Recognition of Foreign School and Professional Certificates — Foreign Graduation Certificates, Proof of Education, and Professional Qualifications
Diplomas obtained abroad for completing high school or a similar educational equivalent can be evaluated and compared to a German educational school certificate (“Berufsreife”, “mittlerer Schulabschluss” and “Abitur”) by our authority.
If your certificate or diploma fulfills the requirements, you will receive a recognition certificate necessary for professional purposes (for example to begin vocational training), or to continue your school education.
Additionally, we evaluate qualifications obtained abroad for professions such as educators, geriatric nurses, and other professional qualifications that can be received through a purely school-based education.
Please visit this website to determine the jurisdiction for the recognition of other professional certifications obtained abroad, as the responsibility vary based on the field that the certification was obtained in: https://www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de/html/de/
Please make sure to check the local jurisdiction and the jurisdiction for the evaluation of foreign higher education degrees (for example Bachelor’s degrees) or if you intend to study at a German University.
If you want to visit us in person to make your request, please make an appointment first. You will find our telephone hours under “Contact”.
- You reside in Rheinland-Pfalz
- You don’t live in Rheinland-Pfalz, but you want to start a vocational training at an institution in Rheinland-Pfalz
- You want to practice your profession in Rheinland-Pfalz
- You are from Luxembourg, but you want to continue your education in Rheinland-Pfalz
- CV/Curriculum Vitae with a complete listing of the years you’ve completed at school starting with primary school and including any years at university, if applicable
- Officially certified copies* of the original school certificates and possible higher education diplomas in foreign language
- Officially certified copies* of the translation of the school certificates. The translation must be completed by a legally recognized translator www.justiz-dolmetscher.de
- The translation is not necessary if the original documents were issued in English
- For the recognition of schools certificates from Afghanistan, Syria and Mongolia, we need to check the original documents. We recommend you send the original documents through “Einschreiben,” a service offered by the Deutsche Post
- Officially certified copies* of your passport with an EU residence permit or your identity card (for EU citizens)
- Certification of marriage or a similar document if your name has changed
- For ethnic German immigrants an officially certified copy* of the certificate by the Federal Law on Refugees and Exiles (German: Bundesvertriebenengesetz, BVFG)
- If you don’t live in Rheinland-Pfalz, copies of a correspondence with a potential employer or vocational school in Rheinland-Pfalz.
*An official certification can be completed at the local municipal office (“Stadtverwaltung,” “Kreisverwaltung,” or “Gemeindeverwaltung”) or at a notary.
These persons or institutions are not allowed to complete official certifications: translators, lawyers, auditors, private associations, and the church.
You will find further information in the FAQ section.
Please refrain from sending us your request until you have provided the necessary documents.
We also kindly ask you to refrain from enquiries pertaining to the status of your application.
These documents must be submitted:
- CV/Curriculum Vitae with a complete listing of the years you’ve completed at school starting with primary school and including any years at university, if applicable
- Officially certified copies* of the original school certificates and possible higher education diplomas in foreign language
- Officially certified copies* of the translation of the school certificates. The translation must be completed by a legally recognized translator www.justiz-dolmetscher.de
- The translation is not necessary if the original documents were issued in English
- Officially certified copies* of job references of certificates of professional experience if available
- For the recognition of a qualification as an educator, social care worker, remedial teacher or geriatric nurse, please submit certified copies of German language tests if available
- If you don’t live in Rheinland-Pfalz: copies of a correspondence with a potential employer in Rheinland-Pfalz
- Officially certified copies* of your passport with an EU residence permit or identity card (for EU citizens)
- Certification of marriage or a similar document if your name has changed
- For ethnic German immigrants an officially certified copy* of the certificate by the Federal Law on Refugees and Exiles (German: Bundesvertriebenengesetz, BVFG)
*An official certification can be completed at the local municipal office (“Stadtverwaltung,” “Kreisverwaltung,” or “Gemeindeverwaltung”) or at a notary.
Please let the copies of certificates in the original language and the copies of each translation certified separately.
These persons or institutions are not allowed to complete official certifications: translators, lawyers, auditors, private associations, and the church.
You will find further information in the FAQ section.
Please refrain from sending us your request until you have provided the necessary documents.
