The recognition of a foreign qualification in Italy is a matter of administrative law applied to education: several procedures, several authorities, documents that must be obtained in a precise order and deadlines that do not forgive mistakes. MMW Traduzioni offers a personal consultation with Michela de Julio, legal consultant with degrees in law and in modern languages and official translator since 1995, who has worked on these procedures for more than twenty years, and, for clients who want it, the full handling of the file from the first document to the final decision.
The consultation
The consultation takes place by video call, on Teams or WhatsApp, or in person at the office in Rome, in English, French, Spanish or Italian. Before the call the client sends a scan of the qualification, the transcript and any documents already obtained, and describes the purpose: study, public employment, a regulated profession, a residence permit, private employment. During the call the consultant identifies the procedure that serves that purpose, the competent authority, the documents to obtain and in which order, the realistic timing and the likely outcome, with the difficulties that comparable cases have met. Within a day the client receives a written note summarising the advice, which is often enough for those who wish to proceed on their own, and a quote for the handling of the file for those who prefer to entrust it to the firm.
Handling of the file
When the firm handles the file, it takes charge of every step: the request for the Dichiarazione di valore to the Italian representation abroad or for the CIMEA statements of comparability and verification; the apostilles and legalisations; the sworn translations before the Court of Rome; the preparation of the application in the form required by the university, the ministry, the Civil Service department or the Prefecture; the filing, under power of attorney where the authority allows it; the correspondence with the authority and the replies to requests for additional documents, which are frequent; and the follow-up until the decision, including the registration with the professional body or the notification to the ministry that some procedures require from the winners of a competition. The client has a single point of contact and is kept informed at every stage.
Why the method matters
The Italian system is fragmented: each university applies its own regulations to academic recognition, each ministry its own practice to professional recognition, each consulate its own procedure to the Dichiarazione di valore. Generic advice found online, often referring to a different procedure or an outdated rule, leads to applications filed with the wrong authority, documents translated before being legalised, or deadlines missed. The firm works with a network of lawyers, notaries and official translators and with daily contact with universities, ministries, professional bodies and diplomatic representations, and keeps its knowledge of the rules current, publishing regularly on the changes. The result for the client is a procedure that becomes understandable, structured and manageable, with the outcome depending on the merits of the qualification rather than on procedural accidents.
Who uses the service
Professionals who want to practise a regulated profession in Italy, from doctors and nurses to architects, engineers, lawyers and teachers; graduates who want to continue their studies or have their degree recognised; candidates for public competitions and scholarships; workers and employers preparing an EU Blue Card application; Italian citizens returning from abroad with foreign qualifications; and companies, universities and recruitment agencies that handle several files at once and want a single interlocutor with a checklist for each country of origin.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the consultation cost and how long does it last?
The consultation is charged at a fixed fee, stated together with its duration when the appointment is booked, and includes the review of the documents sent in advance and the written note that follows. Clients who then entrust the file to the firm receive a separate quote for the handling.
Can you guarantee that my qualification will be recognised?
No one can, because the decision belongs to the authority. What the firm guarantees is an honest assessment at the consultation, including the cases in which the application is unlikely to succeed and should not be filed, and a complete and correct application filed with the right authority when it is.
Do you also represent clients before the authorities?
Yes, under power of attorney, for the filing of applications and the correspondence with universities, ministries and consulates, within the limits each authority allows. For judicial appeals against a refusal the firm works alongside lawyers who specialise in administrative law.
I have already started the procedure on my own: can you take it over?
Yes. Many clients come to the firm after a request for additional documents or a refusal. The consultation reviews what has been filed, identifies what went wrong and sets out the options: completing the file, requesting a review, or starting again with a different procedure or authority.
Do you want to speak with the consultant about your case?
Send us a scan of your qualification and a few lines on what you need it for: you receive within one working day the proposed date for the consultation and the written quote.
