Recognition of Foreign Qualifications in Spain: A Complete Guide to Having Your Studies Recognised
Before starting the procedure: requirements and procedures may change. Check the information applicable to your case and consult the relevant official sources.
Updated guide
Recognition of Foreign Qualifications in Spain: Which Procedure Do You Need and How to Avoid Mistakes
Not all foreign qualifications follow the same procedure. Depending on the level of study, the profession and how you intend to use the qualification in Spain, you may need homologación, equivalence or credit transfer.
Homologación
For regulated professions
Equivalence
For academic level of Grado or Máster
Credit transfer (convalidación)
For partial or non-university studies
University fee
Form 790-107 / online payment
Quick summary
- Homologación of foreign qualifications allows a qualification obtained outside Spain to be recognised when it is required to practise a regulated profession.
- If the university qualification does not lead to a regulated profession, an equivalence declaration is normally requested.
- For non-university or partial studies, you may need to apply for homologación or credit transfer through the education authorities.
- Foreign documents may need legalisation, an apostille and an official translation.
- Choosing the wrong procedure is one of the mistakes that causes the most delays.
Recognition of foreign qualifications in Spain is the procedure for officially recognising certain studies completed abroad. It is particularly important for people who want to work, continue their professional career, apply for public-sector positions, join a professional body or demonstrate their academic qualifications to a Spanish public authority.
However, before starting your application, it is important to clarify one key point: not all foreign qualifications can be homologated. Depending on the type of qualification and your objective, you may need to apply for homologación, a declaration of equivalence, validation of studies or another procedure altogether.
Key point
If you want to practise a regulated profession in Spain, such as medicine, nursing, architecture, a regulated engineering profession, teaching or another specific profession, you will probably need to check whether homologación applies. If you only need to establish the academic level of your university studies, equivalence may be the appropriate option.
What is homologación of a foreign qualification?
Homologación is the official recognition of a qualification obtained in another country when it is deemed equivalent to a Spanish qualification required to practise a regulated profession. In other words, it allows a foreign qualification to have professional effect in Spain when the law requires a specific qualification.
This procedure is particularly relevant to qualifications in healthcare, technical, legal and educational fields, as well as other professions with specific entry or practice requirements. In many cases, without homologación it is not possible to join a professional body, sign off on projects, apply for certain positions or legally practise a regulated profession.
If you are also preparing personal documents for other procedures in Spain, you may find it useful to read our guides to the Spanish criminal record certificate and applying for a birth certificate in Spain.
Homologación, equivalence and validation: the differences
One of the most common questions concerns the difference between homologación, declaring a qualification equivalent and validating studies. Although these terms are sometimes used as if they meant the same thing, they are not exactly the same.
| Procedure | Purpose | Example of use |
|---|---|---|
| Homologación | Recognising a foreign qualification linked to a regulated profession in Spain. | Practising a profession for which a qualifying degree is required. |
| Equivalence | Recognising the academic level of a foreign university qualification as equivalent to a Spanish Grado or Máster. | Establishing university-level academic standing when you do not intend to practise a regulated profession. |
| Validation | Recognising partial studies, individual subjects or certain non-university studies. | Continuing your studies in Spain or having specific stages of education recognised. |
Choosing the right procedure from the outset is essential. Applying for homologación when equivalence is actually the correct option can cost you time and money and add months to the process.
Which foreign qualifications can be homologated in Spain?
In general, official foreign qualifications may be eligible for homologación if they were issued by a university or institution recognised in the country of origin and correspond to training comparable to that required in Spain for a regulated profession.
Some fields where homologación is particularly important include:
Healthcare
Medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy and other regulated healthcare professions.
Education
Qualifications related to teaching, teacher training or access to certain educational roles.
Engineering and architecture
Where the profession requires specific professional powers in Spain.
Other regulated professions
This will depend on the qualification, the course of study and the applicable regulations.
If your qualification does not correspond to a regulated profession in Spain, that does not mean it cannot be recognised: the appropriate procedure may be to obtain equivalence to the academic level of a Spanish Grado or Máster degree.
General requirements for recognition of a foreign qualification
Requirements may vary depending on the country, type of qualification and profession, but the following points are usually checked:
- That the qualification is official in the country where it was obtained.
- That the issuing institution is recognised by the education authorities in the country of origin.
- That the course of study has been completed and the qualification has been issued or its issuance can be verified.
- That the level and duration of the studies are comparable to those of the corresponding Spanish qualification.
- That the documents are legalised or apostilled where necessary.
- That an official translation is provided if the documents are not in Spanish.
- That the relevant fee is paid for the procedure.
Practical tip: Before paying the fee and submitting your application, check whether your actual goal is to practise a regulated profession, have your academic level recognised, continue your studies or submit your qualification for an employment-related procedure. This distinction determines which procedure you need.
Documents required for recognition
The documents required may vary depending on the case, but university qualification recognition procedures usually ask for documents such as the following:
1. Identity document
DNI, NIE, passport or another document proving your identity and nationality.
2. Academic qualification
Original qualification, diploma or certificate confirming its issuance.
3. Academic transcript
A document showing the duration of the studies, subjects, credits, study hours and grades, as applicable.
4. Legalisation or apostille
This may be required for documents issued outside the European Union, European Economic Area or Switzerland.
5. Official translation
If the documents are not in Spanish, they generally need to be accompanied by an official translation.
6. Proof of payment
For university qualifications, the fee can be paid online, using Form 790-107 or by bank transfer.
If you are going to submit foreign documents in Spain, it is also a good idea to check the section on legalisation, apostilles and translations before starting the procedure. An incorrect translation or a missing apostille can hold up your application for months.
