The following information applies to persons who wish to stay in Germany for the purpose of recognising professional qualifications which they acquired abroad in accordance with Section 16d of the Residence Act.

From June 3, 2024, you have to submit visa applications for the purpose of recognising a foreign professional qualification to the external service provider TLScontact. Registrations on the Embassy’s appointment waiting list are no longer possible. Information about the services TLScontact offers and how to make appointments can be found in German and English on the TLScontact website.

All application documents must be submitted in original with 2 copies so that there are two sets of identical application documents.

Please sort the documents in the order listed below.

The Embassy reserves the right to request additional documents in individual cases.

Incomplete application forms as well as applications with incomplete documents will delay processing and may lead to rejection of the application.

For your application we require the following documents:

1. Passport and two copies of the data page. If you are a foreigner residing in Kenya, Burundi or Eritrea you have to show a valid residence permit for the country of residence.

2. 2 completed and duly signed application forms.
A digital application form to be completed online can be found on https://videx-national.diplo.de

3. 2 current, identical biometric passport photos with a white background

4. “Deficiency notice” (or interim notice) from the body responsible for recognition
The notice must specify the necessary qualification measures or further qualifications (e.g. proof of language skills; reference to professional/linguistic deficits; in the case of professional/linguistic deficits in the regulated area: determination of the necessity of an qualification measure, examination or proof of language skills)

Please note: Information on the recognition procedure in Germany can be found here

For more detailed advice and support in the recognition procedure, please contact the Service Center for Professional Recognition (ZSBA)

5. Documents for the planned qualification measure
a) Predominantly theoretical courses (e.g. training courses, language courses)
- Invitation letter/registration confirmation from the provider
- “Self-disclosure” of the provider (e.g. state-approved / “AZAV”-approved / funding within the framework of state funding programs, such as the “Integration through Qualification (IQ)” funding program, information on any participating companies)
- Information on the type and duration of the measure with reference to the significant differences identified, information on the minimum language level required
- For courses offered by private, non-certified or non-publicly funded providers (not for language courses, preparatory courses for examinations): Confirmation from the competent body that the measure is suitable for achieving recognition

b) Predominantly company-based offers (e.g. training courses, internships)
- Forms “Declaration regarding a contract of employment” and supplementary sheet A to the form “Declaration regarding a contract of employment” completed by the employer
- Binding confirmation from the company that the qualification measure can be completed in the company
- Further training plan of the company, which clearly states who will supervise the applicant and how the goal of compensating for the deficits identified in the notice is to be achieved
- In addition, in the case of practical work: details of the planned remuneration
- In the case of predominantly company-based preparatory courses: confirmation from the provider of the qualification measure that the company-based practical phase is part of the preparatory course

c) Taking examinations (Section 16d (5) of the Residence Act)
- Information on examinations
- If applicable, confirmation of employment in the event of passing the examination, if a residence permit for gainful employment is subsequently to be applied for. Job description and details of remuneration are required, as the Federal Employment Agency will be involved in these cases.

6. Proof of means of subsistence:
In the case of company-based measures, at least 1160 euros gross / 882 euros net per month must be available. Proof is provided by stating the salary in the employment/internship contract and the job description.
For school-based measures, at least 1027 euros net per month must be available. Proof must be provided by submitting a blocked account for the period of the planned recognition procedure.

7. Proof of the German language skills required for participation in the measure or examination (at least A2)
The documents should show which language skills are required for participation. The required language level is usually at least A2. Particularly in cases of § 16d (5) of the Residence Act, the language skills must enable the applicant to take and pass the examination. Particularly in the case of examinations that are required for the granting of a professional practice permit or for the granting of authorization to use a professional title for professions regulated in Germany (e.g. in the health and care sector), significantly higher requirements must be met and technical language skills are necessary.

A recognized certificate from an examination provider certified according to the standards of the ALTE (Association of Language Testers in Europe) must be submitted as proof. In Kenya, only the Goethe-Institut and ÖSD currently issue recognized language certificates.
The submitted language certificate must not be older than 12 months at the time of application.

8. Certificate of completion of studies or vocational training completed abroad

9. Curriculum vitae in German, gapless

10. Proof of incoming health insurance coverage, valid until entry into the statutory health insurance

11. (Optional) Preliminary approval of the Federal Employment Agency or the Foreigners Authority (or in the case of the fast-track procedure for skilled workers in accordance with Section 81a of the Residence Act)

12. Visa fee in the amount 75 Euros, payable in Kenyan Shillings

_{This fact sheet reflects the legal situation at the time of drafting it. It is regularly updated but makes no claim to be complete. Authoritative version of the fact sheet is the German version.}