Those who did not acquire their professional qualifications in Germany often have to first have them recognized, which is a complex process. The German government supports those affected with a recognition grant.
It's a long-standing problem: countless skilled workers in Germany are unable to work in the professions they trained for. Many are stuck in jobs for which they are overqualified. The problem is the sometimes difficult recognition of foreign qualifications in Germany. As a result, skilled workers are frustrated at not being able to work in their trained profession, and the German economy is missing out on urgently needed qualified employees.
Since December 1, 2016, the German Federal Government has been providing funding for the recognition of foreign qualifications with up to 600 euros for total costs starting at 100 euros. The recognition grant is aimed at individuals with limited financial means. The project is initially limited to three years.
Conditions for the recognition grant
To benefit from the subsidy, applicants must have acquired a professional qualification abroad and wish to initiate the recognition process. They must live in Germany and their annual taxable income may not exceed €26,000. For married couples or civil partnerships filing jointly, the limit is €40,000.
The grant can be used to reimburse costs for translations and certifications. Fees and expenses for the recognition process, the costs of obtaining necessary documentation, the costs of qualification analyses (according to Section 14 of the Federal Qualifications Act (BQFG) and Section 50b of the Trade and Commerce Regulations (HwO), and travel expenses within Germany during the recognition process are also supported.
All information about the recognition grant and how to apply is available online here.
