Italian law does not provide one procedure for recognising a foreign qualification but several, each tied to a purpose. The same British degree is handled by a university if the holder wants an Italian degree, by the Civil Service department if the holder wants to sit a public competition, by a ministry if the holder wants to practise a regulated profession. Choosing the wrong route is the most common reason an application fails, because the authority that receives it is not competent to grant what is asked. This page sets out the four routes and the purposes each one serves.
Why the purpose comes first
Italy ratified the Lisbon Recognition Convention with Law 148 of 11 July 2002, which introduced the principle of purpose-based recognition: a foreign qualification is assessed for the specific use the holder intends to make of it, by the authority competent for that use. The Council of State has added that administrations must assess foreign qualifications according to the principles laid down by the Court of Justice of the European Union, weighing the level of knowledge, the skills certified and the professional experience acquired, in order to establish whether they are equivalent or comparable to those certified by the Italian qualification. In practice this means that before any document is translated or any form is filled in, the holder must answer one question: what is the recognition for?
Route one: academic recognition, or equipollenza
Academic recognition makes the foreign qualification equal in every respect to a specific Italian qualification. It is granted by an Italian university for university degrees and doctorates, and by the regional school offices for secondary school diplomas. It is the only route that produces an Italian title with full legal value, usable for every purpose, and for that reason it is the most demanding: the curriculum is compared course by course and the university may require additional examinations. It is the right route for those who need the Italian title itself, for instance to enrol in a programme that requires an Italian degree or to hold a position for which only the Italian title is accepted.
Route two: equivalence for further study
Equivalence for further study, under article 2 of Law 148/2002, is decided by the university at which the holder wants to enrol. It does not confer legal value on the foreign qualification: it establishes that the qualification gives access to the next cycle of studies, a bachelor’s programme for a school leaver, a master’s programme for a bachelor’s graduate, a doctorate for a master’s graduate. It is faster than academic recognition and is the normal route for international students.
Route three: recognition for public competitions and other specific purposes
Article 5 of Law 148/2002 and Presidential Decree 189 of 2009 created a lighter form of recognition, often called non-formal or non-academic, for purposes other than study and professional practice: admission to public competitions, points in rankings, career progression in the public sector, redemption of years of study for pension purposes, registration with employment centres, access to post-degree traineeships and scholarships. The decision is taken by the Department of the Civil Service or by the Ministry of University, on a case-by-case basis, and is valid only for the purpose for which it was requested. No Italian title is issued.
Route four: professional recognition
For regulated professions, such as doctors, nurses, pharmacists, engineers, architects, lawyers, accountants and teachers, the qualification must be recognised by the ministry responsible for the profession under Legislative Decree 206 of 2007, which implements Directive 2005/36/EC. Holders of qualifications obtained in the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland benefit from the Directive. Holders of qualifications obtained elsewhere, the United Kingdom included since 2021, are assessed under national rules, which require a comparison between the training certified by the qualification and the training required in Italy, and may impose an aptitude test or an adaptation period. The page on professional recognition explains the procedure.
Who may apply
All four routes presuppose that the applicant has the right to reside in Italy or to move there: Italian and EU citizens, their family members, and third-country nationals holding a valid residence permit or an entry visa for the purpose concerned. Some routes have further conditions. Academic recognition of school diplomas, for example, is reserved by law to Italian citizens, EU and EEA citizens and recognised refugees, while third-country nationals use equivalence to continue their studies. The firm checks eligibility at the first consultation, identifies the route and the competent authority and prepares the file, including the Dichiarazione di valore or the CIMEA statement and the sworn translations.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for more than one route at the same time?
Yes, when the purposes differ: a nurse may apply for professional recognition to register with the Italian register and, separately, for equivalence to sit a public competition while the first procedure is pending. Each application is filed with its own authority and its own documents.
Is recognition obtained in another EU country valid in Italy?
No. Recognition is a national decision. A degree recognised in Spain or France must be recognised again in Italy, although the documents already prepared, such as the apostilled original and the transcript, can be reused.
Do I need recognition to work in the private sector?
Not for unregulated jobs. A private employer is free to assess a foreign degree as it sees fit, and a Dichiarazione di valore or a CIMEA statement of comparability is usually enough to document it. Recognition becomes necessary for regulated professions, for public employment and for further study.
What does a consultation with the firm involve?
A review of the qualification and of the purpose, in person in Rome, by video call or in writing, followed by a written note indicating the route, the competent authority, the documents to obtain, the realistic timing and the cost of handling the file. The consultation is in English, French, Spanish or Italian.
Not sure which route applies to you?
Send us a scan of your qualification and tell us what you need it for: you receive within one working day the route to follow, the documents required and a written quote.
