If you would like to work in Germany but your professional qualification has not yet been fully recognized, you can, under certain conditions, obtain a residence permit to carry out a qualification measure.

To do this, a so-called recognition procedure must have been carried out in which it was determined that qualification measures to compensate for significant differences in the foreign qualification compared to German training are necessary for the

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

Qualification measures include adaptation and compensation measures in theoretical and practical form, for example

• Internships in the company
• theoretical courses
• Mixed forms of both
• Preparatory courses for examinations
• language courses
• Taking an examination

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

You must have the language skills corresponding to the qualification measure, usually A2. In individual cases, lower language skills may also be sufficient if, for example, further language acquisition is part of the qualification measure.

If your qualification measure mainly takes place in a company, the Federal Employment Agency must usually give its consent.

With your residence permit for the exercise of foreign professional qualifications, you may work up to 20 hours per week independently of the qualification measure.