Anabin Degree Check 2026: How to Verify Your University & Degree for Germany
If you are planning to study in Germany, work in Germany, or apply for a German visa after completing your degree abroad, one question matters early in the process: Is your university degree recognized in Germany?
For many international students, especially applicants from India, the first place to check is anabin. It is Germany’s official database for information about foreign educational qualifications and institutions. Authorities, employers and individuals can use it to understand how a foreign qualification is classified within the German education system. (anabin)
However, checking anabin correctly involves more than finding your university and seeing an H+ status. In many cases, you should check both your university and your degree. (Make it in Germany)
What Is anabin?
anabin is an official German database that provides information about foreign universities and educational qualifications.
For university graduates, the two most important sections are:
- Institutionen — for checking the recognition status of your university.
- Hochschulabschlüsse — for checking how your academic qualification is evaluated. (anabin)
This information can be useful for employment, immigration and qualification-comparability procedures in Germany.
Does anabin Decide Whether You Can Study in Germany?
No.
anabin can help you understand how your foreign university and qualification are classified, but it does not give you admission to a German university.
Universities have their own admission rules. They may separately check:
- your previous degree;
- grades;
- relevant subjects;
- ECTS or academic credits;
- language requirements;
- entrance examinations; and
- programme-specific eligibility.
So, a positive result on anabin should not be treated as guaranteed university admission.
How to Check Your University on anabin
The first step is to check the institution that awarded your degree.
Step 1: Search Under “Institutionen”
Open the institution search in anabin.
Select the country where your university is located and search for the university using its official name or part of the name. anabin’s official instructions recommend this process for identifying an institution and checking its status. (anabin)
For an Indian degree, choose India as the country.
Step 2: Open Your University Record
Once your university appears in the search results, open the record.
Look for the Status section.
anabin uses three main statuses:
- H+
- H+/-
- H- (anabin)
Understanding these correctly is essential.
What Does H+ Mean on anabin?
H+ is a positive institutional status.
It generally means that the institution is recognized as a higher education institution in its country of origin and is classified accordingly for German assessment purposes. anabin identifies state or state-recognized institutions that meet these criteria with H+. (anabin)
However, there is an important distinction:
H+ refers primarily to your university, not automatically to every degree it awards.
For official proof of degree comparability in certain immigration procedures, Germany’s official “Make it in Germany” guidance says the university should normally be H+ and the academic degree itself should also have a positive evaluation. (Make it in Germany)
What Does H+/- Mean on anabin?
An H+/- status means additional conditions may need to be checked before a clear assessment can be made.
This can happen where recognition depends on factors such as:
- the specific qualification;
- programme conditions;
- accreditation;
- the period in which the qualification was awarded; or
- other country-specific requirements.
Germany’s official guidance states that if an institution is H+/-, the relevant academic degree may also need to be listed specifically in connection with the institution. (Make it in Germany)
So, do not treat H+/- as automatically equivalent to H+.
What Does H- Mean on anabin?
An H- result is a negative institutional classification.
It indicates that the institution does not meet the relevant requirements for a positive higher-education recognition status in anabin.
If your institution is H-, you should not assume that your qualification will automatically be accepted as comparable to a German university degree.
Your next step will depend on why you need recognition—for university admission, employment, immigration or a regulated profession.
How to Check Your Degree on anabin
Checking your university is only one part of the process.
You should also search for the academic qualification itself.
Step 1: Open “Hochschulabschlüsse”
Select the section for university degrees.
Choose the country where the qualification was awarded and search by the degree title or part of its name. anabin’s official search instructions also allow applicants to search by degree type if the exact qualification is not found. (anabin)
Step 2: Check the Degree Evaluation
For certain German visa and employment procedures, the most important positive assessments are:
- entspricht — corresponds to a German qualification;
- gleichwertig — equivalent to a German qualification. (Make it in Germany)
Germany’s official guidance states that when both the institution and qualification have the required positive entries, the anabin results can be used as evidence that the foreign academic qualification is comparable to a German one. (Make it in Germany)
Does H+ Mean Your Degree Is Automatically Recognized?
No, not necessarily.
This is one of the most common misunderstandings about anabin.
Seeing H+ next to your university is a good sign, but it primarily tells you about the institution.
For some official purposes, you should confirm:
- Your university has the required positive status.
- Your academic qualification also has the required positive evaluation.
Germany’s official qualification guidance specifically describes these as two separate checks. (Make it in Germany)
What If Your Degree Is Not Listed on anabin?
Do not panic.
anabin itself states that its database does not claim to be complete, so a university or degree may simply not yet have an entry or evaluation. (anabin)
If your exact degree is not listed, you can first check whether the corresponding degree type has an evaluation.
However, anabin notes that a degree-type result may provide an initial indication and generally does not replace the evaluation of the specific qualification. (anabin)
If you need official proof of comparability and anabin does not contain sufficient information, you may need to apply for a ZAB Statement of Comparability.
What Is a ZAB Statement of Comparability?
A Statement of Comparability is an official evaluation of a foreign university degree issued by Germany’s Central Office for Foreign Education, or ZAB.
It describes the foreign academic qualification and states which German educational level it is comparable to. (Make it in Germany)
You may need or consider one when:
- your degree is not listed in anabin;
- your degree does not have the required positive evaluation;
- your institution or qualification cannot provide sufficient anabin evidence; or
- an authority or employer specifically asks for a Statement of Comparability. (Make it in Germany)
How Much Does a ZAB Statement of Comparability Cost in 2026?
