Skilled trades · Tischler:in / Schreiner:in
Carpenter / joiner
Not regulated — recognition optional but useful
Employed joinery and carpentry work is not regulated. The chamber of crafts can assess the equivalence of your foreign training. Recognition may be required for your residence route; running a craft business is subject to separate registration and qualification rules.
- Who recognises it
- The Handwerkskammer (chamber of crafts) assesses your training. Running your own workshop needs a Meister.
- German level
- The employer sets the language requirement for the specific job. Check the advert and any separate residence-permit requirements; there is no single CEFR threshold for this occupation.
- Typical salary
- €3,355 gross/month. BA 2025 full-time median for Tischler/in (Holz-, Möbel- und Innenausbau); a reference for the occupational group, not an entry salary or job offer.
- How long it takes
- Usually 3–4 months for the assessment after all required documents are complete. Extensions, translations, courses, exams and licensing can add time; check the competent authority's procedure.
How recognition works
- 1Apply to the Handwerkskammer for an equivalence assessment of your training.
- 2Provide training records and work references.
- 3Apply for the skilled-worker visa, or come first via a recognition partnership.
Documents you'll need
- Vocational/craft qualification (certified translation)
- Training records
- Work experience proof
- Passport + CV
Costs & translations
Recognition fees are typically €100–600. Budget extra for certified German translations of your documents and, in some countries, an apostille/legalisation. Adaptation courses or exams can add further cost.
Your visa routes
Last verified 2026-10-10. Recognition rules depend on the profession and the federal state, and they change. Confirm with the official authority linked above.