Recognition of your qualification
For most work visas, your degree or training must be recognised in Germany, and this recognition must be obtained well before the visa application. The procedure is handled by the competent German authorities; the official portal anerkennung-in-deutschland.de tells you which one. For university degrees, the embassy requires a ZAB decision or an extract from the ANABIN database.
The main routes
Qualification measures (§ 16d)
If recognition is only partial, you can come to Germany to complete additional training. The embassy requires in particular the authority's decision stating what is missing, proof of the qualification measure, a CV and a letter in German, insurance and financial means (at least €1,091 per month according to the embassy, via a blocked account or a formal obligation). Registration is done through the embassy's appointment system.
Skilled worker with vocational training (§ 18a)
Equivalence decision for your training, a qualified employment contract, the employer's declaration for the Federal Employment Agency, a CV in German or English, and health insurance.
Skilled worker with a university degree (§ 18b)
Employment contract matching the degree, employer's declaration, ZAB decision or ANABIN extract, and, for regulated professions (health, teaching, engineering…), the corresponding licence to practise.
EU Blue Card (§ 18g)
For university graduates with a qualified contract and a minimum salary set each year by Germany. The thresholds change on 1 January: check the current amount on the official websites before signing.
Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte, § 20a)
It allows you to come to look for a job or a qualification measure, with a fully recognised qualification or through a points system. According to the embassy, it cannot be used to carry out the recognition procedure itself. Applications go through the Auslandsportal; the wait for an appointment can exceed one year.
Fast-track procedure (§ 81a)
Your future employer can obtain prior approval from the immigration authorities in Germany. The wait for an appointment is then only a few weeks, and the application is submitted at VFS Global in Yaoundé.
Fees and submission
The national visa costs 50,000 FCFA (25,000 FCFA under 18), plus VFS service fees when the application is submitted there. Applicants over 45 must also attach a signed notice concerning their retirement provision.
The role of German
Even when the visa does not require a certificate, German often determines hiring, recognition (for example B2 for many health professions) and integration at work. Our courses in Bafoussam take you from A1 to C1, with preparation for the Goethe, TestDaF, telc, ÖSD and ECL exams.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to get my degree recognised before leaving?
In principle yes, well before the visa application: the recognition procedure takes place in Germany (portal anerkennung-in-deutschland.de; ANABIN or ZAB for university degrees).
Can the Opportunity Card be used to get my degree recognised?
No: according to the embassy, it is for looking for a job or a qualification measure, not for carrying out the recognition procedure itself.
Do I need to speak German for a work visa?
It depends on the visa. For a skilled job, the embassy asks for language certificates if you have them; for qualification measures, the level depends on the training. In all cases, German makes hiring and integration easier.
What is the fast-track procedure?
When the employer obtains prior approval from the immigration authorities in Germany (§ 81a), the wait for an appointment at the embassy is much shorter.
Can my CV be in English?
Yes for most work visas; the embassy requires German for qualification measures (§ 16d).
Official sources
- Work and qualification visa (page in German) — German Embassy in Yaoundé
- Employment visa (page in French) — German Embassy in Yaoundé
- Skilled Immigration Act — Auswärtiges Amt
Last checked by the institute: 03/10/2026. In case of any discrepancy, the embassy's website prevails.