Degree Recognition Translation (Anerkennung) in Germany
Last updated: 2 October 2026
You live in Germany and want to work in your own profession, as a doctor, nurse, teacher or engineer. Or your employer or office asked for a ZAB statement. For Anerkennung (recognition of foreign qualifications), you may need a sworn translation (beglaubigte Übersetzung) of your diploma, transcript, supplement or licence. Our partner translators sworn by German courts translate qualifications from Turkey, Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Russia, India and beyond.
Here is the honest answer: you do not always need a translation. Many offices read English. But regulated professions, documents in Turkish, Arabic, Ukrainian, Russian, Dari or Hindi, and some strict offices often need a German translation.
- Every subject, grade, credit and hour on your transcript or diploma supplement translated exactly
- Licences, council registrations and certificates of good standing for regulated professions
- Names kept exactly as written, with your passport spelling in a translator's note
- PDF in 3 working days, signed original posted to your German address (usually 1–3 working days)
Fixed price from €39 · You see the price before you pay
Which documents need translation for degree recognition in Germany?
It depends on your profession, your office and the language of your documents. For regulated professions like nursing or medicine, offices usually want German translations of your degree, transcripts and licence. ZAB accepts documents in English (and some other languages) without translation. Check your office's list first, then translate only what it asks for.
Quick facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who translates | Our partner translators sworn by German courts (beeidigt / ermächtigt) |
| German name of the procedure | Anerkennung (Berufsanerkennung); result: Feststellungsbescheid |
| Price | €39 per page for degrees, transcripts and mark sheets |
| Delivery | PDF in 3 working days, signed original posted to your German address (usually 1–3 working days) |
| What to upload | All pages, front and back, plus the office's list. Usually a clear scan or photo is enough. Some offices want the translator to see the original, so check your letter. |
| Where to verify the translator | Official database: justiz-dolmetscher.de |
Is this page for you?
- You are a doctor, nurse or other health worker, and the recognition office wants German translations.
- You received a Defizitbescheid (deficit notice) and the office asks for more documents.
- You want to work as a teacher or move into another regulated profession.
- Your diploma or transcript is in Turkish, Arabic, Ukrainian, Russian, Dari, Pashto or an Indian language.
- Your earlier translation was made abroad and the office did not accept it.
Anerkennung Übersetzung: which offices need what?
Each body has its own rules. As a rule of thumb, documents in English are often accepted as they are, while documents in other languages need a German translation.
| Body or process | Documents in English | Documents in other languages |
|---|---|---|
| ZAB (statement of comparability) | Usually no translation (check the ZAB FAQ) | Translation needed, except some languages ZAB accepts |
| Nursing recognition office | German translation usually required | German translation required |
| Doctors: Approbation authority (in many states the Landesprüfungsamt) | German translation usually required | German translation required |
| IHK FOSA (vocational qualifications in IHK professions) | Ask them | Usually translation needed |
| uni-assist (university admission) | No translation needed | German or English translation by a sworn translator |
| Employer asking for proof | Depends; ask them | Usually translation needed |
If your documents are in English and ZAB is your only step, you may not need us. We would rather tell you that now.
Qualifications by country
Every country formats its degrees differently. The office compares your subjects, hours and grades with German training, so the transcript or supplement matters as much as the diploma.
| Country | Typical document (local name) | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | Diploma and Transkript (often from e-Devlet) | Most Turkish public documents need an apostille; ask your office. Every course name and grade is translated. |
| Ukraine | Диплом + додаток (diploma + supplement) | Apostille for diplomas comes from the Ministry of Education. Translate the supplement too. |
| Russia | Диплом с приложением (diploma with supplement) | The приложение lists subjects and hours; translate it with the diploma. |
| Syria | شهادة جامعية (university certificate) and transcript | The recognition office decides what extra proof it needs. |
| Iraq | University certificates; Kurdistan Region documents in Kurdish and Arabic | Legalisation is suspended. The office decides at its discretion. |
| Afghanistan | School and university certificates in Dari or Pashto | No verification possible. The office decides what it accepts. |
| India | Degree certificate and mark sheets | No apostille; verification instead. See degree and transcript translation. |
Regulated professions: doctors, nurses and teachers
For a regulated profession, recognition is required before you can work in it. Doctors apply for the Approbation (full licence to practise); in some cases a Berufserlaubnis (temporary permit) comes first. Nurses apply to the recognition office of their state. Teaching is also regulated.
The office then issues a Feststellungsbescheid (decision). If it finds gaps, you get a Defizitbescheid. It may offer a Kenntnisprüfung (knowledge test) or an Anpassungslehrgang (adaptation course). Offices often ask for extra papers at this stage, such as proof of work experience or a certificate of good standing from your council.
Engineers, IT and the Blue Card: anabin
For many jobs, including much engineering and IT work, the profession is not regulated. For a job or a Blue Card, an anabin entry is often enough: your university is rated H+ and your degree is listed as equivalent. Then you may not need a ZAB statement or a translation. If the office still asks, we translate what it needs.