How to apply for recognition of a foreign university qualification
Applications for foreign university qualifications are submitted through the relevant government online portal. The general process can be summarised as follows:
- Check whether your qualification requires homologación or equivalence recognition.
- Review the official guidance and the requirements for the profession or academic level.
- Prepare your qualification, academic transcript and identity documents.
- Have the documents legalised or apostilled when required.
- Arrange official translations if the documents are not in Spanish.
- Access the government online portal and complete the application.
- Pay the relevant fee or provide proof of payment, if applicable.
- Submit the application and save the receipt.
- Check your application status until a decision is issued.
Recommended official link
To avoid errors, always consult the Ministry’s Portal for the Recognition of Foreign University Qualifications before submitting your application: Portal Valida-TE.
Fee for homologación of a foreign qualification
A fee must be paid for university homologación and equivalence procedures. The official portal currently lists a fee of 166,50 euros for homologación applications and declarations of equivalence.
Payment can be made online, using Form 790-107 at participating banks, or by bank transfer, depending on the case. If someone else pays the fee on the applicant’s behalf, it is advisable to follow the official instructions exactly so the payment can be correctly linked to the application.
For non-university studies, the fee may vary depending on the procedure. In addition, homologación to the Spanish Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO) certificate is free of charge.
How long does homologación of a foreign qualification take?
Processing times can vary considerably depending on the qualification, country of origin, documents submitted, whether general criteria apply and the administrative workload at the time.
In practice, some applications may be decided within a few months, while others may take considerably longer, particularly if documents are missing, errors need to be corrected, technical reports are required or the qualification needs to be compared in detail with Spanish study programmes.
To reduce delays, the most important thing is to submit a complete application from the outset: correct documents, apostilles where required, official translations and qualification details exactly as they appear on the diploma.
What happens if documents are missing or there are errors?
If the authorities find that documents are missing or that a document does not meet the requirements, they may ask you to provide or correct the documentation. This means you will have to submit the missing items within the stated deadline.
The most common mistakes are:
- Uploading incomplete or illegible documents.
- Failing to provide an academic transcript listing subjects, credits or hours.
- Failing to have documents legalised or apostilled when required.
- Submitting unofficial translations.
- Entering the name of the university or qualification differently from how it appears on the diploma.
- Choosing homologación when equivalence recognition was required, or vice versa.
- Failing to save the application or payment receipt.
A mistake to avoid
Do not start the procedure just because you “want to validate your qualification”. First, identify exactly what you need it for: practising a regulated profession, proving your academic level, studying, working for a private company, applying for a public-sector position or applying for a visa.
Recognition of non-university qualifications
Non-university studies follow a different procedure. This may include qualifications in secondary education, the Spanish Baccalaureate (Bachillerato), vocational training, arts education, sports education or other equivalent studies.
In these cases, the procedure is handled by the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports and may require an application, academic documents, legalisation or translation, and payment of the relevant fee.
This type of recognition may be necessary to continue studying in Spain, enrol in vocational training courses, prove your education level or take part in certain academic processes.
Does recognition allow you to work in Spain?
Recognition may be necessary to practise certain professions, but it does not replace other employment, administrative or immigration requirements.
For example, a foreign national may also need a residence and work authorization, registration with a professional body, proof of language proficiency, experience, professional membership or sector-specific requirements.
If you are a qualified professional considering working in Spain, you may also find our guide to the Large Companies and Strategic Economic Sectors Unit in Spain useful.
Tips for preparing your application
Check which procedure applies
Recognition, equivalence and validation are not the same thing.
Scan your documents carefully
Make sure they are complete, legible and not cut off.
Do not improvise translations
If an official translation is required, a simple translation may not be accepted.
Keep your receipts
Keep the receipts for your application and payment, as well as any correspondence.
If you are preparing a citizenship or residence application, remember that recognition of your qualification does not replace other personal documents. You can also consult our guide to the documents required to apply for Spanish citizenship.
Frequently asked questions about recognition of foreign qualifications
What is the difference between recognition and equivalence?
Recognition is used when you want a foreign qualification to be recognised for a regulated profession in Spain. Equivalence recognises the academic level of a university qualification, usually a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, when you do not intend to practise a specific regulated profession.
Where do I apply to have a foreign university qualification recognised?
Applications to have foreign university qualifications recognised are submitted through the government online portal of the ministry responsible for universities.
How much does it cost to have a foreign university qualification recognised?
The official fee for university applications for recognition and equivalence is currently 166,50 euros. Always check the current amount before paying.
Do I need to have my qualification apostilled?
It depends on the country that issued the document. Academic documents from European Union and European Economic Area countries and Switzerland are generally exempt from legalisation, but other documents may require an apostille or legalisation.
Do I need a sworn translation?
If your qualification or academic transcript is not in Spanish, you will usually need to provide an official translation. A translation prepared by the applicant is generally not sufficient.
What should I do if my profession is not listed as regulated?
If the profession is not listed as regulated, or your qualification does not correspond to a regulated profession in Spain, homologation may not be the appropriate procedure. You may need to consider applying for a declaration of equivalence instead.
Does homologation automatically guarantee a job?
No. Homologation may be required to practise a profession or have your qualification recognised, but it does not guarantee employment. Other requirements may also apply, such as work authorisation, professional registration or work experience.
Conclusion
Homologation of foreign qualifications in Spain is an important procedure for many professionals, but it is not always the right one. Before submitting an application, find out whether you need homologation, equivalence or validation; prepare your documents with an apostille and translation where required; and check the latest official instructions.
A well-prepared application can help you avoid requests for additional documents, delays and errors that unnecessarily prolong the recognition of your studies.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional legal advice or information provided by the competent authorities.
