Visa for recognising a professional qualification in Germany: how the Section 16d permit works

3 min read · 8 steps · Updated 3 October 2026

Many people who apply for recognition of a foreign qualification do not get a plain yes. The office finds gaps and asks for an adaptation course, a bridging programme or an exam. If you are still abroad, that is a problem, because you cannot attend without a visa. The residence permit under Section 16d of the Residence Act exists for exactly this gap. It lets you come to Germany to close the differences and then move on to a work permit.

This is general information, not legal advice. For your own case, speak to an advice centre.

Step by step

1. Check that you qualify

   The permit is for people whose qualification was checked by the responsible German recognition office and found to be only partly equal. You need that written notice. If you have not applied yet, start there: getting a foreign professional qualification recognised in Germany.

   Done

2. Have the German level

   As a rule you need German at level A2 of the European framework. In regulated professions such as nursing, medicine or teaching, the course or the recognition office often asks for B1 or higher, and you must show a certificate from a recognised examiner. Which level suits which job: which German level do you need.

   Done

3. Register for the training

   Find a course that closes the gaps the recognition office named: an adaptation course, a preparation course for the knowledge test, or a practical phase in a company. The registration or the contract is part of the visa file. If an employer wants to train you on the job, you need the employment contract and a letter from the employer.

   Done

4. Show that you can pay for your stay

   You must prove that your living costs are covered, either with a blocked account or with a declaration of commitment from someone in Germany. In 2026 the blocked account must hold 1,091 euros for each month of the stay. How that works: blocked account for Germany 2026.

   Done

5. Apply at the German mission

   Submit the application at the German embassy or consulate in the country where you live. Citizens of countries that may enter Germany without a visa can apply at the immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) after arrival. Typical documents: the recognition notice saying that further training is needed, the foreign qualification certificate, the course registration or contract, the language certificate, the proof of funds and the usual passport and photos.

   Done

6. Report after you arrive

   Within three months of entering Germany you must go to the immigration office of your new town and apply for the residence permit itself. Register your address first: how to register your address in Germany.

   Done

7. Know the limits of the permit

   The permit is issued for the length of the training, usually up to 24 months, and can be extended by at most 12 months if the course takes longer than planned. If you only need a qualification analysis or an exam rather than a course, the permit is limited to six months. Alongside the training you may work up to 20 hours a week in any job. Working more than that in your own profession needs a specific job offer and the consent of the Federal Employment Agency.

   Done

8. Switch to a work permit at the end

   When the recognition is complete and you have a job, a training place or a university place, you apply for a residence permit as a skilled worker, trainee or student. If you have not found a job yet, you can apply for a permit to look for one under Section 20 of the Residence Act.

   Done

Good to know

Nurses and other health professionals are the largest group using this route. Their special case: nurse in Germany from Pakistan.

If the course is in German and your German is still weak, a vocational language course can run alongside, often free of charge: vocational language courses in Germany.

People already in Germany with another permit, for example as students or family members, do not need this visa: they can usually take the training on their existing permit. Ask the immigration office.

Free advice before you apply comes from the Pro Recognition service of the German chambers abroad and from the Fair Integration and migration advice centres in Germany.

Rules, amounts and deadlines change. Check the official source named at the end before you act, and ask the office in your city, because procedures differ from town to town.

In short: Recognition notice saying training is needed, German A2 or more, course registration, 1,091 euros a month in a blocked account, apply at the embassy. Up to 24 months plus 12, 20 hours of work a week, then a skilled-worker permit.