Recognition partnership

The following requirements must be met in order to obtain the visa:

• Proof of a state-recognized foreign university degree or training qualification: This is to be provided via a certificate evaluation or a Digital information on professional qualifications by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB).

• Concrete job offer: In the case of recognition of a non-regulated profession, this must be qualified employment and related to the training. In the case of regulated professions, you can work in an auxiliary occupation until you receive your license to practice. For example, a nursing specialist can be employed as a nursing assistant until they are fully recognized.

• Recognition partnership agreement: A written agreement is required stating that the employer will enable the recognition procedure to be carried out as part of the employment relationship. It can also be part of the employment contract.

• Language skills of at least level A2: Depending on the qualification measure required, a higher language level may also be necessary.

• Suitability of the employer: As part of the visa procedure, it is checked whether the employer is suitable for a recognition partnership. They must prove that they have experience with vocational training or post-qualification .

The visa is initially issued for 12 months and can be extended for up to 3 years.

If full equivalence is established in the recognition procedure, the residence title can be changed to that of a skilled worker. You may also be entitled to an EU Blue Card. The condition is qualified employment.

If partial equivalence is determined, the residence permit for the recognition partnership can be extended by up to 2 years if qualification measures to achieve full equivalence are completed during this time. Within the recognition partnership, the employer is obliged to make it possible to compensate for the deficits identified. This means, for example, that the employee is released from work in order to take part in the training measure.

Companies interested in becoming a training company for skilled workers with foreign qualifications may be interested in the "UBAconnect" project. This is a free database for matching with international skilled workers who have already been granted partial equivalence of their qualifications. The database is available here available here.