Please enter a search term.

IMPORTANT: Select a location.To obtain application forms, location-specific information and contacts, select a town or zip code.

For an area outside of Lower Saxony and foreign languages, some menu items and functions are not available. Please go to the service page of the respective country.

Please specify an area.

Which place to enter?

The location is used to determine the responsible office for the selected administrative service. In most cases you can enter your place of residence to find the competent authority. However, there are also cases in which a different location must be specified. Here are some examples:

Birth certificateYou want to get married and need a birth certificate. You live in Hanover, but you were born in Celle. You must therefore state your place of birth, i.e. Celle.

Business registrationYou would like to register a business in Braunschweig. Your place of residence is Hanover. You must therefore state the location of your future business, i.e. Braunschweig.

Apply for a building permitYou would like to build a house in Wunstorf and therefore apply for a building permit. Her place of residence is currently Hanover. You must indicate the place where the house is to be built. In this case it is Wunstorf.

Application for an EU certificate under Directive 2005/36/EC (Professional Qualifications Directive)


Directive 2005/36/EC (Professional Recognition Directive – BARL) provides in Articles 46 et seq. BARL for regulations specifically for the recognition of architects. Accordingly,

  • degrees with a standard duration of study of at least 5 years, as well as
  • Degrees with a standard duration of study of at least 4 years in conjunction with at least 2 years of practical work under the supervision of a professional

automatically recognized. A list of courses to be automatically recognised can be found in Annex 5.7.1 of the BARL. Special rules exist for older qualifications completed before the academic reference year 1987/1988. For example, degrees from universities of applied sciences with a standard period of study of 3 years can be recognized if at least 4 years of professional experience are also proven. In addition, autodidacts must be recognised under the conditions of Art. 47 BARL as well as older evidence of formal qualifications in accordance with Art. 49 BARL in conjunction with .dem Annex VI.

Directive 2005/36/EC does not contain any specific rules for the disciplines of interior design, landscape architecture and urban planning. Their mutual recognition is governed by the general conditions of recognition (Art. 5 et seq. BARL in the context of the freedom to provide services/ Art. 10 et seq. of the BARL in the area of freedom of establishment).

The Chamber of Architects of Lower Saxony issues EU certificates for professional qualifications acquired in Lower Saxony.

Requirements

Art. 46 et seq. BARL stipulates the requirements for recognition in the field of "architecture".

  Article  46          Training of architects

(1)  The training as an architect shall comprise:

(a) a total of at least five years of full-time study at a higher education institution or comparable educational establishment, culminating in an examination at university level; or

(b) at least four years of full-time study at a higher education institution or comparable educational establishment, culminating in an examination at university level, and a certificate attesting to the completion of two years' professional traineeship in accordance with paragraph 4.

(2)  The studies referred to in paragraph 1 must focus primarily on architecture. The course must strike a balance between the theoretical and practical aspects of architectural education and ensure at least the acquisition of the following knowledge, skills and competences:

(a) the capacity for architectural design which meets both aesthetic and technical requirements;

(b) adequate knowledge of the history and teaching of architecture and related arts, technologies and humanities;

(c) knowledge of the visual arts because of their influence on the quality of architectural design;

(d) adequate knowledge of urban planning and design, planning in general and planning techniques;

(e) Understanding the relationship between people and buildings and between buildings and their environment, and understanding the need to relate buildings and the spaces between them to human needs and scales;

(f) the architect's understanding of his profession and his role in society, particularly when drawing up designs that take account of social factors;

(g) knowledge of the methods used to examine and prepare the design project;

(h) knowledge of structural and structural problems associated with building design;

(i) adequate knowledge of the physical problems and technologies associated with the functioning of a building — providing comfort and protection against atmospheric agents — in the context of sustainable development;

(j) the technical skills required to meet the needs of the users of a building within the limits imposed by cost factors and building regulations;

(k) adequate knowledge of the trades, organisations, rules and procedures involved in the practical implementation of construction plans and of the integration of the plans into the overall design.

3.  The number of years of higher education at university level referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 may additionally be expressed in the corresponding number of ECTS credits.

4 . The traineeship referred to in paragraph 1(b) may take place only after completion of the first three years of study. At least one year of the professional traineeship shall build on the knowledge, skills and competences acquired during the studies referred to in paragraph 2. To that end, the traineeship shall be carried out under the supervision of a person or body approved by the competent authority of the home Member State. Such a supervised internship can be completed in any country. The professional traineeship shall be assessed by the competent authority of the home Member State.

Article 47       Exceptions to the conditions for the training of architects

By way of derogation from Article 46, the following shall also be recognised as complying with the provisions of Article 21: training under social promotion or part-time higher education which meets the requirements of Article 46 and is attested by a professional who has worked in architecture for at least seven years under the supervision of an architect or architectural firm by a successful examination in the field of architecture. That examination shall be of university level and equivalent to the final examination referred to in point (b) of Article 46(1).

Article 48       Pursuit of the activities of the architect

1.  For the purposes of this Directive, activities of architects shall mean those normally pursued under the professional title of architect.

2 . The conditions governing the pursuit of the activities of architect under the professional title of architect shall also be deemed to be satisfied in respect of nationals of a Member State who have been authorised to use that title by virtue of a law which confers on the competent authority of a Member State the power to confer that title on nationals of Member States whose quality of their services in the field of architecture is particularly distinguished by the quality of their services in the field of architecture. have been awarded. The persons concerned shall be certified by their home Member State that their activity qualifies as an architect's activity.

Article 49       Acquired rights of architects

1.  Each Member State shall recognise evidence of formal qualifications as an architect listed in Annex VI issued by the other Member States and attesting to training which began at the latest in the academic reference year indicated in that Annex, even if it does not satisfy the minimum requirements laid down in Article 46, and shall give it the same effect in its territory as:  evidence of formal qualifications enabling him himself to take up and pursue the activities of an architect.