We also kindly ask you to refrain from enquiries pertaining to the status of your application.
The amount of the fee currently ranges between 35 to 80 Euros depending on the kind of recognition certificate.
- To get a statement of equivalence for your foreign higher education qualifications please contact the “Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen” (ZAB) in Bonn https://www.kmk.org/themen/anerkennung-auslaendischer-abschluesse.html
- If you need the recognition of your foreign school certificates to start or continue higher education at a German university please contact the university of your choice directly
FAQ - Frequent Questions to the Application Process
- CV/Curriculum Vitae with a complete listing of the years you’ve completed at school starting with primary school and including any years at university, if applicable
- Officially certified copies* of the original school certificates and possible higher education diplomas in foreign language
- For the recognition of schools certificates from Afghanistan, Syria and Mongolia, we need to check the original documents. We recommend you send the original documents through “Einschreiben,” a service offered by the Deutsche Post
- Officially certified copies* of the translation of the school certificates. The translation must be completed by a legally recognized translator http://www.justiz-dolmetscher.de
Translation is not necessary if the original document was issued in English. - Official copies* of personal papers:
- Officially certified copies of your passport with an EU residence permit or your identity card (for EU
citizens)
- Certification of marriage or a similar document if your name has changed
- For ethnic German immigrants an officially certified copy of the certificate by the Federal Law on
Refugees and Exiles (German: Bundesvertriebenengesetz, BVFG)
Please let the copies of certificates in the original language and the copies of each translation certified separately.
These persons or institutions are not allowed to complete official certifications: translators, lawyers, auditors, private associations, and the church.
Do I need to send original documents?
We only require original documents for the recognition of schools certificates from Afghanistan, Syria and Mongolia. We recommend you send the original documents through “Einschreiben,” a service offered by the Deutsche Post.
What credentials should I send?
Your complete diploma including the back side, supplemental certificates, transcripts, subject and grade overviews. If you have completed any years at a university, please send any diplomas, certificates, and transcripts including subject and grade overviews, as these documents may aid us in giving your current high school (or equivalent) degree a higher evaluation in some cases (ex: If you have studied at an officially accredited university in the U.S.).
If I don’t currently possess any copies of certificates or diplomas because they have been destroyed in a war or similar circumstances, can I still receive a recognition if I have an affidavit?We are only able to provide a recognition of schooling through evaluating official copies of your original certificates or diplomas. If you have lost your documents, we recommend that you take the “Nichtschülerprüfung” test, an exam that can lead to a state-recognized education qualification.
What if I need extra time to obtain additional documents from my home country?
We know that it can be difficult to obtain documents in some countries, and understand if the process takes a longer time. Please let us know that you are inquiring about the documents, and that your application may take longer to complete.
Can my supervisor file the application for me?
If a supervisor (ex: from a job agency, Caritas, etc.) files an application for you, you must provide a power of attorney with permission for them to act on your behalf. You must also determine beforehand who will be in charge of fulfilling the costs of the application.
What does it mean to be an accredited school?
An accredited college or university that is officially accredited and recognized in its country.
An officially certified copy is a copy of the original document with an official stamp. This authentication is important for us, so that we can make sure that the copy corresponds to the original document.
What must be included in the officially certified copy?
- A certificate of approval stating that the copy corresponds to the original documents
- An original stamp from the official validating the copy
- An original signature of official validating the copy
It is sufficient if only one page of the authentication with signature is visible, as long as all pages are stapled together in such a way that a portion of the stamp is visible on all pages.
You cannot send us a copy of the authenticated copy!
Where can I get my documents authenticated?
An official certification can only be completed at the local municipal office (“Stadtverwaltung,” “Kreisverwaltung,” or “Gemeindeverwaltung”) for a fee, or at a notary.
These persons or institutions are not allowed to complete official certifications: translators, lawyers, auditors, private associations, and the church.
What if my authentication is old?
There is no expiration on authentifications, so it would still be valid.
The translation must be done from an officially recognized translator http://www.justiz-dolmetscher.de.
Alternatively, you can inquire at a nearby court.
The fee is dependent on the type or certificate or diploma and is usually between 35 and 80 euros.
What happens if I cannot pay the fee?
Occasionally, job centers or agencies will take over the costs. Please inquire about this before you send in your application.