Foreign qualifications – applying for recognition

Recognition of school qualifications:

• Application form for the recognition of school qualifications, completed in full
• A copy of your passport or identity card , or, if you are a German national, your current identity card
• if the name on the school certificate does not match the name on the identity document: proof of a change of name, in the original language and, where applicable, with an official translation
• For nationals of a non-EU Member State: residence permit (with supplementary sheet)
• Foreignschool leaving certificates in the original language, including a list of subjects and marks
• Evidence of study or degree certificate from abroad, including a list of subjects and marks (if available)
• If you are applying for a fee waiver on the grounds of low income, you will also need:
  • Evidence of family income, for example a copy of a payslip or a notice from the Jobcentre regarding unemployment benefit.
  • Proof of the number of family members or household members, for example, if available, a copy of an extended registration certificate, a marriage certificate or the children’s birth certificates

Recognition of vocational qualifications:

• A fully completed application form for vocational recognition
• A copy of your passport or identity card( ) or, if you are a German national, a copy of your current identity card
• If the name on the certificate and the name on the identity document do not match: proof of a change of name, in the original language and, where necessary, with an official translation
• Curriculum vitae in tabular form
• Evidence of professional qualifications, including a list of subjects and grades
• Evidence of employment (e.g. employment record book, employment references)
• If you are applying for a fee waiver on the grounds of low income, you will also need:
  • Evidence of household income, for example a copy of a payslip or a notice from the Jobcentre regarding unemployment benefit.
  • Proof of the number of family members in the household , for example, if available, a copy of an extended registration certificate, marriage certificate or the children’s birth certificates

Important: Please submit your educational qualifications (for school recognition) and their official translations as certified copies. Copies are certified if they bear an official stamp certifying that the copy matches the original. You may submit other documents in their original language, together with an official translation, as a simple copy (not a certified copy).

Please havean official translation made ofall certificates and other documents that are not written in German or English. Please send us a copy of the translation and keep the original translation for yourself. You can find officially sworn translators in Germany at: Home page – Interpreters and Translators Database (Link: https://www.gerichtsdolmetscherverzeichnis.de/Recherche/ ).

Documents in English or French do not usually need to be translated.

Please note: Certified translations may only be carried out by sworn translators.