Hamburg Investment and Development Bank (IFB)

Apply for a scholarship program for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications

If you have acquired a foreign professional qualification, you may, under certain conditions, receive support in financing the costs of the recognition procedure.

Detailed description

If you want to work in Germany with a foreign professional qualification, you may need to have it recognized. The "Scholarship Program for the Recognition of Foreign Professional Qualifications" can provide financial support. Funding can cover costs you incur for

  • the recognition procedure
  • a procedure to determine the equivalence of your foreign vocational training
  • Measures to compensate for significant differences between your foreign education and your German education
  • successfully completed, legally required language courses above level B1 with 400 teaching units
  • Childcare and travel related to adaptation measures, language or preparatory courses
  • Learning materials up to 300 euros
  • certain income losses

arise

 

Information

Prerequisites

  • You have a foreign professional qualification.
  • You have had your main residence in Hamburg or
  • You want to relocate your main residence to Hamburg for the purpose of the adaptation measure, and the adaptation measure aims at full professional recognition and will take place in Hamburg.
  • You are registered as unemployed or job-seeking, or you can prove that you are employed below the professional qualifications you acquired abroad, or that you are not yet able to register as job-seeking due to your residence permit.
  • You are a citizen of Germany or another member state of the European Union (EU) or you have a residence permit, a residence permit or a toleration permit.
  • You have a taxable income below 32,000.00 euros per year (for married couples below 50,000.00 euros)

Documents required

  • Identity card or passport (copy)
  • Residence permit, toleration or residence permit
  • Registration certificate
  • Proof of income
  • Statement(s) from the Central Contact Point for Recognition (ZAA) of the Diakonisches Werk Hamburg

If you apply for funding for the recognition procedure before a determination notice is issued, in addition:

  • Proof of relevant professional experience (certified and translated certificates)
  • Tabular list of relevant training and professional activities
  • Written declaration by the Hamburg Employment Agency or Jobcenter team.arbeit.hamburg that no funding can be provided within the placement budget

If you apply for funding for compensatory measures or similar measures for non-regulated professions after a determination notice has been issued, in addition

  • Notice from the competent authority and detailed description of the planned compensatory measure and list of associated costs

Please note

No

Deadlines

There is no deadline.

Procedure

  • You can contact the Central Contact Point for Recognition (ZAA) of the Diakonisches Werk Hamburg and receive advice on funding opportunities and how to apply.
  • Together with the ZAA, you will prepare your application for the scholarship program for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications.
  • You submit the application together with the ZAA digitally to the Hamburg Investment and Development Bank (IFB).
  • The IFB Hamburg will review your application and decide whether to award the scholarship.
  • If you are granted a monthly scholarship to cover your living expenses or if the total of the one-time costs exceeds 4,000 euros, you can conclude a loan agreement with IFB Hamburg.
  • If a monthly scholarship is approved, payment will be made by IFB Hamburg at the start of your compensation measure, the comparable measure for regulated professions, your vocational training or at another contractually agreed date.

Processing time

There is no statutory processing time for the funding program.

Fees

There are no costs involved.

Legal remedies


  • Contradiction

  • Action before the administrative court

Legal basis

Guidelines of the Social Welfare Authority for the awarding of scholarships and grants to promote the recognition of professional qualifications acquired abroad and the potential of skilled workers in vocational training


https://www.hamburg.de/resource/blob/29220/8729b4dba54b3fcdab1ddf1ec9cf7931/richtlinie-stipendienprogramm-ausland-data.pdf




§ 46 State Budget Code (LHO)


https://www.landesrecht-hamburg.de/bsha/document/jlr-HOHA2014rahmen

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Last updated: 10.06.2026