Skilled trades · Anlagenmechaniker:in SHK
Plumber / heating & sanitation technician
Employed heating, plumbing and air-conditioning work is generally not regulated. The chamber of crafts assesses foreign training against the relevant German occupation. For a residence permit, check whether recognition is required. Setting up a craft business requires a separate check of registration and qualification rules.
- Who recognises it
- The Handwerkskammer (chamber of crafts) assesses your training. Running your own business 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
- €3,884 gross/month. BA 2025 full-time median for Anlagenmechaniker/in – Sanitär-, Heizungs- und Klimatechnik; 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.
- 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.