Certificates issued by the competent authorities of the Federal Republic of Germany attesting to the equivalence of evidence of formal qualifications issued after 8 May 1945 by the competent authorities of the German Democratic Republic and of the evidence listed in this Annex shall be recognized in accordance with these conditions.

1a. Paragraph 1 shall also apply to evidence of formal qualifications as an architect listed in Annex V, provided that the training commenced before 18 January 2016.

2. Without prejudice to paragraph 1, each Member State shall recognise the following evidence of formal qualifications and confer on it the same effect as evidence of formal qualifications issued by itself for the purposes of taking up and pursuing the activities of an architect within its territory: certificates issued to nationals of Member States by those Member States in which, on the dates below, the architect was entitled to take up and pursue the activities of architect: The following were regulated:

(a) 1 January 1995 for Austria, Finland and Sweden;

(b) 1 May 2004 for the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia;

(ba) 1 July 2013 for Croatia;

(c) 5 August 1987 for all other Member States.

The certificates referred to in the first subparagraph shall certify that their holder was entitled to use the professional title of architect at the latest on the relevant date and that he has effectively pursued the activities regulated in this way for at least three consecutive years during the five years preceding the date of issue of the certificate.

3.  Each Member State shall recognize in its territory as equivalent evidence of formal qualifications which it itself issues for the purpose of taking up and pursuing the professional activities of architect: proof that the three-year training courses existing on 5 August 1985 at universities of applied sciences in the Federal Republic of Germany which satisfy the requirements of Article 46 (2) and that they have taken up the activities referred to in Article 48: was completed in that Member State under the professional title of architect and started by 17 January 2014 at the latest, provided that the training was supplemented by four years' professional experience in the Federal Republic of Germany; this professional experience must be attested by a certificate issued by the Chamber of Architects on whose list of architects the architect wishing to benefit from the provisions of this Directive is entered.

Which documents are required?

Application documents:

Applications may be submitted for the following variants:

  • (exclusive) Evaluation of a degree
  • Evaluation of a degree and additionally an already completed professional experience

Depending on the variant, the following supporting documents must be attached to the application (if the documents have not already been submitted when they were entered in the list of architects):

  • Evidence of formal qualifications

Copies of the diploma, bachelor's and/or master's certificate and a copy of the respective diploma certificate and the respective Diploma Supplement. Document showing the standard duration of study.

  • Practical work experience (if examined)

Department of Architecture:

Certificates from architects as supervising professional members of at least 2 years of full-time professional experience – in part-time correspondingly longer – in the essential professional tasks pursuant to § 2 para. 1, 5 and 6 NArchtG (see also § 6 para. 3 and 5 NArchtG as well as the statutes of the Chamber of Architects of Lower Saxony for the field of practical professional activity under supervision of 23.11.2017, cf. also the performance profiles of the HOAI).

If a chamber of architects has supervised the practical professional activity, a certificate from the chamber must be submitted. Such a certificate is not required if the Chamber of Architects of Lower Saxony has supervised it.

Submission of own work and certificates:

As a rule, at least 2 plans for 3 objects each (design plans – e.g. scale 1 : 100) as well as at least 1 execution plan (scale 1 : 50 or 1 : 20) and 1 detailed drawing must be submitted for one object.

If a professional has supervised the professional activity, it must be accompanied by a certificate from the professional that the own work submitted has been carried out under the supervision of that professional.

If the Chamber of Architects of Lower Saxony has supervised the practical professional activity, the work to be submitted must be selected from the work submitted to the Chamber of Architects during the practical professional activity. The same applies if the Chamber of Architects of another federal state has exercised supervision.

Fields of Interior Design / Landscape Architecture / Urban Planning

Certificates from the employer(s) or confirmations from clients or authorities of at least
2 years of professional experience full-time – in part-time correspondingly longer – in the essential professional tasks according to § 2 Abs. 2 to 6 NArchtG (§ 6 Abs. 3 NArchtG, cf. also the performance profiles of the HOAI ).

Submission of own works:

  • from the field of interior design usually at least 2 plans for 3 objects each (design plans – e.g. scale 1 : 100) as well as at least 1 execution plan (scale 1 : 50 or 1 : 20) and 1 detail drawing for one object
  • from the fields of landscape architecture / urban planning, e.g. object planning for open or traffic facilities, landscape conservation accompanying plans, land use plans, development plans, development plans, structural, framework or design plans, if necessary also to supplement landscape conservation accompanying plans, landscape and green space plans, landscape framework plans, UVS

If the documents do not clearly identify the applicant's involvement (e.g. name abbreviation), additional confirmation of participation is required, e.g. by the employer.

What are the fees?

The fee for the certificate shall be:

EUR 30.00 if an examination of the practical professional activity on the basis of documents is not necessary and

EUR 80.00 if an examination of the practical professional activity on the basis of documents is required.

If you do not use the fully electronic application procedure including the online payment function, please attach a receipt, e.g. printout of the transfer via the payment for online banking, to your registration application. The bank details are:

Nord/LB Hannover: BIC NOLADE2HXXX - IBAN: DE55 2505 0000 0101 4747 81

Commerzbank Hannover: BIC COBADEFFXXX - IBAN: DE97 2504 0066 0338 8345 00

The following payment methods are possible online:

  • Credit card

Process flow

An application for an EU certificate must be submitted in writing or online using the form provided. The supporting documents referred to under "Required documents" must be attached to the application.

What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?

There are no deadlines to be observed.

Processing duration

Usually 1 – 6 weeks

What else should I know?

Source: Serviceportal Niedersachsen (Portalverbund des Bundes und der Länder)