Authority for Economic Affairs and Innovation

Recognition of foreign qualifications for security guards, insurance, finance and real estate loan brokers, and fee-based consultants

Prerequisites

• They possess a professional qualification as a security guard, insurance consultant, insurance agent, financial investment advisor, fee-based financial investment advisor or real estate loan broker from abroad.
• You have sufficient German language skills. The specific language level you need may vary depending on the individual case.
• They wish to settle permanently in Germany and work in one of the aforementioned professions.

Documents required

• The documents you need to submit vary depending on the individual case. Generally, important documents include:
  • Proof of identity (officially certified copy of identity card or passport)
  • List in tabular form with your education and professional experience (resume)
  • Training certificates
  • Evidence of relevant professional experience
  • other certificates of competence
• If the profession is regulated in your country of training:
  • A certificate confirming that you are authorized to practice the profession in your country of training. The responsible authority will inform you which documents you must submit as originals or certified copies.

Your documents must be submitted in German. Translations must be done by publicly appointed or authorized translators.

Please note

• If you wish to work permanently as a self-employed professional in the aforementioned occupations, you will also need a permit. This permit allows you to operate these professions permanently and independently as a business. You must meet several requirements to obtain this permit. One important requirement is proof of expertise. You apply for the permit through a separate process.
• If you are resident in an EU or EEA country or Switzerland, you do not need recognition of your professional qualifications for temporary and occasional work as a service provider in Germany. However, certain conditions apply:
  • You must notify the relevant authority of your work before commencing any activity.
  • The notification will be made in a different procedure.
• Procedures for late repatriates:
  • As a late repatriate, you can choose to undergo the recognition procedure either according to the laws mentioned here or according to the Federal Expellees Act. The choice is yours.

Deadlines

No.

Procedure

• They submit an “application for recognition of foreign qualifications and training certificates” to the relevant authority.
• For professional qualifications from the EU, the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland:
  • You can submit the application and documents directly to the responsible authority or to a Single Point of Contact. You can also submit the application electronically via the Single Point of Contact.
• The responsible authority compares your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification and checks its equivalence.
• If your professional qualification is equivalent:
  • Your professional qualifications will be recognized.
  • You will receive the certificate of equivalence (recognition certificate) by mail or electronically.
• If your professional qualification is not equivalent, it will not be recognized.
  • You will receive notification regarding the differences in your professional qualifications. You then have the right to a compensatory measure: this could be a "specific competence examination" or "supplementary instruction". The responsible authority will inform you about the options.
  • If you successfully complete the compensatory measure, you will receive the certificate of equivalence.
  • With the certificate of equivalence, you can apply for a permit for the corresponding trade. You will need to submit a separate application for this.

Processing time

Processing can take up to three months.

Fees

There will be costs involved. These costs may vary depending on the individual case.

Legal remedies

contradiction

Legal basis

Designation: §§ 13c, 34a, 34d, 34f, 34h, 34i trade regulations


URL: https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/gewo/__13c.html




Designation: § 6 Insurance Mediation Ordinance


URL: http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/versvermv_2018/__6.html




Designation: § 5 Financial Investment Mediation Ordinance


URL: https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/finvermv/__5.html




Designation: § 5 Real Estate Loan Mediation Ordinance


URL: https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/immvermv/__5.html