To work in Germany on an EU Blue Card or as a skilled worker, your degree usually has to be recognised as comparable to a German degree. First check the anabin database. If your university is rated H+ and your degree is listed as equivalent, printouts of both entries are enough. If it is not listed, apply online to the ZAB (Central Office for Foreign Education) for a Statement of Comparability, which costs €208 and takes about 3 months. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, teachers and other regulated professions need formal recognition from a German state authority, which is a separate process.
Checked on 4 November 2026 against the German government’s Recognition in Germany portal, the German Consulate General in Dubai and the VFS Global employment checklist for Germany in the UAE. This guide covers the recognition step only. For the visa itself, see Germany Opportunity Card and EU Blue Card from the UAE.
Do you need degree recognition for Germany?
| Your situation | What you need |
|---|---|
| EU Blue Card (any profession) | A degree comparable to a German one: anabin printouts, or a ZAB Statement of Comparability |
| Non-regulated job (IT, business, marketing, science) on a skilled-worker visa | Proof that the degree is comparable (anabin or ZAB) |
| Regulated profession (doctor, nurse, pharmacist, teacher, lawyer, psychotherapist) | Full recognition (Anerkennung) from the competent authority in the German state where you will work |
| Engineer | The job is not regulated, but the title “Ingenieur” is protected. Use anabin or ZAB for the visa; the state engineering chamber decides on the title. |
| Opportunity Card (job search) | Full recognition gives direct eligibility. Otherwise you can qualify on points, with a degree recognised in the country that issued it. |
Not sure whether your job is regulated? Use the Recognition Finder on the official Recognition in Germany portal. It names the authority for your profession and your target German state.
How to check your degree on anabin
Your degree counts as comparable only if all three conditions are met:
- Your university is listed in anabin with the status H+, or H+/-.
- Your degree type (for example, Bachelor of Engineering) is listed as equivalent or corresponding to a German degree.
- For an H+/- university, your specific degree must also be listed under that university.
If all three match, print both the institution entry and the degree entry. The VFS Global checklist for German employment visas in the UAE asks Blue Card applicants for both anabin printouts.
Degrees earned in the UAE: what to watch for
- Federal and accredited UAE universities are usually searched under “United Arab Emirates” in anabin. Check the exact university name and the degree.
- Branch campuses in Dubai or Ras Al Khaimah free zones are often assessed through the home university, for example a UK, Indian or Australian institution, and may not appear under the UAE. Check how your certificate names the awarding institution. If the result is unclear, use the ZAB.
- A UAE equivalency certificate from the UAE Ministry of Higher Education does not replace German recognition. Germany makes its own assessment.
- Degrees from your home country (India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Egypt and others) are assessed under that country in anabin, not under the UAE.
How to get a ZAB Statement of Comparability: step by step
- Confirm that you need it. You need it if your university or degree is missing from anabin, or does not have the right rating. It is only for degrees of at least bachelor’s level.
- Collect your documents: degree certificate, transcript, school-leaving certificate, any earlier degrees, and your passport. The exact list depends on the country that issued the degree.
- Arrange translations if the documents are not in German or English. Arabic documents need a certified translation.
- Apply online to the ZAB and pay €208. A replacement certificate later costs €104.
- Wait about 3 months, assuming your file is complete. Start before you begin job interviews.
- Submit the statement with your visa application at the German Consulate General in Dubai.
Regulated professions: doctors, nurses and others
An anabin match or a ZAB statement does not replace recognition for a regulated profession. You apply to the authority in the German state where you plan to work. That authority compares your training with the German qualification and either recognises it or sets compensation measures, such as an exam or an adaptation period.
| Profession | What is checked | Typical extra step |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor | Licence to practise (Approbation) | Knowledge exam and medical German (usually B2 general + C1 medical) |
| Nurse | Professional title as a nurse | Adaptation course or knowledge exam, plus B1 or B2 German |
| Pharmacist, dentist | Licence to practise | Knowledge exam and German |
| Teacher | Teaching qualification in the target state | Often a second subject or a training period |
Germany also has a recognition partnership. You can come to Germany on a job offer and complete recognition while working. It requires A2 German, a qualification recognised by the country that issued it, and an employer who commits to the process.
What the German Consulate in Dubai expects
- Where to apply: the Consulate General in Dubai handles national visas for the whole UAE, including Abu Dhabi. Appointments are run through VFS Global.
- Fee: €75 for a national (D) visa, paid in exact cash in AED.
- Processing time: usually 6 to 12 weeks.
- Documents: one original set and two copy sets. Translate anything that is not in German or English, including Arabic, and bring the originals too.
- Proof of qualification: anabin printouts or a ZAB statement for the Blue Card, or a recognition notice for regulated professions
- UAE residence permit: must be valid if you are not an Emirati
Do you need German?
Not for the EU Blue Card or most skilled-worker visas in non-regulated jobs. The Opportunity Card needs A1 German or B2 English. Regulated professions such as medicine and nursing need B1 to C1 German. Spouses of Blue Card holders do not need German to join. You can take Goethe-Institut exams in the UAE.
Questions people ask
What does H+ mean in anabin?
H+ means Germany recognises the institution as a university. Your specific degree must still be listed as equivalent to a German degree.
How much does a ZAB Statement of Comparability cost?
€208, and it usually takes about 3 months once your file is complete.
Is my UAE degree recognised in Germany?
Check anabin for your exact university and degree under the country of the awarding institution. If it is not listed as H+ with an equivalent degree, apply to the ZAB.
Can I get a Blue Card without degree recognition?
Generally no. Some IT specialists can qualify on 3 years’ professional experience instead of a degree.
Does ZAB recognition let me work as a doctor?
No. Doctors need a licence to practise (Approbation) from the German state authority, which usually involves an exam and medical German.
Related guides
- Germany Opportunity Card and EU Blue Card from the UAE
- How to move to Europe from the UAE: all routes compared
- Degree assessment from the UAE: WES, Ecctis and others
- Study in Europe from the UAE
Sources
- Recognition in Germany (Federal Government portal): Higher education qualifications, anabin and ZAB
- German Consulate General Dubai: National (long-term) visa
- VFS Global Germany UAE: Employment visa checklist
Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications or sell visa services. Read the editorial policy.
Last checked 4 November 2026. Fees and procedures can change. Found an error? Email ionicwaleed@gmail.com and it will be fixed and logged.