Recognition of qualifications

anabin, ZAB, recognition notices, the recognition partnership and qualification measures (§ 16d AufenthG).

Many routes need proof that your Vietnamese qualification matches a German one. Which check applies depends on the qualification and the job.

University degrees

• Look up your university and degree in anabin. If the university is rated "H+" and the degree is listed as equivalent, the printouts are often enough.
• Otherwise apply to the ZAB for a Statement of Comparability: €200, each further statement €100.

Vocational qualifications and regulated professions

• A competent German body compares your training with the German reference occupation, for example IHK FOSA for many commercial and industrial jobs (fee €100 to €600), or the State Examination Office for health professions in Berlin.
• Find the competent body with the Recognition Finder.
• If there are gaps, you receive a deficit notice (Defizitbescheid) that lists what is missing.

Coming to Germany to close the gaps (§ 16d)

• Qualification measure (§ 16d (1)): with a deficit notice and a place in a measure; German at least A2 (in health professions usually B1); if you do not work, money of €1,091 net a month; processing 4 to 6 weeks (Embassy page).
• Recognition partnership (§ 16d (3)): a degree or at least 2 years of training recognised in Vietnam, German A2, a job offer and an agreement with the employer to start recognition in Germany. Gaps must be closed within at most 3 years. In health care the employer must state the collective agreement, church labour law or approval under § 72 SGB XI. Processing about 3 months, with the fast-track procedure about 3 weeks (Embassy page).
• Recognition procedure (§ 16d general): the Embassy page names A2 German and money of €827 a month (Embassy page). This amount conflicts with the €1,091 on the other pages; ask the mission.

School certificates

School and university documents from Vietnam cannot be legalised; the APS certificate checks them for study purposes.