Get your university degree recognized step-by-step with the ANABIN database

With the help of the ANABIN database, foreign university degrees can be evaluated and recognized quickly and easily. With a recognized university degree, you are considered a skilled worker and are therefore entitled to the Opportunity Card without a points system.

The ANABIN database is provided by the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany. With the ANABIN database, foreign students, skilled workers and educational institutions as well as potential employers who want to hire foreign workers in Germany can check the equivalence of higher education and professional qualifications.

Step-by-step guide to university degree recognition

1. Click on the “Institutions” (Institutionen) field on the website anabin.kmk.org
2. Then go to the “Search” (Suchen) field and enter the name of your home country and university degree
3. You can find the step-by-step guide as a PDF here
4. Check possible results:

• H+ and equivalence “entspricht” or “gleichwertig” (university and degree are recognized)
• H+ but equivalence “bedingt vergleichbar” (university is recognized, degree is not recognized)
• H- (university is not recognized)
• H+/- (university is partially recognized / note the specific conditions)

When is a university degree recognized in Germany?

The ANABIN database enables a quick and easy recognition check as soon as you enter your home country and your degree in the search field. The result will appear after a few seconds. With an H+ classification and equivalence “entspricht” or “gleichwertig”, both your degree and your university are recognized in Germany. This means that the university degree you obtained abroad is equivalent to a German degree.

What should I do if my degree is not listed in the ANABIN database?

The ANABIN database does not claim to be complete. It is therefore possible that your degree has not yet been entered into the database. IMPORTANT: If your university degree is not listed in the ANABIN database, this does not necessarily mean that your degree is not comparable with a German degree. Contact the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) and apply for a certificate evaluation procedure.This procedure can also be done online via the (ZAB).

This individual examination of your degree certificate takes about two months. As soon as the process is complete, you will receive a letter of recognition. This document is then considered official proof of the comparability of your foreign university degree with a German degree and can be used for the visa procedure.

What should I do if my degree is not recognized?

If your university degree is listed in the ANABIN database but is declared as H – or H+/-, this means that your degree is either not recognized at all or only partially recognized. Nevertheless, you have the option of having your university degree recognized retrospectively. For example, you can complete specific adaptation courses in which you acquire additional qualifications.

Many universities and further education institutions offer these courses. In some cases, you can also take subsequent examinations. The “Integration through Qualification” network as well as the “Employment Agency” can give you detailed advice on this. You should also contact the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) for an individual assessment of your situation.

What happens after my university degree is recognized?

If you come from a non-EU country and would like to work in Germany, you can apply for the Blue Card or the Opportunity Card. With the Blue Card, you must not only have a university degree, but also a minimum gross salary limit of 58,400 euros (2023). In shortage occupations, such as doctors, engineers, scientists, mathematicians and IT specialists, the minimum salary limit is 45,552 euros (2023). (Source: Federal Foreign Office).

Anyone wishing to apply for the Opportunity Card must prove their professional experience as well as sufficient language skills and financial means. There are two ways to do this:

1. Whoever achieves at least six points in the points system
2. Anyone who can provide proof of a university degree or recognized vocational training

With a recognized university degree, you are considered a skilled worker and are therefore entitled to the Opportunity Card without a points system. The Opportunity Card gives you a one-year residence permit for Germany and allows you to look for a suitable job locally. To apply for the Opportunity Card, contact the responsible German diplomatic mission in your country of origin (German embassy or German consulate).

Conditions for the opportunity card with a recognized university degree

If your university degree is recognized in the ANABIN database, you can apply for the Opportunity Card immediately. It is important that you provide the authorities with proof of your financial means. During your stay in Germany, you must cover your own living costs. You can do this, for example, by working a part-time job for up to 20 hours a week or by opening a so-called blocked account. Click here to set up your blocked account quickly and easily.

You pay a minimum amount into the blocked account. From January 1, 2023, the assumed annual standard requirement that must be paid into the blocked account when applying for a visa is € 12,324 (source: Federal Foreign Office). You may only withdraw a certain amount each month. You must also have health insurance during your stay in Germany so that your medical care is guaranteed.

Conclusion

With the help of the ANABIN database, you can quickly check for yourself whether your university degree and your university are recognized in Germany. If this is not the case, or if you have any other questions regarding the recognition of your professional qualification, please contact the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB). They can assess and check your situation individually. With a recognized university degree, you will receive the Opportunity Card without having to take the points system into account.

According to the German Residence Act (§ 5 AufenthG), you must be able to support yourself financially during your stay in Germany. You must be able to cover the costs of food, accommodation and health insurance without state assistance. You can do this either by having a blocked account, by having a sponsor who vouches for you or most of the time by working part-time for up to 20 hours a week. The Opportunity Card is issued for a maximum of one year, but can be extended if necessary. During this time, applicants may look for a suitable job in Germany. If you can provide proof of a signed employment contract within this period, your chances of permanent residence in Germany increase. You can then submit an application for a long-term residence permit to the relevant immigration authority.