Recognition of Armenian Diplomas and Certificates in Germany through ZAB
If you are planning to study or work in Germany, you may need to have your diploma or certificate recognized. In Germany, this is handled by ZAB (Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen) – the Central Office for Foreign Education.
The company Business Liga provides services for preparing documents for the recognition of diplomas in Germany, including submitting applications to ZAB, apostille, translation, and notarization.
What is ZAB and when is it needed?
ZAB (Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen) is a state body in Germany that evaluates foreign educational documents and determines their equivalence to German standards.
When is recognition through ZAB required?
✔ For admission to German universities
✔ For employment in Germany
✔ For qualification confirmation (e.g., for doctors, engineers, teachers)
✔ For immigration under the EU Blue Card program
Important! Not all professions require mandatory recognition through ZAB. In liberal professions (e.g., IT), an employer’s assessment is sufficient, but for medicine, law, and pedagogy, recognition is mandatory.
What documents can be recognized by ZAB?
Secondary school certificate – if you plan to study in Germany
Bachelor’s degree diploma – for work or admission to a master’s program
Master’s degree diploma – for employment or admission to a doctoral program
PhD diploma (Doctor of Sciences) – for recognition of an academic degree
Diplomas of secondary specialized education (college, technical school) – if qualification confirmation is needed
Procedure for diploma recognition through ZAB
1. Check in Anabin
Before submitting an application, it is worth checking your university and diploma in the Anabin database (the official ZAB portal).
Possible university statuses:
✔ H+ – University is recognized, diploma is automatically confirmed
✔ H+/- – Individual verification required through ZAB
✔ H- – University is not recognized, diploma may be rejected
If your university is not listed in Anabin, ZAB conducts an individual assessment.
To determine the recognition of Armenian universities in Germany, the Anabin database is used, where each educational institution is assigned a status:
- H+: University is recognized and its diplomas are considered equivalent to German ones.https://studyinfocus.ru
https://cabid.net - H-: University is not recognized, and its diplomas are not considered equivalent to German ones.https://cabid.net
- H+/-: University is partially recognized or recognition depends on the specific program of study.
To check the status of a specific Armenian university, you need to follow these steps:
- Go to the Anabin website: https://studyinfocus.ru, https://cabid.net
- Select the “Institutionen” section
- Switch to the “Suchen” tab
- Select the country “Armenien” and enter the name of the university
- Click the “Suchen” button to get a list of universities with their statuses.
Please note that the Anabin database is updated, and the status of a university may change. If your university is not found or has an H- or H+/- status, it is recommended to contact ZAB (Central Office for Foreign Education) for an individual assessment of your diploma.
To obtain up-to-date information on the status of a specific Armenian university, it is recommended to check its status in the Anabin database yourself, following the steps outlined above.
2. Document Preparation
Submitting to ZAB will require:
✔ Original diploma or certificate
✔ Diploma supplement (if available)
✔ Apostille on documents
✔ Official translation into German
✔ Applicant’s passport
✔ Completed ZAB application form
✔ Payment of the state fee (approx. 200 euros)
Additional documents may be required:
✔ Study program with the number of hours
✔ Proof of work experience (for some professions)
3. Submitting an Application to ZAB
The application can be submitted:
By mail – documents are sent to ZAB in Bonn
Through the online system (if available)
⏳ Processing times:
✔ 2-3 months under normal circumstances
✔ Up to 6 months in complex cases
Cost:
✔ 200 euros per diploma
✔ 100 euros for additional document review
What to do after receiving the ZAB assessment?
For study: If ZAB has recognized the certificate, you can apply to a German university.
For work: If the profession is regulated (doctors, teachers, engineers), you need to submit documents to the Trade Office or Chamber of Crafts.
For immigration: The ZAB assessment can be used when applying for a Blue Card.
How we can help?
We check your university in the Anabin database
We prepare translations and certifications of documents
We help fill out the ZAB application form
We send documents to Germany and track the status
Contact us, and we will help you go through the diploma recognition procedure in Germany without unnecessary complications!