Recognition of an Italian engineer's professional qualification to work in Germany takes at least four months.

Omissions

• Directive 2005/36/EC sets a MAXIMUM of three months for the decision (plus one month for acknowledgment of receipt), not a minimum. The claim inverts this, presenting the legal ceiling as a floor.
• The practical three-to-four-month figure applies only to complete applications; incomplete documentation can extend the process by many months (one source cites a case taking nine months).
• The claim frames the duration as a legal requirement ('here we look at the legal provisions'), whereas the four-month figure corresponds to the maximum time limit allowed, not a mandatory minimum duration.
• The sources describe the general EU/German recognition procedure rather than data specific to Italian engineers, though the same Directive governs the case.

Sources

• PrimaryEUR-Lex — Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications (consolidated)Article 51: the competent authority must 'acknowledge receipt of the application within one month of receipt' and the recognition procedure 'shall be completed as soon as possible, and in any event within three months of submission of the complete file' (extendable by one month in certain cases).
• PrimaryCJEU InfoCuria — judgment referring to Article 51(1) of Directive 2005/36Article 51(1) of Directive 2005/36 imposes a time limit of one month on the competent authority of the host Member State to acknowledge receipt of the application.
• PrimaryService Bremen — Applying for recognition of a foreign professional qualification as an engineerProcessing time for recognition as an engineer: 'Maximum 3 months after the documents are [submitted]'.
• SecondaryTalentOrbit — Diploma Recognition in Germany Step by StepIf the documents are complete, recognition 'usually takes three to four months'; incomplete applications delay the process considerably — often by months (one case cited took nine months).
• SecondaryAustrian Parliament (parlament.gv.at) — document on the recognition procedureThe Directive requires the competent authorities to complete the recognition procedure as quickly as possible and within a maximum of three [months].