Support for individuals with professional qualifications acquired abroad (Recognition grant)
Grant for recognition procedures and certificate evaluations for professionals qualified abroad nationwide. Applications possible until 30.06.2027.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
The funding aims to support individuals with professional or academic qualifications obtained abroad in covering the costs of recognition and certificate evaluation procedures, as well as any necessary qualification measures. The goal is to facilitate access to the German labor market and contribute to meeting the demand for skilled workers.
Eligible expenses
- Translations and certifications
- Fees and expenses of the recognition procedure and ZAB certificate evaluation
- Qualification analyses
- Adaptation courses and adaptation qualifications
- Preparatory courses for aptitude and knowledge examinations
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Non-eligible expenses
- Learning materials
- Living expenses and childcare costs
- Language courses and corresponding examination fees
- Costs for professional licensing/approval (e.g., police clearance certificate, medical certificate)
- Procurement of procedure-required certificates
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Eligible to apply
- Individuals
Funding requirements
- Professional or university qualification obtained abroad and application for recognition procedure or certificate evaluation
- Ordinary residence or main domicile in Germany
- Income below €32,000 gross (individual) or €50,000 gross (married couples) per year
- No opened insolvency proceedings or submitted asset disclosure
Documents required for application
- Application form
- Appendix B (Employment Agency/Job Center)
- Registration certificate
- Proof of professional qualification (certificates)
- Income statements
- Foreign professional qualification certificates with translation/certification
- Language certificate (if available)
- Notice of partial equivalence or compensatory measure (for qualifications)
Evaluation criteria
- Income limit
- Appropriateness and necessity of the recognition procedure
- Existing significant differences in the recognition decision
- Lack of alternative funding opportunities
Description
The funding measure is aimed at individuals with professional or university qualifications acquired abroad who have their habitual residence in Germany and are either seeking a recognition procedure or a certificate evaluation at the Central Office for Foreign Education. A prerequisite for financial relief is an annual income below €32,000 (individual) or €50,000 (married couples) gross, as well as the absence of an opened insolvency proceeding or submitted asset disclosure. Funding within the framework of active labor market programs under SGB II/III and duplicate funding through state programs are also excluded. The goal of the support is to cover procedural and evaluation fees in order to improve labor market integration and counteract the shortage of skilled workers.
100% of the documented expenses are funded up to €600 for recognition procedures and certificate evaluations, up to €1,200 for qualification analyses, and up to €3,000 for adaptation courses, compensatory measures, and exam preparations. Eligible expenses particularly include translation and certification costs, examination fees, as well as travel and accommodation costs directly related to necessary qualification measures. Applications can be submitted continuously until 30.06.2027 to the central funding office; the accounting of expenses must be completed within nine months after the funding approval. The processing is handled by the Research Institute for Vocational Education on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.