If you already know what kind of course or exam you need to take in order to balance vocational credentials, then the application process for a Germany visa for the recognition of professional qualifications is not as complicated as it sounds. You will have to follow some simple steps as collecting the required documents, and attending an interview at the German embassy or consulate in your home country.
If the responsible recognition office finds out that the vocational qualification that you received in your country or elsewhere, is not equivalent to that in Germany, then you may have to successfully complete a “compensatory measure”, which is an exam or an adjustment course / training. It is supposed to give you the theoretical and practical qualifications that you lack, in order for you professional qualifications to be recognitive.
Therefore, every person whose professional qualifications were found to be partially equal to the Germany vocational credentials, will have to go through a qualifications program in order to balance the difference noted, as a course, training program or an internship.
To find the right course, which will help you adjust your qualifications as required in Germany, you can search up to the KURSNET offer, which is an official website of the Federal Employment Agency created to help people find qualifications offers. There are various qualifications, which are free and are promoted through the integration through Qualifications (IQ)
In order to attend one of these courses, you have to be in Germany, since these are offered with regular classes throughout Germany. Therefore, if you are still not in Germany you will need to obtain a visa for the recognition of professional qualifications. Otherwise, if you are already in Germany, you can just register the course, pay the necessary fees if required, and attend it.
These are the generally required documents for a Germany visa for recognition of professional qualifications, though depending on the country you come from, the requirements might change:
Upon having gathered all of the required documents, start the application process for the visa by scheduling an appointment at the German embassy/consulate that is closest to your house in your home country. You can usually do that online, but if such an option is not available then you will have to go to the embassy in person and schedule the interview.
On the day of the German visa interview for recognition of vocational credentials, go the embassy/consulate on time with all the required documents organized in the given order. Pay the visa fee and keep the receipt.
Usually, the interview lasts around 10 minutes, in which the interviewer asks you a few questions about your background and the purpose of your trip to Germany.
The fee for a Germany Visa for recognition of vocational credentials is the same as a Germany National (D) visa fee. You will have to pay a fee of 75 euros, or its equivalent in the currency used in your country, according to the current exchange rates approved by the German embassy there.