Recognition of qualifications obtained abroad - Equivalence

Degrees obtained abroad do not have legal value in Italy, so it is necessary to ask for their recognition if holders intend to use them for the exercise of a profession, participation in a competition or the pursuit of studies.
Equivalence is the procedure whereby a diploma obtained abroad is declared to correspond to a specific qualification that can be obtained in Italy. This means that the diploma is valid and recognised in Italy; the qualification can therefore be used, for example, to participate in public competitions.
The equivalence is valid for ever throughout the national territory.

Equivalence to a 2nd degree diploma cannot be issued before the age of 18.
Non-EU citizens cannot obtain a declaration of equivalence.
Equivalence cannot be requested for diplomas relating to auxiliary healthcare arts and professions, for which there are special regulations.
In this regard, please refer to the institutional website of the Ministry of Health, where the procedure to be followed to obtain recognition of a healthcare qualification obtained in a foreign country for the purposes of exercising the corresponding healthcare profession in Italy is indicated http://www.salute.gov.it/ProfessioniSanitariePubblico.
In the Autonomous Province of Trento the competence for the development of health professions and the recognition of qualifications is entrusted to the Health Professions, Training and University Relations Service - Training and Human Resources Development Office.
Equivalence cannot be requested for professional qualifications.
For general information on the recognition of professional qualifications issued in Italy and abroad, please refer to the National Contact Point for Professional Recognition.
On the same site, you can consult the list of regulated professions in Italy and the relevant authorities at national level.

Teachers who have obtained their teaching qualifications abroad (EU and non-EU countries) and wish to practise the teaching profession in Italy may apply for professional recognition.
Applications for professional recognition(MIUR note) must be submitted exclusively via the following application).

• Italian citizens who have obtained their qualifications abroad
• Italian citizens by marriage (Art. 381 of Legislative Decree n° 297 of 16 April 1994)
• Italian citizens by naturalisation (Art. 381 of Legislative Decree n° 297 of 16 April 1994)
• citizens of European Union Member States
• citizens of the States party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area
• citizens of the Swiss Confederation (Switzerland)
• holders of refugee or subsidiary protection status (art. 383 of Legislative Decree no. 297 of 16 April 1994 and art. 26(3) of Legislative Decree 251/2007)

To obtain equivalence, an application must be submitted by filling in the appropriate form (and the annexes contained in the last pages of the form)
The application must be submitted

• on plain paper for primary school diplomas (primary schools) and secondary school diplomas (secondary schools)
• with a revenue stamp of € 16.00 for secondary school diplomas (high schools)

Who to apply to

Active services regarding recognition of refugee qualifications

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Directorate General for Public and Cultural Diplomacy ( DGDP) - Office IV, which offers a free-of-charge assistance service for requesting issuance
• CIMEA Centro di Informazione sulla Mobilità e le Equivalenze Accademiche (Centre for Information on Mobility and Academic Equivalences), through its service for the attestation and certification of foreign qualifications, produces free of charge Certificates of Comparability of foreign qualifications to persons with refugee status, to holders of subsidiary or international protection and to detainees.
• Declaration of value for holders of international protection in Italy

Information on the documentation to be submitted can be found on the last two pages of the form.