Germany recognises growing number of foreign professional qualifications

Germany has stepped up recognition of foreign professional credentials as one tool to ease its shortage of skilled workers, approving a markedly larger number of applications last year. Authorities granted recognition in 86,600 cases, a rise that signals a continuing push to open the labour market to qualified migrants.

The total represents a 10% increase over the previous year, and — as reported — amounts to 21% and 25% more than in 2024 and 2023 respectively.

Applicants from Turkey were the largest single group whose credentials were recognised: 9,800 approvals, equal to 11% of the total. They were followed by people from Ukraine with about 8,300 recognised qualifications, and applicants from Syria with 6,100 recognised diplomas. India and Tunisia each accounted for 5,400 recognised qualifications. The number of recognised Syrian qualifications rose especially sharply, with an increase of 42%.

By contrast, recognitions of qualifications from Bosnia and Herzegovina fell substantially; that country had regularly ranked first or second in recognition statistics between 2016 and 2023.

Which occupations are being validated

Healthcare professions comprised the biggest share of recognitions: 32,000 approvals for nurses. Medical-related qualifications more broadly accounted for 13,900 recognised credentials, while engineering qualifications totalled 4,600 recognitions.

Policy-makers view faster and broader recognition of foreign diplomas as a practical response to sectoral shortages, notably in health care and technical fields. At the same time, employers and regulators face the task of ensuring standards, language skills and integration services keep pace with the increased inflow of qualified workers.

Photo: press material from the event