How are German Equivalence Procedures Performed?
    Visa Guides
    Germany

    How are German Equivalence Procedures Performed?

    Immigration Expert
    Jan 19, 202515 min read

    Atomic Answer: How Are German Equivalence Procedures Performed? is a critical component of the Canadian immigration framework. As of 2026, applicants navigating this pathway must adhere to the latest IRCC guidelines, ensure all documentation is properly prepared, and meet the specific eligibility requirements. Processing times and exact costs will vary based on individual circumstances.

    How are German Equivalence Procedures Performed?

    People who want to go to Germany to work or continue their education must complete the equivalence procedures for diplomas, certificates and other qualification documents received from Turkey.

    The document presented for equivalence is compared with a similar German degree in the field in which equivalence is sought, and if deemed appropriate, the applicant is granted equivalence in the requested field. Every person who has documents showing education or professional qualifications received from Turkey has the right to receive equivalence.

    In which areas can equivalence procedures be carried out in Germany?

    The fields where equivalence is carried out in Germany are listed below.

    • Equivalence of vocational training in Germany
    • Equivalence of university education in Germany
    • Equivalence of high school education in Germany

    How is Professional Equivalence Done in Germany?

    Persons who wish to obtain professional recognition to work in Germany must submit the necessary documents for examination under the Professional Recognition Act and be assessed according to the German education system. One of the main objectives of the Professional Recognition Act in Germany is to close the skilled workforce gap in Germany.

    People who want to apply for professional equivalence in Germany must apply using the Anabin system at https://www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de/html/de/index.php. If the German professional equivalence is examined through the Anabin system and the result is positive, the decision is notified to the applicant with an official document.

    With the German professional equivalence certificate, the applicant's professional qualifications and experience are officially recognized by Germany. Having a German professional equivalence certificate speeds up and facilitates the process of finding a job in Germany.

    How to Get University Equivalence in Germany?

    German university equivalence is the type of equivalence that must be obtained by those who want to continue their education at a university in Germany and those who want to work in Germany after their education. Applications for German university equivalence are made through the Anabin system.

    In order for the diploma to be evaluated when requesting equivalence, it must be comparable in the German education system. The diploma must provide information about continuing education, be appropriate according to legal conditions and be professionally recognized for Germany university equivalence diploma conditions. Legal rights cannot be claimed from the submitted diploma.

    How to Get High School Equivalence in Germany?

    Germany high school equivalence is the type of equivalence that must be obtained by those who want to continue high school in Germany. Germany high school equivalence applications are made through the Anabin system.

    For German high school equivalence, the submitted school diploma must be officially recognized by the Certificate Recognition Office. There is a Certificate Recognition Office in each federal state in Germany, and the office responsible for the Germany-Turkey high school equivalence application can be learned via the Anabin system.

    After the equivalence application is made to the Certificate Recognition Office and a positive response is received, the high school equivalence certificate is given to the applicant in order to enroll in German schools. For those who want their diploma to be recognized, applying to the high school where they will continue their education is a separate option for the equivalence application.

    How to Get Equivalence from Germany?

    In order to obtain equivalence from Germany, you must first make sure which type of equivalence you will apply for. The conditions and equivalence procedure should be learned according to the type of equivalence you want to obtain by using the equivalence finder system website, and the contact information of the consultancy center and competent authority shown on the screen should be noted.

    The most suitable counselling centre for the applicant for the German equivalence application is shown in the equivalence finder system. All necessary steps and questions regarding financial support are explained by the staff at the counselling centre.

    The documents required for the German equivalence application are provided in the equivalence finder system and after the requested documents are prepared completely, the equivalence application must be submitted to the relevant authority. After the application documents are submitted, the rejection or approval result is communicated to the applicant within 4 months at the latest.

    What is the German Equivalence Finder System?

    The German equivalence finder system is a system established to provide services in case the applicant wishes to continue his/her profession or education in Germany. With the German equivalence finder system, it is possible to learn whether the professional qualification or diploma validity will be recognized in Germany and to obtain information about the application procedure.

    In the German equivalence finder system, information is provided on the equivalence procedure in line with the applicant's conditions. Information on application documents, contact and address information of the competent authority, contact and address information of the counselling centre, professional fields and scope of the diploma, and whether equivalence is mandatory can be found at https://www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de/tr/interest/finder/profession.

    What are the documents required for German equivalence?

    The documents required for German equivalence are given below.

    • Germany equivalence application form
    • Identity Document
    • Proof of professional competence
    • Evidence on the content and duration of professional competence

    The documents listed above must be submitted for all German equivalence applications and in many cases the applicant may be asked to submit additional documents. Which documents need to be submitted can be found in the equivalence finder system. Since most employees at the authorities to which the application documents will be submitted only speak German, it is recommended to seek advice in advance.

    How Long Does It Take to Complete a German Equivalence Application?

    Applicants are notified at the latest 1 month after the application for German equivalence has been made, whether the documents have reached the relevant authority and whether additional documents are requested. If there is no deficiency in the documents, the equivalence assessment process is initiated and the rejection or approval decision is delivered to the applicant within 3 months at the latest. In some special cases, the competent authority may have to extend the equivalence procedure.

    How much is the German Equivalence Application Fee?

    The German equivalence application fee varies between 100 Euros and 600 Euros. The relevant authority provides information about the net fee and there may be additional costs such as a certificate fee in addition to the equivalence application fee.

    How Much Does Germany Equivalence Consultancy Fee Cost?

    The consultancy fee for German equivalence procedures is 180 Euros.

    What Does Partial Equivalence in Germany Mean?

    Partial equivalence in Germany means that only part of the professional qualification is equivalent for Germany. The other part that is not considered equivalent is not suitable for Germany or there is a big difference between the applicant's country and Germany. It is possible to obtain full equivalence by participating in adaptation qualification courses or compensation programs.

    What Happens If Partial Equivalence Is Obtained?

    For those who have received partial equivalence, it is possible to obtain full equivalence by participating in adaptation qualification courses or compensation programs. There are many free programs and courses that people with partial equivalence in Germany can attend.

    In Germany, it is possible to obtain full equivalence by participating in a compensation program for regulated professions or in an adaptation qualification course for professions that are not regulated by law. The compensation program must compensate for the differences that caused partial equivalence. The document received from the compensation program or adaptation qualification course must be submitted to the competent authority with the other required documents. A new application for equivalence is generally not necessary and subsequent equivalence applications can be made.

    Scroll down to continue reading...