Is my degree recognised in Germany? anabin, ZAB and the Blue Card

For many work visas — above all the EU Blue Card — your university degree has to be recognised or comparable to a German one. Here is how to find out in about ten minutes.

Do you need recognition at all?

• Regulated professions — doctors, nurses, pharmacists, teachers, lawyers and some engineering titles — need formal recognition (Anerkennung) from the responsible authority before you can work in the profession.
• Non-regulated professions — most jobs in IT, business, marketing, science and engineering without a protected title — don't need formal recognition to work. For the visa, though, the authorities still check that your degree is comparable.
• IT specialists without a degree can get a Blue Card with at least three years of relevant professional experience in the last seven years.

Check your degree in anabin

anabin is the database the immigration offices use.

1. Open anabin and search under Institutions for your university. You want the status "H+".
2. Then search under Degrees (Abschlüsse) for your degree. Look for "entspricht" or "gleichwertig" (equivalent).

University H+ and an equivalent degree? Then you usually don't need anything else for the visa — print both pages and add them to your application.

Not listed, or "H+/-"? Get a Statement of Comparability

The Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) issues a Statement of Comparability (Zeugnisbewertung) for foreign university degrees. You apply online and pay a fee. It can take a few months, so apply as soon as you start applying for jobs — not after the offer.

Regulated profession? Use the official portal

The federal portal Anerkennung in Deutschland has a Recognition Finder: enter your profession and the city where you want to work, and it tells you which authority is responsible and which documents to bring.

Next: check whether your salary is high enough in EU Blue Card 2026: salary thresholds.