Homologation of diplomas in Spain
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We help you with the homologation of your degree in Spain.
At our team, we are committed to meticulously assisting you with the degree recognition process in Spain, ensuring that every step is clear and efficient.
If you wish to pursue a career in your field of study from your home country, or if you want to continue your studies in Spain, you can achieve this by recognizing your academic degree in Spain. This article is designed for those seeking guidance on how to recognize their degree in Spain, providing a step-by-step explanation.
What Procedures Exist for Degree Validation in Spain?
Currently, Spain offers three different procedures to validate academic qualifications: Recognition, Equivalence, and Validation.
Understanding Recognition, Equivalence, and Validation
Recognition of a degree involves the official validation in Spain of higher education studies completed abroad. This process entails the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training validating the studies undertaken in other countries and converting them into official Spanish qualifications.
Once recognition is obtained, you can work in the profession denoted by your degree or continue your studies at a higher level. Validation, on the other hand, acknowledges the studies you have completed in your country, allowing you to finish them in Spain.
Equivalence confirms that the degree obtained in your country of origin is comparable to a Spanish degree, given the similarities in content.
Validation is specifically for students who begin a degree or a program in their home country and wish to complete their studies in Spain. In this case, the validating entity is not the Ministry of Education but rather the university where the studies will be completed in Spain.
Professions Requiring Degree Recognition in Spain
According to Annex 1 of Royal Decree 967/2014, the professions requiring degree recognition in Spain include:
- Medical Doctor
- Lawyer
- Veterinarian
- Physiotherapist
- Dentist
- Nurse
- Optician-Optometrist
- Pharmacist
- Speech Therapist
- Podiatrist
- Dietitian Nutritionist
- Occupational Therapist
- General Health Psychologist
- Engineer (including various specializations)
- Architect
- Technical Engineer (various specializations)
- Technical Architect
- Early Childhood Education Teacher
- Primary Education Teacher
- Secondary Education, Baccalaureate, Vocational Training, and Language Teaching Instructor
- Court Attorney
Who Needs to Recognize Their Degrees in Spain?
Individuals needing to recognize their degrees in Spain include:
- Those wishing to pursue further studies, such as a master’s degree.
- Those with a high school diploma from their country who want to work in Spain.
- Those looking to participate in competitive exams in Spain or to hold a public office.
- Those intending to work in any of the professions listed above.
- Those who have studied at a center in Spain with a foreign educational system.
Requirements for Degree Recognition in Spain
The requirements you must meet to recognize your degree in Spain are:
- Original, legalized documents must be presented and must be translated (if not in Spanish).
- The presented degree, diploma, or certificate must be officially valid and issued by competent authorities of the country.
- You must have passed all parts of your course.
- There must be a sufficient balance between the duration and content of the degree to be recognized.
- You must have completed at least a full year of study, as partial degrees are not recognized.
- If you studied at a foreign center in Spain, it must meet two criteria:
- The center must be authorized by the Spanish educational administration.
- You must not have previously obtained the same degree or completed the same studies in the Spanish educational system.
Documents Required for Degree Recognition in Spain
The documents required to recognize your degree in Spain include:
- A copy of your current passport, ID card (DNI), or Foreigner Identity Number (NIE).
- If you are in Spain, your student card or residence card.
- Correctly completed application form.
- Diploma of the degree or studies that has been legalized and apostilled.
- Academic transcript that must include a curriculum plan.
- Proof of linguistic competence, demonstrating necessary proficiency in the language.
- If you are from a non-Spanish-speaking country, the documents must be translated into Spanish.
Cost of Degree Recognition in Spain
The fee for degree recognition can be paid online or by submitting a correctly filled Model 790-107 payment form with a mechanical certification or authorized signature that validates the payment, or through a bank transfer to the specified account.
For online payments, you can pay the fee via bank transfer or credit card, and you must have a NIF (Tax Identification Number), CIF (Tax ID Code for Companies), or NIE (Foreigner’s Identity Number).
Online payments can be made for:
- Personal degree: You must identify yourself with Cl@ve and have a NIF, CIF, or NIE.
- On behalf of someone else: the representative must meet the following requirements:
- The representative must register with Cl@ve.
- The represented must have a NIF, CIF, or NIE.
- The power of attorney must be registered in the Electronic Registry of Authorizations.
The fee for degree recognition in Spain is €163, which may be updated annually.
Where to Apply for Degree Recognition in Spain?
Once you have paid the fee and gathered all necessary documents, you can submit your application at the Ministry of Education.
If you are in Spain, you can submit it at any public registry of the General State Administration, Autonomous Communities, or Local Administrations.
Alternatively, you can process the application online, for which you will need a digital certificate or electronic signature.
How Long Does It Take to Get My Degree Recognized?
The Ministry typically takes one and a half to two years to recognize and validate degrees.
Partial validations with the university usually take six to eight months.
In summary, if you plan to continue your studies in Spain or wish to work in your field of study from your country of origin, we recommend initiating the degree recognition process as soon as possible, even before coming to Spain, due to the lengthy waiting period.
We hope this article has been useful and has addressed your queries on how to recognize your degree in Spain. If you have any questions or need assistance in applying for degree recognition, do not hesitate to contact us, and we will assist you with all your needs.