EU Blue Card CV and degree recognition: anabin, the ZAB and the degree line
For a German EU Blue Card your degree must be comparable to a German one: find your university (status H+) and degree in anabin, or get a ZAB Statement of Comparability, then state that result on your CV.1
Written 13 October 2026. CitedCV. How we write our guides
First step: look up your university and degree in anabin
anabin is the database of the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB), run by the Kultusministerkonferenz. The Federal Employment Agency's international service says that for non-regulated professions, a printout from anabin can establish that a foreign degree is comparable. You need two entries: one for the institution and one for the degree.
- Open anabin and click Institutionen, then the tab Suchen nach Institutionen.
- Choose the country where your university is, type part of its name and open the record.
- Read the section Status: H+, H+/- or H-.
- Go back, click Hochschulabschlüsse, then Suchen nach Abschlüssen, and look up your degree in the same country.
- Open the degree record and read the section Bewertung, which says how the degree compares with a German one.
- Print or save both records as PDF. Keep them with your application papers, not inside the CV.
What the status codes mean
anabin's own search guide says foreign degrees can as a rule only be recognised if they were earned at a state or state-recognised institution, and those carry the status H+. H+/- means that degrees from some countries must meet further criteria. If your institution or degree is not listed at all, anabin says the database is not complete and you can apply for a Statement of Comparability instead.
What anabin showed for Turkish universities on 12 October 2026
We read anabin's institution list for Türkei on 12 October 2026. It held 231 institutions, every one with status H+: 129 state universities, 97 private foundation universities, 4 military schools and 1 academy. The degree type Lisans / Bachelor was rated 'entspricht', with the note that it corresponds to a German degree at bachelor level. Yüksek Lisans with thesis (tezli) corresponds to a German master's; Yüksek Lisans without thesis (tezsiz) is rated only 'bedingt vergleichbar', conditionally comparable. A two-year Ön Lisans is compared with a German Fachschule, not with a university degree.
How the Blue Card rules work in 2026
The Blue Card is in Section 18g of the Residence Act (AufenthG). For a person with a degree, it requires a job that fits the qualification and a salary of at least 50 percent of the annual contribution ceiling of the statutory pension insurance. A lower bar of 45.3 percent applies to listed occupation groups and to anyone whose degree is no more than three years old; in those cases the Federal Employment Agency (BA) must approve. The job offer must run for at least six months.
| Threshold | 2026 amount (gross a year) | Who it applies to | BA approval |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50% of the pension contribution ceiling | €50,700 | Any graduate in a job that fits the degree | Not needed |
| 45.3% of the ceiling | €45,934.20 | Shortage occupation groups, or a degree earned no more than three years before applying | Needed; the BA checks that pay and conditions match local staff |
| 45.3% of the ceiling, no degree | €45,934.20 | IT professionals with at least three years of experience in the last seven | Needed |
The Federal Ministry of the Interior published both 2026 amounts in the Bundesanzeiger on 18 December 2025 (BAnz AT 18.12.2025 B3); we read that notice on 12 October 2026. The BA's international service adds that bonuses count toward the salary only when they carry no conditions such as sales targets.
Shortage occupation groups named in the law
Section 18g(1) lists them by ISCO-08 code, the International Labour Organization classification. The names below are the ILO titles.
- 132 Manufacturing, mining, construction and distribution managers
- 133 Information and communications technology service managers
- 134 Professional services managers
- 21 Science and engineering professionals
- 221 Medical doctors; 222 Nursing and midwifery professionals; 225 Veterinarians; 226 Other health professionals
- 23 Teaching professionals
- 25 Information and communications technology professionals
No degree, IT job
Section 18g(2) opens the Blue Card to IT professionals without a degree. What their CV has to prove is covered on the developer CV page.
Regulated professions and the engineer title
The ZAB says a Statement of Comparability is not enough for a regulated profession such as physician or teacher; those need professional recognition. The protected title Ingenieur is handled by the states' chambers and is explained on the engineer CV page.
