Last updated on 11 september 2026
On this page, we will try to provide you with as much information as possible on how to use the qualifications you obtained in your home country – and, specifically, what you can do to enjoy the same advantages as those granted by Italian qualifications.
First of all, we’ll explain how many and what types of qualifications you can obtain in Italy.
Our higher education system is made up of universities, polytechnics and institutions specialising in art, music and dance (fine arts academies, music conservatoires, dance academies and other institutions with similar names operating in the same sector, collectively referred to with the acronym ‘AFAM’).
- Recognition of qualifications awarded by universities and higher education institutions specialising in art, music and dance (AFAM)
Universities and AFAM institutions (post-secondary institutions offering art, music, dance, theatre and design courses, which are recognised as equivalent to universities), in accordance with their respective regulations, are responsible for recognising periods of study undertaken abroad and foreign qualifications for the following purposes:
- access to higher education;
- continuation of university studies at a level higher than that of the foreign qualification held;
- awarding Italian university degrees.
Universities and AFAM institutions exercise this role within the scope of their autonomy and in accordance with their respective regulations, without prejudice to the relevant bilateral agreements and in accordance with the principles of the ‘Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region’, more briefly known as the Lisbon Convention of 11 April 1997, ratified in Italy by Law No 148/2002.
Definition of the procedure
The purpose of academic recognition of a foreign qualification by Italian universities is to lead to the award of a corresponding Italian qualification or to the continuation of studies, depending on the assessment made by the relevant academic institution.
The procedure involves an analytical assessment of the foreign qualification, taking into account the level, duration, credits, examinations taken and course content, in accordance with the Lisbon Convention.
Requirements
In order to apply for full recognition , you must hold an academic qualification from a university or other legally authorised institution abroad:
- issued by a university or other institution at university level, belonging to the official education system of the country of reference;
- attesting to completion of the first, second or third cycle (Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD) and other qualifications that can be framed within one of the three cycles of the Italian higher education system.
You must also:
- find, within the range of courses offered by your chosen university or AFAM institution in the academic year in which you submit your application, a qualification that corresponds in nature, level and content to the qualification you hold;
- have knowledge of the language in which the course is delivered at the chosen university (Italian or English) at least at B2 level or at another level indicated by the chosen university.
The institution may also ask to verify the qualification immediately preceding the one you wish to be recognised, and ask for additional documentation relevant to the assessment.
How to submit an application
Applications must be submitted directly to the university or the AFAM institution following the instructions set out on the particular institution’s website.
The following details are provided on the relevant institution’s website:
- the office to which the application must be submitted;
- the documents to attach;
- the formats admitted;
- any identification and authentication tools that may be required;
- any costs and means of payment;
- the languages in which the procedure may be conducted.
Deadlines
The procedure is normally completed within 90 days of receipt of the complete application. If additional documents are requested, the deadline may be suspended or extended in accordance with the applicable legislation and the institution’s regulations.
Appeals
If you do not hear anything or recognition is refused, you can appeal to the competent regional administrative court within 60 days of notification of the final decision, or submit an exceptional appeal to the President of the Council of State within 120 days of notification of the final decision.
In the cases provided for by the legislation in force, a request for review may also be submitted to the relevant authority.
Recognitions for which other authorities are responsible
For the academic recognition of foreign qualifications similar in nature to Italian AFAM qualifications, the application must be submitted directly to the relevant AFAM institution.
For qualifications awarded by religious institutions, the specific provisions of the Concordat and the agreements currently in force apply. For pontifical or theology-related qualifications, please consult the relevant page on the MUR website or contact the relevant institution.
For academic recognition of a foreign doctorate (PhD), from 1 March 2022 the application must be submitted directly to an Italian university or AFAM institution offering a doctoral course in the same or a related subject area and having the same legal effects, conferring the same academic and professional rights.
Please note that a PhD obtained in Italy qualifies the holder to practise as a researcher, a regulated profession that is carried out at Italian universities and national research centres.
Every university or AFAM institution has its own body responsible for recognising foreign academic titles.
Where there are bilateral agreements between your country and Italy providing for the mutual recognition of qualifications (e.g. Italy/Austria), once the administrative checks of the documents have been carried out, the university or AFAM body will deliberate on the recognition, following which a decision will be issued recognising the foreign qualification as equivalent to the corresponding Italian qualification, provided this is covered by the agreements.
In the absence of bilateral agreements on mutual recognition of qualifications between your country and Italy, the application for recognition may result in:
- full recognition of the qualification and issue of the corresponding Italian qualification;
- refusal of full recognition, if any deficiencies are found. In this case, you may consider enrolling on the relevant degree course in line with the standard procedures (passing any admission selection procedures, if applicable) and submitting an application to fast-track your studies so that you can enrol in a year after the first year, provided this is possible based on the number of ECTS credits you have accumulated and that can be transferred to Italy.
Means of authentication, identification and signature accepted for the procedure
These are stated by the individual AFAM institutions and Italian universities on their websites.
Type and format of documentary evidence
These are stated by the individual institutions and Italian universities on their websites.
Remedies and appeals
An appeal against a lack of decision or a refusal of recognition may be lodged with the regional administrative courts within 60 days of notification of the final decision or with the President of the Council of State within 120 days of notification of the final decision.
