized in the country where you completed your training.
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.
For qualifications from Austria and France, there is the possibility of a simplified determination of equivalence, as special agreements exist with these countries.
Further information can be found in the "Links" section.
More Information
Publisher
Hamburg
Last update or date of publication
Contact
The government service telephone number 115 – your point of contact for questions related to the federal, state and local.
Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 18:00 (and beyond these times in some regions).
Call 115 nowGovernment service telephone number calls are charged at local rates.
Detailed information about the required documents can be found in the "Links" section.
Preconditions
Detailed information about the requirements can be found in the "Links" section.
Hints
Detailed information can be found in the "Links" section.
Detailed information about the costs can be found in the "Links" section.
Basis for legal action
For the standard procedure:
§ 50a Vocational Training Act (BBiG)
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bbig_2005/__50a.html
Sections 2-7, Section 8 Paragraph 1 No. 1 of the Professional Qualifications Assessment Act (BQFG)
http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bqfg/__2.html
For the accelerated procedure for skilled workers:
§ 81a Residence Act (AufenthG)
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__81a.html
§ 50a Vocational Training Act
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bbig_2005/__50a.html
Sections 2-7, Section 8 Paragraph 1 No. 1, Section 14a of the Professional Qualifications Assessment Act (BQFG)
http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bqfg/__2.html
Legal Remedies
Not applicable
Related Links
Procedure
Detailed information about the procedure can be found in the "Links" section.
Deadlines
Detailed information about the deadlines can be found in the "Links" section.
Processing time
Detailed information can be found in the "Links" section.