Do I need my foreign qualification recognised before getting a German skilled worker visa?

The skilled worker route is built around qualified vocational training or a German or equivalent recognised university degree, so recognition of your foreign qualification (Anerkennung) is normally central to the application.

Under the Skilled Immigration Act, a recognition partnership now makes it possible for some applicants to obtain a residence title for qualified employment and then complete the formal recognition procedure after entering Germany, rather than finishing it beforehand. This can shorten the wait to start work.