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What do you need to know?
The process to obtain official recognition in Spain of non-university qualifications and studies completed abroad (excluding foreign languages studies).
- You can request official recognition of qualifications or the validation of studies to obtain:
- Recognition of the corresponding academic qualification.
- Authorisation to continue studying at another Spanish educational level.
- Equivalence recognition to the Spanish qualification for professional purposes.
- You can also:
- Request urgent processing if you need to provide evidence that you have applied for official recognition, for professional or academic reasons.
- Amend personal details or other information in your request.
- Teaching centres authorised to adopt a foreign educational system in Catalonia can apply for official recognition for their students.
We recommend you collect all the student's supporting documents before submitting the application.
- Residents of Catalonia who want to obtain official recognition of studies or qualifications completed abroad:
- Request official recognition or validation
- Request urgent processing of your request for official recognition or validation
- Amend your request for official recognition or validation
- Make a representation or lodge an appeal
- Teaching centres authorised to adopt a foreign educational system in Catalonia that request official recognition for their students:
- Foreign centres that want to apply for official recognition for their students
You can submit your request at any time.
The documents to be submitted vary according to the studies or qualifications and the country of the centre. Consult the Document for the organisation and management of foreign education centres located in Catalonia.
The form accompanying the process will guide you in the preparation of the supporting documents.
Requirements for studies completed at a foreign centre located in Spain
- The centre must be authorised by the competent Spanish educational body.
- The students cannot have previously obtained the same qualification in the Spanish educational system.
Original qualification, diploma or academic certificate requirements
- It must be an official academic document, issued by the competent authorities of the country of your centre (photocopies are not accepted).
- It must be legalised, unless your centre is from a European Union country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland. The original document must be used in the legalisation process.
- It cannot be a qualification obtained through official recognition or validation of another qualification obtained in a third country.
Studies requirements
- They must have official validity in the education system of the country where your centre is from.
- They must have sufficient academic equivalence, in terms of duration and content, with the corresponding Spanish studies or qualification.
- They must have a minimum duration of one full academic year. Studies shorter than one academic year (such as a semester, or one or two terms) cannot be validated.
- They must be fully completed and approved. Individual courses cannot be validated.
- The student must have passed all the academic years prior to the year you want to have officially recognised in the case of upper secondary school education or compulsory secondary education. For all other studies, the student must accredit the studies that give access to the qualification you want to have officially recognised.
This procedure is free in the following case:
- Official recognition of completion of compulsory secondary education.
In all other cases, a fee must be paid at the beginning of the procedure. Consult:
- The amount of the fee for the official recognition and validation of foreign qualifications and studies in non-university education.
- General exemptions and discounts that may apply to fees.
Steps to follow
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1
Step one
Apply for official recognition
This form is exclusively for authorised foreign teaching centres whose studies are equivalent to compulsory secondary education and upper secondary school education.
This form is exclusively for authorised foreign teaching centres whose studies are equivalent to compulsory secondary education and upper secondary school education.
Access to the procedure requires the digital identification of the legal person of your organisation or company.
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2
Step two
Pay the fee
If you have to pay the fee, once you have completed the form, choose the payment method in your Private Area and make payment within 15 days:
If you have to pay the fee, once you have completed the form, choose the payment method in your Private Area and make payment within 15 days:
- Credit card
- Bizum
- Letter of payment
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3
Step three
Check the status of the procedure
You can view the status of the procedure in your Private Area at any time. The possible statuses are:
You can view the status of the procedure in your Private Area at any time. The possible statuses are:
- Being processed
The process is under way and you don't have to do anything. - Pending compliance with request
You have received a request for supporting documents or a different notification from the Ministry. To continue the procedure, submit the required documents or make the corresponding representations.
You will be notified in your Private Area or be issued an administrative notification if:- We need more information.
- You have to submit more documents.
- There are any issues related to the procedure.
- Pending decision
The file is pending signature of the decision. - Decided
Your application has been approved or denied. - Completed
The file has been closed and the procedure has ended.
- Being processed
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4
Step four
Respond to a request
The processing unit will contact the centre if you need to submit additional documentation.
The processing unit will contact the centre if you need to submit additional documentation.
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5
Step five
Receive the response
What response will you receive?
What response will you receive?
- Approved
- We have accepted the application.
- Denied
- Inadmissible: if the student does not meet the requirements for their file to be processed.
- Withdrawn: if you have not submitted the documentation we have requested within the deadline.
- Rejected: if we deny your application for official recognition.
How will you receive the response?
You will be notified in the Private Area of the centre or the student. If your application is approved, you can download:
- The electronic certificate of official recognition or validation of foreign studies.
- A certificate with the average grade of compulsory secondary education, if this is the qualification you have had officially recognised.
You will receive the electronic original of the official recognition certificate and the certificate with the average grade. You will also receive a certified copy with the secure verification code.
Can you make representations or a lodge an appeal?
Yes, you can make representations or lodge an appeal against inadmissibility or withdrawal and provide more documentation within a maximum period of 15 days (see step 6).
- Approved
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Step six
Make representations or lodge an appeal
If your application is denied, you can:
If your application is denied, you can:
- Make representations or submit more documentation within a period of 15 days.
- Lodge an appeal within a period of 1 month.
All representations and appeals must be made online.
