Berufsabschlüssen der DDR durch die IHK anerkennen lassen

If you acquired a skilled worker's or master craftsman's qualification in the GDR, you can apply to the locally competent Chamber of Industry and Commerce for a determination of equivalence with a Federal German vocational qualification.

Please use the form of the responsible IHK for your application.

Further proof and documents:

• Application for equality/recognition, in writing and signed by hand
• Copy of identity card or passport
• certified copy of the original certificate and the original certificate of professional qualification (e.g. skilled worker's certificate and certificate, master craftsman's certificate and certificate)
• Declaration that no application has been made to any other Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Chamber of Crafts or other body for verification of the documents.

Note: All copies must be submitted in officially certified form.

A fee of EUR 20 to EUR 60 is charged for the examination and processing of the procedure. Please refer to the respective fee tariff of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce for information.

The fully completed application form and all required documents can be

• by fax,
• returned by post or
• delivered in person or
• by e-mail, but only if you sign the form with an electronically qualified signature.

The duration of the recognition procedure at the competent authorities varies, but in the maximum case it is up to eight months, as each individual case has to be examined.