If you would like to work in Germany but your professional qualifications have not yet been fully recognized, you may, under certain conditions, obtain a residence permit to participate in a qualification program.

To qualify, a so-called recognition procedure must have been completed, in which it was determined that training measures are necessary to compensate for significant differences between the foreign qualification and German training in order to

• recognition of your professional qualification (determination of equivalence to a domestic professional qualification) or
• the granting of a license to practice a profession (access to the profession).

Qualification measures include theoretical and practical adaptation and compensation measures, such as:

• On-the-job training
• theoretical courses
• Combinations of both
• Exam preparation courses
• Language courses
• Taking an exam

The residence permit for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications is temporary. It is granted for up to 24 months and can be extended for a maximum of 3 years.

You must have language skills appropriate for the qualification program, typically at the A2 level. In some cases, lower language proficiency may be sufficient, for example, if further language acquisition is part of the qualification program.

If your qualification program takes place primarily at a company, the Federal Employment Agency must generally approve it.

With your residence permit to practice foreign professional qualifications, you may engage in employment unrelated to the training program for up to 20 hours per week.