When you need a ZAB Statement of Comparability
If your university or your degree is missing from anabin, or carries no usable rating, apply to the ZAB for a Statement of Comparability (Zeugnisbewertung). The ZAB's fast-track page says that when both the programme and the university are listed with the required rating, the degree counts as comparable and no statement is necessary. Some employers ask for one anyway, and the ZAB notes the public sector often does.
| Point | What the ZAB says (read 12 October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Fee | €208, set by the State of Berlin; a replacement costs €104 |
| Regular processing time | 3 months, counted from when all documents and the full fee have arrived |
| For a Blue Card | Target of 2 weeks after the fee arrives, if you state the Blue Card purpose and upload a signed German employment contract or a signed letter of intent |
| Fast-track procedure (Section 81a) | Processed within 2 months; it must be started by an immigration authority |
| Language and validity | Issued only in German, valid throughout Germany, does not expire |
| Account | Online only, through a BundID account; issued as a PDF with a digital seal |
What the statement contains
According to the ZAB, it names the degree, programme and university, the length and mode of study, the date and place of graduation, confirms that the university and programme were recognised, and names the matching German level, for example bachelor or master. It does not convert foreign grades into German ones; the page on converting Turkish grades covers that.
Sample degree lines for a Blue Card CV
The degree line is where the reader checks comparability. Keep the original degree name so it matches your diploma, add a translation, and add one short phrase with the source of the comparison. The names and dates below are examples: replace them with your own, and only claim the rating your own anabin record or ZAB statement shows.
Case A: H+ university, degree listed in anabin
| Version | Degree line |
|---|---|
| English CV | 09/2014 to 06/2018 Lisans (Bachelor) in Makine Mühendisliği (Mechanical Engineering), Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi (METU), Ankara, Türkiye. anabin: institution H+, degree corresponds to a German bachelor’s degree. |
| German CV | 09/2014 – 06/2018 Lisans (Bachelor), Makine Mühendisliği (Maschinenbau), Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi (ODTÜ), Ankara, Türkei. Laut anabin: Hochschule H+, Abschluss entspricht einem deutschen Hochschulabschluss auf Bachelorebene. |
| Why it works | Original name for the diploma check, translation for the reader, status and rating in anabin’s own words. |
Case B: degree assessed by the ZAB
| Version | Degree line |
|---|---|
| English CV | 09/2015 to 07/2019 Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering, [university], [city], [country]. ZAB Statement of Comparability of [month/year]: comparable to a German bachelor’s degree. |
| German CV | 09/2015 – 07/2019 Bachelor of Science, Computer Engineering (Technische Informatik), [Hochschule], [Ort], [Land]. Zeugnisbewertung der ZAB vom [Datum]: vergleichbar mit einem deutschen Bachelorabschluss. |
| Why it works | It points to a document the authority and the employer can verify through the digital seal. |
Case C: a non-thesis master
If your master's is a Yüksek Lisans (tezsiz), anabin rates the type only conditionally comparable. Write the degree as 'Yüksek Lisans (tezsiz), non-thesis master, 1.5 years' and do not call it equal to a German master. Base the Blue Card on your bachelor's line, which anabin rates as corresponding.
- Dates as month and year, start and end.
- City and country of the university, so the record is easy to find in anabin.
- One comparability phrase per degree, no more.
- Attach the anabin printout or the ZAB statement to the application, not to the CV.
- Keep the original grade; convert it only if an institution asks.
Proof: what we read and when
Every rule above comes from these pages, all read on 12 October 2026. Links are under Sources.
| Claim | Source |
|---|---|
| 50% and 45.3% thresholds, ISCO groups, six-month job offer | Section 18g AufenthG, gesetze-im-internet.de |
| €50,700 and €45,934.20 for 2026 | Federal Ministry of the Interior notice, BAnz AT 18.12.2025 B3 |
| anabin printout as proof; BA checks pay; bonuses without conditions count | Bundesagentur für Arbeit, ZAV International Services, issue 03/2026 |
| H+, H+/- and how to search | anabin search guides |
| 231 Turkish institutions, all H+; Lisans rated as bachelor level | anabin institution and degree records for Türkei |
| €208, 3 months, 2 weeks for a Blue Card, German only | ZAB service portal: fees, application, EU Blue Card, FAQ |
| ISCO-08 group titles | International Labour Organization, ISCO-08 |
Thresholds are set again every year and rules change. Check the linked official pages before you apply.
