Recognition of your qualification

Free advice in Indonesia, anabin, the ZAB statement and which Berlin body decides.

Start here: free advice in Indonesia

ProRecognition at the German-Indonesian Chamber of Commerce (AHK Indonesia) advises on recognition for work in Germany, free of charge, financed by the German federal government since 2024. This is the cheapest way to find out whether your qualification is worth anything in Germany before you spend money on it. AHK Indonesia

University degrees: anabin

The KMK database anabin evaluates foreign institutions and degrees. Your university should be rated H+ and your degree listed as equivalent. If the institution is rated H+/- or is missing, you need a ZAB Statement of Comparability. The KMK also publishes a specific decision on Indonesian school certificates (30 November 2023), which matters for studying, see Admission.

ZAB Statement of Comparability

• Fee €200 for the first application, €100 for each further one. Normally about 3 months; the target is 2 weeks for Blue Card cases and 2 months in the fast-track procedure.
• For vocational qualifications, the ZAB "DAB statement" costs €150.

Which body decides, by profession

Regulated versus non-regulated

Regulated professions – nurses, doctors, teachers and similar – always need full German recognition before you may work in them. Non-regulated professions do not always need it: see the experience route on Skilled worker and Blue Card. Recognition still helps with salary and with the visa.

Documents for a recognition file need apostille and, usually, a translation – and recognition bodies can be stricter than the Embassy about who may translate. Ask your body before you pay a translator. See Documents from Indonesia.