IT & tech · Data Scientist / Machine Learning Engineer
Data scientist / AI engineer
Not regulated — recognition optional but useful
Data science and AI aren't regulated professions, so you can work without recognition. Employers care most about your projects and portfolio; the visa, usually the EU Blue Card or the Opportunity Card, needs your degree or qualifying experience on paper. Many teams work in English.
- Who recognises it
- None required to work — not regulated. For a visa, have your degree assessed via anabin / ZAB.
- 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
- Check the exact occupation and region in the BA Entgeltatlas. No verified comparable national figure is quoted here.
- How long it takes
- If needed, ZAB normally takes 3 months after complete documents and payment. For an EU Blue Card, its stated goal is 2 weeks when the required contract and documents are supplied. This is separate from visa processing.
How recognition works
- 1Check your degree in anabin, or get a ZAB Statement of Comparability.
- 2Prepare a portfolio (projects, publications, Kaggle, GitHub).
- 3Apply for an EU Blue Card with an offer, or the Opportunity Card to search.
Documents you'll need
- Degree + transcript (or proof of experience)
- Portfolio / publications
- CV + job offer (for Blue Card)
- Passport
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.