“Is my degree recognised in Germany?” has two different answers, depending on the work you plan to do. For most jobs, including computer science and business roles, Germany only needs to see that your degree is comparable to a German one. For a regulated profession such as physician or teacher, you need formal professional recognition before you can work. This guide explains how Indian graduates can tell which case applies, and what anabin and the ZAB do in each.

First question: is your profession regulated?

The ZAB (Central Office for Foreign Education, the federal body that evaluates foreign qualifications) separates two cases.

Non-regulated profession Regulated profession
Examples the ZAB gives Computer scientist, biologist, business economist Physician, teacher, nursery school teacher
Is recognition required to work? No. You can apply directly to job offers Yes. Professional recognition is legally required first
Who assesses it Employer, mission or immigration authority, using anabin or a ZAB Statement of Comparability The competent recognition authority for that profession

The ZAB says that most professions in Germany are not regulated. To check yours, use the Recognition Finder on the federal Recognition Portal. It tells you whether the profession is regulated and which authority handles it. For a regulated profession, a Statement of Comparability is not enough.

How to check your degree in anabin

anabin is the ZAB’s database on foreign education. It lists foreign universities, degree types and degree programmes. Search for three things: your university (under Institutionen), your degree type, and your degree programme (both under Hochschulabschlüsse). The site is mostly in German, and Make it in Germany has published an explainer video on using it.

According to the ZAB, if both your degree programme and your university are listed with the required evaluation, your degree is considered comparable to a German university degree. In that case a Statement of Comparability is not necessary for the fast-track procedure for skilled workers. The German missions in India describe the evaluation they look for: the degree rated “entspricht” or “gleichwertig”, and the university rated “H+” (or “H+/-” with your programme listed).

anabin has limits. The ZAB notes that it is updated constantly but does not list every foreign university or degree. Whether the anabin entry is enough for your application is for the authority handling it to decide. For a visa, that is the German mission in India or the immigration authority. Ask them before you pay for anything else.

When a Statement of Comparability helps

A Statement of Comparability is an official ZAB certificate that compares your foreign degree with a German qualification. It names your degree, programme and university, the programme’s length, and the corresponding German level (for example bachelor’s or master’s). It is valid throughout Germany and does not expire.

You are likely to need one when:

  • your university or programme is missing from anabin, or the authority says the anabin entry is not enough;
  • you apply for an EU Blue Card or another visa and must show that your degree is comparable;
  • an employer asks for one, which the ZAB says is common in the public sector.

The ZAB also lists it as an option for proving a university degree in an Opportunity Card application.

It does not convert Indian grades into German grades. It does not give you university admission. It does not let you work in a regulated profession. For study admission the process is separate: many universities use uni-assist, explained in our uni-assist and VPD guide.

Fees, timing and documents

These are the figures on the ZAB’s pages as read on 20 October 2026.

  • Fee: €208 per statement, set by the State of Berlin (the fee regulation was last changed in June 2024).
  • Processing time: 3 months for a regular application, 2 months as part of the fast-track procedure for skilled workers, and 2 weeks when the statement is needed for an EU Blue Card. For the 2-week route, the ZAB asks you to state the Blue Card purpose in the application and to include a German employment contract signed by both sides, or a signed letter of intent from the employer.
  • Clock start: processing begins only after the ZAB has all required documents and the fee. Within two weeks of applying, it confirms the file is complete or asks for what is missing.
  • Documents: the ZAB’s online Pre-Check gives you a country-specific checklist. Statements are based on documents in the original language or the country’s official language. A translation may be required in addition, never instead.

The whole process runs online, through a personal account with a BundID login, and the finished statement is a PDF with a digital seal.

Where it depends

Requirements differ by purpose. A mission, an immigration authority, an employer and a recognition authority can each ask for different proof. For regulated professions, the authority and its process depend on the profession and often on the federal state where you plan to work. When the sources do not cover your case, ask the authority that will receive the document.

What SGC does and does not decide

The ZAB, the competent recognition authority, the German mission and employers make every decision on comparability, recognition and visas. SGC cannot predict how your qualification will be assessed. Through our document recognition support, SGC can review your qualification documents against the route you need, help you organise a complete file, and point you to the right recognition body.

Your next step: look up your university and degree in anabin, and check your profession in the Recognition Finder before you collect any other documents.

Official resources

What we cannot promise

German authorities, universities and employers make every decision on visas, admissions, recognition and jobs. SGC explains the process and helps you prepare; it cannot promise an outcome.