Our mission - your success

IHK FOSA is the recognition body for foreign qualifications comparable to IHK professions. As a nationwide competence center of 76 Chambers of Industry and Commerce, we carry out the recognition procedure.

We show who is a skilled worker

With the IHK FOSA equivalency notification, people having acquired professional qualifications abroad can show that they are skilled workers. This enables entrepreneurs assessing qualifications acquired abroad more easily.

What is our mission?

Based on the Professional Qualifications Assessment Act (BQFG), the recognition of foreign professional qualifications comparable to IHK professions is assessed. Relevant professional experience and certificates of competence are taken into consideration in this process. This is relevant in case there are material differences between the foreign professional qualification and the corresponding German reference profession.

How do we work?

IHK FOSA is a centralized body standing for consistent and high quality decisions. Our organization combines country expertise on training systems worldwide with the multilingualism of our team. This knowledge base strengthens our work in a special way.

Who uses our process?

Tens of thousands of skilled workers from all over the world have already made use of the legal opportunities and submitted an application to IHK FOSA. More and more companies are recognising the value of the procedure as a transparency tool. An equivalency notification from IHK FOSA is therefore a solid component for securing the skilled labour needs of the German economy.

Skilled worker immigration

Recognition - important and correct

The recognition procedure is an instrument of transparency. The recognition notification provides international skilled workers with a legally binding notice allowing to show on the German labour market what they've learned. A notice about full or partial equivalence also opens up the way for immigration to Germany, e.g. to take up or seek employment. Find out how recognition helps you to immigrate here.

IHK FOSA in figures

IHK reference professions

Languages at first language level

Countries

Prepare the recognition procedure

Make use of the exisiting counselling services before submitting your application. Get familiarised with the recognition procedure. Find out which documents have to be submitted in any event and save preparation time.

Application for Recognition

In case you have all documents to be submitted ready and there are no further questions about the recognition procedure, you can jump directly to the application process here.