As of August 2026, a regular Statement of Comparability costs €208. (ZAB)
ZAB states that processing begins after the complete required documentation has been submitted and the fee has been received in full. The regular processing period is currently three months. (ZAB)
Applicants should therefore plan this step early if they may need a ZAB evaluation.
anabin vs ZAB: What Is the Difference?
anabinZAB Statement of ComparabilityOnline information databaseIndividual official evaluationLets you check university and degree informationEvaluates your specific foreign university qualificationUseful where positive entries already existUseful when sufficient positive anabin information is missingSearch can be done yourselfRequires an applicationDatabase check itself is freeRegular Statement currently costs €208
If your university and degree already show the required positive results, the anabin evidence may be sufficient for the purpose concerned. If not, ZAB may provide the formal individual assessment you need. (Make it in Germany)
anabin Degree Recognition for Indian Students
Indian students should check their qualifications carefully before planning applications for Germany.
A simple checklist is:
- Search for your awarding university in anabin.
- Check whether its status is H+, H+/- or H-.
- Search for your academic degree.
- Check the degree evaluation.
- Check the requirements of your target university, employer or visa category.
- Determine whether a ZAB Statement of Comparability is needed.
This is especially useful if you are planning a Master’s in Germany, because recognition information and university admission are related but separate questions.
A degree can have positive recognition information while the university still decides that you do not meet its specific academic admission requirements.
Is anabin the Same as APS?
No.
For Indian students, anabin and APS perform different roles.
APS India verifies academic documents and educational qualifications issued by Indian educational institutions for applicants intending to study in Germany. APS also states that its certificate is generally part of the documents required for the German student visa process. (Academic Evaluation Center)
anabin, on the other hand, provides information about how foreign educational institutions and qualifications are classified in the German system. (anabin)
So you may need to deal with:
APS verification → university requirements → anabin/degree assessment → admission → visa
as separate parts of your Germany journey.
Do You Need anabin for Every Job in Germany?
Not necessarily.
For non-regulated professions, such as many IT or mathematics roles, formal professional recognition is generally not required simply to work in the profession. However, non-EU applicants applying for certain residence titles, including the EU Blue Card or a work visa for qualified professionals, may need proof that their foreign university qualification is comparable to a German degree. Positive anabin results or a ZAB Statement of Comparability can serve this purpose. (Make it in Germany)
For regulated professions such as medicine, law or certain teaching roles, separate professional recognition requirements apply. (Make it in Germany)
Common anabin Mistakes to Avoid
Checking Only H+
Do not check your university status and stop there.
Where degree comparability must be formally demonstrated, check the degree evaluation as well.
Assuming H+ Guarantees Admission
H+ does not mean a German university must admit you.
Admission requirements remain programme- and university-specific.
Treating H+/- as H+
An H+/- result can involve additional conditions or qualification-specific checks.
Read the detailed entry carefully.
Assuming “Not Listed” Means “Not Recognized”
anabin explicitly states that its database is not complete. A missing entry may simply mean that the qualification has not yet been listed or evaluated. (anabin)
Confusing APS With anabin
APS verifies relevant Indian academic records, while anabin provides qualification-assessment information.
They are not interchangeable.
Quick anabin Degree Recognition Checklist
Before relying on your degree for Germany, check:
- Is your university listed in anabin?
- Is its status H+, H+/- or H-?
- Is your degree listed?
- Does the degree have a positive evaluation?
- Are there additional conditions?
- Does your university or visa category require something more?
- Do you need a ZAB Statement of Comparability?
- Have you completed APS requirements if applicable?
- Have you checked the latest requirements with the relevant German authority or university?
FAQs About anabin Degree Recognition
What Is anabin?
anabin is Germany’s information portal for assessing foreign educational institutions and qualifications within the German education system. (anabin)
What Does H+ Mean on anabin?
H+ is a positive status indicating that the institution meets the relevant criteria as a recognized higher education institution. (anabin)
Does H+ Mean My Degree Is Recognized?
Not automatically. H+ relates to the institution. For certain procedures, the degree itself should also have a positive evaluation such as entspricht or gleichwertig. (Make it in Germany)
What Does H+/- Mean?
H+/- indicates that additional criteria or degree-specific checks may be required before the qualification can be assessed positively. (Make it in Germany)
What Does H- Mean?
H- is a negative institutional status and indicates that the institution does not meet the relevant requirements for positive classification in anabin.
What If My Degree Is Not Listed?
Because anabin is not a complete database, a missing qualification does not automatically mean rejection. If you need formal evidence of comparability, you may be able to apply for a ZAB Statement of Comparability. (anabin)
How Much Does ZAB Degree Evaluation Cost?
The regular Statement of Comparability currently costs €208. (ZAB)
How Long Does ZAB Processing Take?
The standard processing period is currently three months after all required documents and the full fee have been received. (ZAB)
Is anabin the Same as APS?
No. APS verifies relevant Indian academic documents, while anabin provides information about how foreign qualifications and institutions are classified in Germany. (Academic Evaluation Center)
Does anabin Guarantee Admission to a German University?
No. The university makes the final admission decision according to its own programme requirements.
Key Takeaways
Checking anabin degree recognition before applying to Germany can help you understand whether your university and qualification have the required positive classification.
Do not rely only on H+.
Check both:
University status + degree evaluation
If your university or degree does not have sufficient information in anabin, a ZAB Statement of Comparability may be the next step. (Make it in Germany)
For Indian students, also remember that APS, anabin, university admission and visa requirements are separate parts of the process. Planning them together can save time and reduce last-minute document problems.
Need Help Checking Your Eligibility for Germany?
Not sure whether your degree, university or academic profile is suitable for Germany?
EasyWay Germany supports students with university shortlisting, profile evaluation, application planning, SOP/LOR preparation and student visa guidance. Its current services include study-in-Germany and university-application support for international students. (EasyWay Germany)
Check your eligibility early, verify your documents carefully and build your Germany application around the requirements that apply to your specific degree and university.
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