A request for review may be submitted to the Ministry of Universities and Research (MUR) in the event of no decision or a refusal of recognition, within 120 days of notification of the final decision; the Ministry will issue its decision on the matter within the following 20 days.
Expected costs and online payment arrangements
These are stated by the individual AFAM institutions and Italian universities on their websites.
Estimated deadlines and time frames
The recognition procedure is completed within 90 days of receipt of the application + 30 days to gather all the required additional documents.
Any additional languages in which the procedure can be carried out
These are stated by the individual AFAM institutions and Italian universities on their websites.
Further information on which office to submit the application to, when to send it, and the documents to attach is available on the websites of the individual universities, polytechnics or AFAM institutions, together with the expected costs.
- Academic recognition for which other authorities are responsible
Academic recognition of certain foreign qualifications in higher education, awarded by religious institutions or institutions of the Papal States, falls within the remit of the Ministry of Universities and Research.
- For purposes other than those listed above – i.e. non-academic (e.g. for taking part in open competitions for entry into the civil service, accessing social security benefits, obtaining scholarships, other benefits, or for accessing regulated professions) – the request must be submitted to other State administrations (in other words, not to universities or AFAM institutions).
- Recognition of a foreign qualification for entry into the civil service
The Presidency of the Council of Ministers has jurisdiction over this matter and will take the necessary action after seeking the opinion of the Ministry of Universities and Research.
- Recognition of a foreign qualification for other specific purposes
- Recognition of a foreign qualification obtained in a third country and submitted in Italy by an EU citizen in order to sit recruitment competitions organised by EU bodies and agencies
The Ministry of University and Research has jurisdiction over this matter.
- Professional recognition of a foreign PhD (researcher qualification)
- Professional recognition of the teacher qualification/diploma
- Professional recognition of the child care / social worker qualification/diploma
- Professional recognition of the architect, regional planner, landscaper, architectural and environmental heritage curator, junior architect and junior planner qualifications/diplomas
The Ministry of Universities and Research has jurisdiction over this matter, since these are regulated professional qualifications governed by EU Directives.
Any additional languages in which the procedure can be carried out without the need for translation
The Ministry of Universities and Research accepts academic qualification documents in bilingual format where one of the languages is English, or in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese or Romanian. In these cases, you will not have to pay the costs of a translator.
You should be aware that:
your foreign qualification has no legal validity in Italy and, without ‘recognition’, it cannot be used in dealings with Italian public authorities. A private employer may accept your foreign qualification even if it is not recognised under Italian law.
- ‘Academic’ recognition in Italy has a very specific meaning.
Academic recognition, referred to as equipollenza in Italian (literally, ‘equal value’) prior to the 1997 Lisbon Convention, is the administrative procedure which, from that point onwards, establishes full equivalence between a foreign qualification and an Italian one (degree, doctorate), conferring the same academic and professional rights.
An Italian university examines the curriculum and confirms that the foreign qualification has the same legal, academic and professional value as the corresponding Italian qualification.
This is a one-off process and allows you to use your qualification on an equal footing with an Italian one, without having to do anything else.
- ‘Purpose-specific’ or ‘functional’ recognition does not confer legal validity on your foreign qualification, but certifies that the qualification is valid only for a specific purpose identified by you. For example, it certifies that the qualification is valid for one type of public sector recruitment procedure but not for all such procedures.
Whenever the purpose is changed, the procedure must be repeated with the relevant ministerial authority to determine whether the entitlement is valid for that new purpose (e.g. to bring forward the retirement age).
Useful links
For information on types of recognition and related procedures:
CIMEA website (the Italian ENIC-NARIC agency):
For a comprehensive search of AFAM institutions:
https://www.mur.gov.it/it/aree-tematiche/afam/gli-istituti/istituti-afam-legalmente-riconosciuti
For a comprehensive search of universities:
https://www.mur.gov.it/it/aree-tematiche/universita/le-universita
For a search relating to universities, filtered by subjects:
https://cercauniversita.cineca.it/
For information on religious qualifications:
For information on the free movement of professionals (architect, regional planner, landscaper, architectural and environmental heritage curator, junior architect, junior planner, and child care / social worker):
Relevant legislation
Presidential Decree No 394/1999, Article 48(3) and Article 49
Regulation laying down provisions for implementing the law consolidating the provisions regulating immigration and the rules relating to the status of foreign nationals in accordance with Article 1(6) of Legislative Decree No 286 of 25 July 1998
https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:presidente.repubblica:decreto:1999-08-31;394
Law No 148/2002
Ratification and enforcement of the Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region, drawn up in Lisbon on 11 April 1997, and provisions for adapting domestic law
https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:legge:2002-07-11;148
Legislative Decree No 165/2001, Article 38
General provisions on the organisation of work in public administrations
https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.legislativo:2001-03-30;165~art38!vig=
Presidential Decree No 189/2009
Regulation on the recognition of academic qualifications, pursuant to Article 5 of Law No 148 of 11 July 2002
https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.presidente:2009-07-30;189!vig=
Legislative Decree No 206/2007
Implementing Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications and Council Directive 2006/100/EC adapting certain Directives in the field of freedom of movement of persons, by reason of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania
https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.legislativo:2007-11-09;206!vig=
Law No 29 of 25 January 2006, Article 12
Provisions for discharging the obligations derived from Italy’s membership of the European Community. 2005 Community Law.
https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:legge:2006-01-25;29
