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ZAB Zeugnisbewertung — the 208 € statement that unblocks visa files (2026)

What the ZAB Statement of Comparability is (and is not), when anabin H+ alone is enough, when the 208 € statement is worth it for Blue Card, Chancenkarte and settlement files — and how to apply from India, Pakistan or Bangladesh without falling into the apostille trap.

Anerkennung · ZAB

208 € for the sentence your case officer wants to read

The ZAB Zeugnisbewertung is not a recognition and not a licence. It is an official statement that your foreign degree is comparable to a German one — and for unregulated professions it is often the single most useful piece of paper in a visa file.

Last updated: 2026-07-19· Next review: 2026-10-19

ZAB Statement of Comparability — flat fee, set by the State of Berlin

208 €

Replacement copy 104 €, digital re-download free

Typical processing is around ~3 months (ZAB itself calls it variable; inside a §81a fast-track procedure it is expedited). Pay within 3 weeks of applying or the file is dropped.

What it is — and what it is not

The Zeugnisbewertung (Statement of Comparability) from the ZAB — the Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen at the KMK — maps your foreign university degree to a German qualification level: "comparable to a German Bachelor", "comparable to a German Master".zab.kmk.org

It is NOT Anerkennung. It grants no licence, no title, no right to practise a regulated profession. Doctors and nurses need the state procedure regardless. What the statement does is make an unregulated degree legible to German employers and immigration officers.

First, check anabin — it might be free

Before paying anything, check anabin (anabin.kmk.org), the free public database the ZAB itself maintains:

Institution H+ and degree listed as equivalent Best
What it means
Your university is recognized AND your exact degree type is rated "entspricht"/"gleichwertig"
What to do
Print it. Most employers and immigration offices accept the printout — you may not need the ZAB statement at all
Institution H+/-
What it means
Recognition depends on the programme or accreditation
What to do
ZAB Zeugnisbewertung recommended — this is exactly the ambiguity it resolves
Institution H-
What it means
Not recognized as a higher-education institution
What to do
The degree is unusable for the skilled-worker visa without a ZAB case review — get advice before spending money
Not listed at all
What it means
Common for newer private universities
What to do
Apply for the Zeugnisbewertung; ZAB assesses your case individually and updates anabin

Patterns worth knowing: most Indian public/UGC universities are H+ (since June 2024 private Indian universities face an extra accreditation check); Pakistan's PEC-accredited engineering degrees benefit from Washington-Accord membership; BUET and comparable Bangladeshi public universities are H+ — smaller private ones need checking. These are community-corroborated (~) patterns, not guarantees.

When the 208 € is worth it

Blue Card

Degree not cleanly H+ in anabin → the statement settles it

Chancenkarte

Comparability statement scores points in the §20a system

Settlement

Niederlassungserlaubnis files ask for degree evidence

Employer trust

HR that has never heard of your university reads one sentence

And when it is not: if your job is regulated, the Zeugnisbewertung does not replace the licence procedure — see the Approbation guide. If your degree is cleanly H+ with an equivalent degree type, most files go through on the free printout alone.

How to apply

  1. Gather the documents

    1–2 weeks

    Degree certificate + transcript, proof of identity, and sworn translations for anything not in German or English. From India, Pakistan or Bangladesh: do NOT buy an apostille — Germany rejects apostilles from all three countries. ZAB verifies authenticity through its own channels; budget extra time for that.

  2. Apply online

    1 hour

    The application runs through the ZAB portal; upload scans first, send certified copies if asked. Fee: 208 €, payable within 3 weeks — miss the deadline and the application lapses.

  3. Wait

    ~3 months

    Typical processing is ~3 months (community-corroborated; ZAB states processing time varies). If your case is inside a §81a fast-track skilled-worker procedure, ZAB expedites.

  4. Receive the statement

    done

    Digital statements can be re-downloaded free; a replacement paper copy costs 104 €. The statement does not expire.

Information about German law — not legal advice. This page summarizes publicly available rules from official sources such as Make-it-in-Germany, BAMF, and state portals. Rules change frequently; thresholds, fees, and documents may differ by embassy, state, or case. This is not individualized legal advice within the meaning of the German Rechtsdienstleistungsgesetz (RDG). For advice on your specific situation, consult a licensed Rechtsanwalt or an authorized Migrationsberatung service. GermanDost accepts no liability for decisions you make based on this content.

Last updated: 2026-07-19

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