Who this page is not for
- Doctors, nurses, teachers and other regulated professions: you need professional recognition from the competent authority, not only a comparability check.
- People with a vocational qualification rather than a degree: the skilled trades page covers chamber recognition.
- Job seekers without an offer: the Chancenkarte page covers the points route.
- People whose degree is older than three years and whose job is outside the listed groups: only the €50,700 threshold applies.
Next steps
- Save your anabin records, or apply to the ZAB if anything is missing.
- Write the degree line as in the samples, then the rest of the CV in the German tabular format.
- Check that the job in your offer fits your degree; the BA’s international service says the Blue Card position must match your qualification.
- Prepare the visa file; the national visa page lists which CV the missions ask for.
CitedCV can write the CV in German or English with German conventions, from the degree, dates and jobs you enter. It does not look anything up in anabin, so you add the rating yourself.
Questions people ask
What is the EU Blue Card salary for 2026?
It is €50,700 gross a year, or €45,934.20 for shortage occupation groups, recent graduates and IT professionals without a degree, according to the Interior Ministry notice of December 2025.
What does H+ mean in anabin?
H+ means the institution is state or state-recognised, so degrees from it can as a rule be recognised in Germany. H+/- means further criteria apply for some countries.
Do I need a ZAB statement if my university is H+?
Usually not, if both your university and your degree are listed with the required rating; the ZAB says the degree then counts as comparable. Some employers still ask for one.
How long does the ZAB Statement of Comparability take?
The regular time is three months after the documents and the €208 fee arrive. For a Blue Card with a signed contract, the ZAB aims for two weeks.
Is a Turkish bachelor degree recognised in Germany?
anabin rates the Turkish Lisans / Bachelor as corresponding to a German bachelor-level degree, and on 12 October 2026 listed all 231 Turkish institutions it holds as H+.
How do I write my degree on a Blue Card CV?
Give the original degree name, a translation, the university, city, country and dates, then one phrase with the anabin rating or the ZAB statement date.
Is a non-thesis master enough for the Blue Card?
anabin rates the Turkish Yüksek Lisans without thesis only as conditionally comparable, so build the application on your bachelor degree and describe the master accurately.
Can I use the lower Blue Card salary as a new graduate?
Yes, if your degree was earned no more than three years before you apply, in any occupation, with Federal Employment Agency approval.
Sources
- Section 18g AufenthG, Blaue Karte EU (gesetze-im-internet.de)www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__18g.html
- Bundesministerium des Innern, Bekanntmachung zu § 18g AufenthG über die Mindestgehälter 2026, BAnz AT 18.12.2025 B3www.bundesanzeiger.de/pub/publication/REViP4bN6jVdpGxPaiQ/content/REViP4bN6jVdpGxPaiQ/BAnz%20AT%2018.12.2025%20B3.pdf
- Bundesagentur für Arbeit, ZAV International Services, EU Blue Card (issue 03/2026)www.arbeitsagentur.de/vor-ort/zav/working-and-living-in-germany/iss-en/issue-03-2026/blue-card
- anabin, search guide: recognition of a foreign universityanabin.kmk.org/rechercheanleitung-hochschule
- anabin, search guide: evaluation of a university degreeanabin.kmk.org/rechercheanleitung-hochschulabschluss
- anabin, institutions databaseanabin.kmk.org/db/institutionen
- ZAB, Statement of Comparability for an EU Blue Cardzab.kmk.org/en/eu-blue-card
- ZAB, Statement of Comparability: feeszab.kmk.org/en/statement-comparability/fees
- ZAB, Statement of Comparability: applicationzab.kmk.org/en/statement-comparability/application
- ZAB, Fast-Track Procedure for Skilled Workerszab.kmk.org/en/statement-comparability/fast-track-procedure
- ZAB, FAQ on the Statement of Comparabilityzab.kmk.org/en/statement-of-comparability/faq
- International Labour Organization, ISCO-08isco.ilo.org/en/isco-08/