ZAB Statement of Comparability (Zeugnisbewertung)
Definition
A ZAB Statement of Comparability is an official German document, issued by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) on behalf of all 16 federal states, that describes a foreign university degree and compares it with German degrees. It is used for visas and non-regulated jobs, but it is not professional recognition and does not let you work as a doctor or nurse.
Also called: Statement of Comparability, Zeugnisbewertung, ZAB evaluation, ZAB certificate, Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen
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What is the ZAB Statement of Comparability?
The ZAB (Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen) is part of the Standing Conference of education ministers and is based in Bonn. Its brochure explains that a Statement of Comparability lets holders of foreign university degrees prove that their degree is comparable to a German one, and that it issues these statements for all 16 states. It received 118,370 applications in 2024.
The statement is issued only in German, is valid throughout Germany and does not expire. It is now issued digitally, with a legally valid electronic signature. The ZAB states that no legal claims can be derived from it, including against recognition authorities.
Who needs it, and who does not
The ZAB is clear: for a regulated profession, such as physician, you always need professional recognition from the competent authority, and a Statement of Comparability is not sufficient. Doctors, nurses, midwives and other licensed health professionals therefore go through the Anerkennungsverfahren instead.
The statement is the right document for non-regulated academic professions, and it is often used for work visas, including the EU Blue Card, and for public sector job applications. A health graduate moving into an unregulated role, such as research, might use one. Separately, the ZAB's Gutachtenstelle für Gesundheitsberufe (GfG) assesses health qualifications for the state authorities, but you do not apply to it directly.
How to apply
- Run the online pre-check on the ZAB portal to confirm your degree can be evaluated and see the document checklist.
- Log in with a BundID account and complete the online application.
- Upload scans of your documents in the original language, plus translations if the checklist asks for them. An apostille or certified copy is generally not needed.
- Pay the fee within three weeks of the fee notice. Processing starts only once the fee is received in full.
- Download the statement from your account.
How long it takes and what it costs
- Fee: €208, set by the State of Berlin's fee regulation. A replacement costs €104. Fees cannot be waived.
- Processing time: 3 months for a regular application, 2 months within the fast-track procedure for skilled workers, and 2 weeks when the statement is needed for an EU Blue Card.
The ZAB may refuse to issue a statement if the university or programme was not recognised, the degree has no German equivalent, the programme was not completed, or the documents raise reasonable doubts. You can also check how your institution and degree are rated in the ZAB's anabin database, which covers qualifications from more than 200 countries.
Related ZAB services
Since mid-2024 the ZAB has also issued a Statement on a Foreign Vocational Qualification for people with non-academic vocational training, which supports some newer immigration routes. If you hold more than one university degree, you can ask for several to be evaluated in one application, and you receive a separate statement for each.
Questions
No. Medicine is a regulated profession, and the ZAB says a Statement of Comparability is not sufficient for regulated professions. You need recognition and an Approbation or Berufserlaubnis from the state authority.
Not to work as a registered nurse, which is regulated and needs recognition from the state authority. A visa officer or employer may ask for other documents depending on your route, so check the visa requirements.
€208 for a statement and €104 for a replacement. The fee must be paid within three weeks of the fee notice and cannot be waived, although some funding bodies may cover it.
It does not expire and is valid throughout Germany. Statements issued on paper before the switch to digital also remain valid.
Generally no. A simple scan is usually enough, but the pre-check may set other requirements in individual cases. Documents must be in the original language, with translations added if required.
Anabin is the ZAB's information portal on foreign education. It holds verified information on institutions and qualifications from more than 200 countries and helps you check how your degree is likely to be assessed.