Recognition of foreign professional qualifications of Spätaussiedler (ethnic German resettlers) under the Bundesvertriebenengesetz (BVFG, Federal Expellees Act)

• Place of residence Berlin You must live in Berlin in order to be able to submit an application. • Status as a Spätaussiedler/in (late repatriate) You are yourself a Spätaussiedler or Spätaussiedlerin, or you are listed by name in a Spätaussiedlerbescheinigung (late repatriate certificate) as a spouse, child, or further descendant. • Place of the examination or qualification You took your examination or acquired your certificate of qualification in an Aussiedlungsgebiet (resettlement area) before your departure. • Equivalence of the examinations Your foreign qualification must be equivalent to the corresponding German reference profession.

• Application for recognition of a foreign educational qualification under the BFVG Please submit the application in writing by post. • Proof of identity and proof of registration of residence Personalausweis (identity card) or passport with a confirmation of the Anmeldung (registration of residence) in Berlin. • If you wish, you may send a copy; alternatively, the original Personalausweis (identity card) or passport must be presented • Spätaussiedlerbescheinigung (certificate of status as a late repatriate) or ID card for expellees and refugees www.bva.bund.de/DE/Services/Buerger/Migration-Integration/Sp Certificate under § 15 para. 1 or para. 2 of the Gesetz über die Angelegenheiten der Vertriebenen und Flüchtlinge (BVFG, Act on the Affairs of Expellees and Refugees) or Vertriebenenausweis (expellee ID card), in copy • Examination certificate or other proof of qualification E.g. vocational training diploma or master craftsman's diploma (Meisterdiplom), in copy • Arbeitsbuch (work record book), if available Proof of professional activity, in copy • Translations For documents in a language other than German, translations by a state-examined or publicly appointed and sworn interpreter or translator must be enclosed, in copy. • If your name has changed: birth and marriage certificate, in copy • It is possible that you may additionally need to present originals or certified copies, or submit further documents. You will be informed of this separately.

• Application for recognition of a foreign educational qualification under the BFVG (available from your competent authority)

none

• Bundesvertriebenengesetz (BVFG, Federal Expellees Act) § 10 www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bvfg/__10.html • Berufsbildungsgesetz (BBiG, Vocational Training Act) § 3 www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bbig_2005/__3.html • Gesetz über das Verfahren der Berliner Verwaltung (VwVfG Bln, Berlin Administrative Procedure Act) § 1 gesetze.berlin.de/bsbe/document/jlr-VwVfGBE2016pP1

Usually 4 - 6 weeks

• Berufliche Anerkennung für Spätaussiedlerinnen und Spätaussiedler [professional recognition for Spätaussiedler (late resettlers)] (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge [Federal Office for Migration and Refugees]) www.bamf.de/SharedDocs/Anlagen/DE/Integration/AnerkennungBer • Gleichstellung der Abschlüsse von Spätaussiedlerinnen und Spätaussiedlern [equal status of qualifications held by Spätaussiedler] (Senatsverwaltung für Arbeit, Soziales, Gleichstellung, Integration, Vielfalt und Antidiskriminierung [Senate Department for Labour, Social Affairs, Equality, Integration, Diversity and Anti-Discrimination]) www.berlin.de/sen/arbeit/weiterbildung/berufsanerkennung/spa • Anerkennung und Bewertung von Studienabschlüssen und Führung ausländischer Hochschulgrade und -titel [recognition and assessment of degrees and use of foreign higher education degrees and titles] (Senatsverwaltung für Wissenschaft, Gesundheit und Pflege [Senate Department for Science, Health and Care]) www.berlin.de/sen/wissenschaft/studium/abschluesse-und-titel • Hochschulabschlüsse von Spätaussiedlern [higher education degrees held by Spätaussiedler] (Senatsverwaltung für Wissenschaft, Gesundheit und Pflege) berlin.de/sen/wissenschaft/studium/abschluesse-und-titelfueh

Which office is responsible in your case depends on your foreign qualification. You must also live in Berlin if you want to submit an application here. Senatsverwaltung für Arbeit, Soziales, Gleichstellung, Integration, Vielfalt und Antidiskriminierung (Senate Department for Labour, Social Affairs, Equality, Integration, Diversity and Anti-Discrimination) Responsible for equating your qualification with the following German qualifications: dual training and further-education programmes regulated under the Berufsbildungsgesetz (Vocational Training Act) or the Handwerksordnung (Trade and Crafts Code) (e.g. journeyman's and skilled-worker's certificates, including some healthcare training occupations such as Medizinische Fachangestellte or Zahnmedizinische Fachangestellte [medical or dental assistant]; advanced further-education qualifications such as Handwerksmeister/-in [master craftsperson], Industriemeister/-in [industrial foreman/forewoman] or Fachwirt/-in [certified specialist]) Other authorities are responsible for all other foreign educational qualifications. The Senatsverwaltung für Arbeit, Soziales, Gleichstellung, Integration, Vielfalt und Antidiskriminierung will advise you on which authority is responsible.