Fair Migration and Recognition

Individuals from non-EU countries are required to undergo a qualification recognition process to be eligible for employment in Germany. Qualification recognition is the process of assessing and evaluating an individual’s educational background, professional qualifications, and work experience after completing a training program in their home country to determine the level of equivalence with the training and education standards in Germany. 

Since April 2012, the Recognition Act has officially come into effect. Workers trained abroad have the right to submit applications for the recognition of their degrees and professional qualifications. The requirements are that you have been trained outside of Germany and have completed the training process. The German Recognition Act has brought about clarity, transparency, and opened better career prospects for Vietnamese laborers in Germany. 

The ProRecognition project, funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), was active at AHK Vietnam from 2015 to 2023 and offered free consultations to accompany candidates through the process of recognizing Vietnamese qualifications in Germany. During the course of the project, the ProRecognition team was a key reference point for those wishing to enter the German labor market. Numerous people have benefited from free consultations on the recognition of academic and non-academic degrees, obtaining useful information on the procedures, costs and documentation required to live and work in Germany.  

We provide the necessary information for you to find out whether your profession is regulated in Germany and which competent authority to contact. Based on your profession, we will guide you through each specific step to achieve the recognition of your qualification. If you would like to be accompanied in the recognition procedure, please do not hesitate to contact us by filling out the form to find out about our chargeable consultation service  

Before starting the recognition procedure for your Vietnamese qualification in Germany, you need to check whether you are eligible for recognition procedure. First, it is essential to find out if your profession is regulated, and then you need to find a competent authority. Below are the guidance sections providing you with all the necessary information for the recognition procedure.

In Germany, many other professions are regulated. Using the Recognition Portal for Skilled Workers on the German government's information portal (Anerkennung in Deutschland), you can check whether your profession is regulated. 

Professions in the health and medical field (e.g., physicians, physical therapists, midwives, nurses, etc.) and in the socio-pedagogical field (e.g., teachers, educators, etc.) are subject to regulation. This means that, to work in these fields, you need to apply for qualification recognition. The qualification recognition procedures for each industry group are subject to change depending on the specific regulations of each federal state. If you wish to use your professional title, such as Engineer, recognition of your Vietnamese qualification is also required.

In Germany, many other professions are regulated. Using the Recognition Portal for Skilled Workers on the German government's information portal (Anerkennung in Deutschland), you can check whether your profession is regulated. 

Professions in the health and medical field (e.g., physicians, physical therapists, midwives, nurses, etc.) and in the socio-pedagogical field (e.g., teachers, educators, etc.) are subject to regulation. This means that, to work in these fields, you need to apply for qualification recognition. The qualification recognition procedures for each industry group are subject to change depending on the specific regulations of each federal state. If you wish to use your professional title, such as Engineer, recognition of your Vietnamese qualification is also required. 

Even in non-regulated professions, you are still required to submit recognition. Besides, recognition is a significant advantage in improving employment opportunities in the country.  Recognition offers several benefits, including:  

• Allowing you to practice a regulated profession in Germany.  
• Promoting transparency of your professional/academic qualifications to prospective employers, even in non-regulated professions. 
• Increase opportunities to find jobs that align with your educational background.  
• Guarantee the right to use your professional title (for example: Engineer)  
• Allow participation in advanced training courses to enhance skills and acquire new expertise. 

You can search for the reference profession in Germany via the Berufenet site. 

Alternatively, using the Anerkennung in Deutschland website, you can receive information regarding German professions. On this website, you can find out several other information such as the competent authority and requirements for your recognition procedure. 

You can carry out the recognition of your qualification in Germany when:   

• You have completed a vocational/ training program at universities, colleges, or vocational schools in Vietnam with a minimum training duration of 2 years. 
• You have a qualification recognized by the Vietnamese state.  
• The relevant profession to your qualification also exists in Germany. 

To start the recognition procedure, the competent authority responsible for evaluating your qualification requires documents that provide detailed information about the content and duration of your professional or academic training obtained in Vietnam. Therefore, it is critical to understand which competent body to initiate the application to determine which documents are required to be submitted.

In this section, we will explain each step on how to participate in the recognition procedure. Please fill out the application form if you need direct assistance from our specialists during the recognition procedure. 

Identification of the relevant profession in Germany  

Before starting the application for recognition, it is essential to identify the reference profession in Germany. In case you do not know the specific profession, we suggest you refer to this Berufenet website, where you can identify the reference profession in Germany. Alternatively, you can refer to the Anerkennung in Deutschland website for necessary information.  

Identifying the competent body in Germany  

After identifying the reference profession in Germany, you need to determine the authority responsible for assessing your documents and understand the recognition procedure. Particularly for regulated professions, additional information about the city and state where you intend to work will be required because the application for qualification recognition in such cases will be processed at the specific competent authority within the chosen federal state. 

Through the Anerkennung in Deutschland website, you can find not only the contact details of the competent authority, but also the necessary documentation and detailed information about the recognition procedure.   

The documentation needed for the recognition procedure  

Have you identified the suitable reference profession and the competent authority in Germany? Then, you are well on your way, and you can consult the website of the competent authority to find out the documentation needed to be prepared for the recognition procedure. We strongly advise you to send the complete documentation to the competent authority and adhere to the regulations regarding the submission method, for example, submitting documents online, by mail, or having authenticated and/or sworn translations of documents, etc. 

The recognition procedure at the competent authority in Germany  

After you have successfully submitted your documents, the competent authority will proceed to assess the equivalence between your professionally trained degree in your country of residence and the training program of the referenced profession in Germany. Additionally, the competent authority will also scrutinize the content and duration of the training program as well as the practical work experience of the applicant. Upon completion of the recognition procedure, the competent authority will send you the recognition results. 

The recognition procedure will require a certain fee, and all information about the fees will be provided in detail by the responsible competent authority. The processing time for the procedure may vary depending on the profession you are applying for recognition. Typically, if the documentation is complete and no additional information is required, the application processing may take around four months.