anabin and the ZAB Statement of Comparability

What it is

anabin is a public database from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB), part of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education (KMK). German authorities, employers and applicants use it to see how a foreign university and a foreign degree compare with the German system. The interface is mostly in German, so keep a translator open.

The Statement of Comparability (Zeugnisbewertung) is an official certificate from the ZAB that compares your foreign university degree with a German qualification. The ZAB is clear about what it is not: it does not give you university admission, it does not let you work in a regulated profession, and it does not convert your grades.

Who it is for

Anyone with a degree from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nigeria or elsewhere who wants an EU Blue Card, an Opportunity Card or another German work visa. Recognition is the step most people leave too late.

How to read anabin

Search in three places: the institution (Institutionen), the degree type (Hochschulabschlüsse, Suchen nach Abschlusstypen) and your degree programme (Suchen nach Abschlüssen).

• H+ next to your university means it is accepted as a higher education institution. H+/- means it is accepted only for some degrees or periods, and H- means it is not accepted.
• For the degree, look for the classification "entspricht" (corresponds) or "gleichwertig" (equivalent).

German missions' checklists say an anabin printout of both the institution and the qualification is usually enough, as long as the university is H+ and the degree is rated "entspricht" or "gleichwertig". If either is missing, they ask for a Statement of Comparability instead.

When you need the Statement of Comparability

• Your university or degree is not in anabin, or not rated as above.
• The German mission or foreigners authority says the anabin information is not enough. The ZAB itself tells applicants to ask that authority.
• Some employers, especially in the public sector, ask for it anyway.

Numbers to know (as of 2026)

According to the ZAB's FAQ, a Statement of Comparability costs EUR 208, payable within 3 weeks of the fee notice. Processing takes about 3 months for a regular application, 2 months within the employer-led Fast-Track Procedure for Skilled Workers, and 2 weeks when it is needed for an EU Blue Card. Applications are fully online, through a personal account on the ZAB website.

Common mistakes

• Booking a visa appointment before checking anabin.
• Assuming a university with a similar name is yours. Match the exact name and city.
• Paying a middleman to "speed up" the ZAB. The ZAB says applications cannot be expedited.
• Never pay anyone who promises a job or a visa in return. Recognition is a fixed public fee, paid to the ZAB.

Where to go next on Sefism

• Plan the move step by step with the Tech jobs abroad roadmap and keep its cheat sheet open while you apply.
• See how recognition fits the visa routes on Make it in Germany.
• Get your Pakistani degree attested first: HEC degree attestation and apostille.
• Read How to get a tech job in Europe from Pakistan or India.