Recognizing foreign master's degrees
Application to the Chamber of Crafts for recognition of a foreign master craftsman’s degree in order to be eligible to use the title of “Meister” in Germany and to work as a plant manager.
Wo wohnen Sie?
Damit wir Recognizing foreign master's degrees mit dem zuständigen Handwerkskammer in Ihrer Stadt anzeigen können.
Oder Großstadt wählen:
Sie werden zur geführten Suche weitergeleitet – mit Kontaktdaten, Termin und nächsten Schritten für Recognizing foreign master's degrees.
Quick answer
- 1
Documents you need
Foreign master craftsman's certificate (original + certified translation) · Photo ID
- 2
Responsible authority
The authority of your main residence
- 3
How to do it
In person or by post at the office
- 4
Costs
Kostenlos (BAföG-Antrag)
How to proceed
- 1
Contact the relevant Chamber of Crafts
The Chamber of Crafts and Trades (HWK) in the city where the business is located or has its registered office has jurisdiction.
- 2
Have certified translations prepared
Have all documents translated by a certified translator.
- 3
Submit an application
Submit the documents to the Chamber of Crafts and wait for the notification of recognition.
Responsible authority
The authority of your main place of residence is responsible.Find authority →
The essentials before applying
Who is eligible?
Individuals with a foreign master craftsman’s certificate or comparable vocational qualification who wish to work as self-employed tradespeople in Germany.
Income limit
Processing time
Nationwide: approx. approx. 2 months
Success rate
approx. 71.0 % (estimate)
Most common mistakes
- •Missing certified translations
- •No proof of work experience
Common reasons for rejection
- •Training content is not comparable
- •Documents incomplete
Alternatives
- Check related services in the application assistant
- Use social counselling before applying
If rejected
File a written objection within 30 days – with reasons why the decision is wrong and any missing evidence.
Related services
Questions & Answers
Which EU qualifications are recognized?▼
EU/EEA qualifications are given priority in the evaluation process in accordance with the EU Recognition Directive.
Freshness & source
- Maintenance
- Continuously reviewed & updated
- Source
- Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
- Data quality
- 100 %