Your document checklist
| Document | When you need it | Translation needed? |
|---|---|---|
| Degree certificate and transcript or supplement | Always | Depends on office and language |
| Registration or licence (e.g. nursing council) | Regulated professions | Often yes |
| Certificate of good standing | Often for nurses and doctors | Often yes, if not in German |
| Proof of work experience | Often for regulated professions | If the office asks |
| Birth certificate | Some recognition offices | If not in German. See birth certificate translation. |
| Police clearance or criminal record certificate | Some regulated professions | If not in German. See police clearance certificate. |
| Name change proof | If names differ | If the office asks. See name change affidavit. |
Documents you do not need to translate: your passport, German language certificates (like B2), a German CV you write yourself, and any document already in German.
Translation is not the same as a certified copy
Many offices want officially certified copies (amtlich beglaubigte Kopien). A certified copy stays in the original language and is made by a German office such as the Bürgeramt, or by a notary. A translation turns the text into German. You may need both. We make the translation only.
Why a translation made abroad can be a risk
The official portal anerkennung-in-deutschland.de says some offices do not accept translations by translators appointed abroad. So a translation made in Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine or India can be refused. You can check our partner translators at justiz-dolmetscher.de.
Plan for processing time
ZAB says its processing time is three months once your file and fee are complete. Recognition offices can also take months. A missing translation delays your file, so send complete documents.
Why recognition files get delayed, and how we help
- 1Subject names translated loosely. Offices compare your subjects and hours. We translate every subject name, grade and credit exactly.
- 2Names look different. Iraqi, Russian and Indian names may not match your passport. We transliterate as written and add a translator's note.
- 3Missing supplements or back sides. Grading scales often sit on the back or in the supplement. We translate every page, stamp and note.
- 4Too many papers translated. We translate what your office asks for. Send us the office list.
How it works
- 1Upload your documents and the office's document list.
- 2Get a fixed price. You see it before you pay.
- 3Check your PDF for names, subjects and grades.
- 4Receive the signed original at your German address.
More detail: see how it works.
Price
| Package | What's included | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Degree certificate | One certificate, all stamps, PDF + signed original | €39 per page |
| Degree + transcript or supplement | Certificate + transcript, mark sheet or supplement pages, PDF + signed original | €39 per page |
| Regulated profession set | Degree, transcripts, licence + more pages | €39 per page |
| Express | PDF in 1 working day | + €15 |
All prices shown are starting prices incl. VAT and postage within Germany. Your exact fixed price comes in a written quote after upload, before you pay.
Your files are transferred encrypted and deleted after 30 days (GDPR).
If your office asks for a change to our translation, we correct it free of charge.
See the full price list.
What language are your documents in?
Diplomas reach us in Turkish, Arabic, Ukrainian, Russian, Dari, Pashto and English, and Indian mark sheets often in English with Hindi or a regional language. We translate every language on the page.
Languages we translate into German: Turkish · Arabic · Kurdish (Kurmanji/Sorani) · Dari · Pashto · Persian (Farsi) · Ukrainian · Russian · English · Hindi · Punjabi · Urdu · Tamil · Telugu · Bengali · Marathi · Gujarati · Malayalam and other Indian languages.
Next step: after your recognition
Once you work in your field, a common next goal is permanent residence. Need to drive to work? Read about converting your driving licence.
Frequently asked questions about degree recognition translation
Does ZAB need a German translation of my degree?
ZAB accepts documents in English (and some other languages) without translation. Documents in other languages need a translation. Check the ZAB FAQ before you apply.
Do I need a sworn translation for nursing recognition in Germany?
Usually yes. Nursing recognition offices normally ask for German translations of your training documents. Many want a translator sworn in Germany.
Do I need to translate the supplement to my Ukrainian or Russian diploma?
Usually yes. The supplement lists your subjects, hours and grades, and the office compares them with German training. Translate it together with the diploma.
Can I use a translation made in my home country for Anerkennung?
Sometimes, but it is a risk. Some German offices do not accept translations by translators appointed abroad. Ask your office first.
Do I need a ZAB statement for my Blue Card?
Often not. If your university is rated H+ in anabin and your degree is listed as equivalent, that entry is often enough. Your employer or office may still ask for a ZAB statement.
I received a Defizitbescheid. Do I need new translations?
Sometimes. The office may ask for more proof, such as work experience or training content. We translate the documents it asks for.
Do you make certified copies too?
No. Certified copies are made by a Bürgeramt or a notary. We make the German translation.
Can you tell me if my degree will be recognised?
No. We only translate. The recognition office decides. The official portal anerkennung-in-deutschland.de helps you find your office.
Start your recognition with the right documents
Upload your documents and the office list, and ask for a fixed price. We tell you honestly what needs translation.
Questions? Email us: info@germantranslators.de