PREPARE YOUR NEXT STEP
A foreign diploma: which recognition do you need?
Diploma recognition, qualification assessment, professional registration and a work permit answer different questions. Use this guide to find out what to ask and who can decide.
1. Qualification assessment
A qualification assessment compares education systems, levels or qualifications. Ask the receiving employer, education institution or public authority whether it needs an assessment and which organisation it accepts.
2. Professional recognition and registration
A profession may require recognition of your training, registration, a licence or another authorisation. Start with the exact job title and activities in your destination and region. Find the regulator that can confirm the requirements for your particular qualification.
3. Permission to work and reside
Check work and residence permission separately with the destination’s immigration authority. Give that authority your nationality, intended activity and length of stay when asking which route applies.
Questions to ask before paying
Ask for the accepted procedure, document list, translations, language evidence, fees, processing information and the point at which you may start work. Keep the reply with your own preparation plan.
A useful example: three different checks
For a regulated job, an employer might accept your diploma while the professional regulator still needs to check your training. You may also need a separate work or residence procedure. Treat these as questions for the responsible organisations, rather than assuming that one answer settles everything.
Start with official information
The EU sources below explain their European scope. For other destinations, use the official contacts in that country’s guide.