Apply for recognition of foreign degrees and diplomas of higher education
Anyone who has completed a higher education course abroad can apply for recognition of academic degrees and diplomas in Portugal.
Service channels
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Who can apply for recognition of foreign degrees and diplomas of higher education?
When can you apply for recognition of foreign degrees and diplomas of higher education?
At any moment.
What is the price to apply for recognition of foreign degrees and diplomas of higher education?
The price depends on the type of recognition you want and the higher education body/institution that will issue it.
The General Directorate for Higher Education (DGES) and the public higher education institutions publish every year the price list for recognition requests. Check with the entity you wish to apply to for recognition to find out the costs.
What is the deadline to apply for recognition of foreign degrees and diplomas of higher education?
For applications of automatic recognition and recognition of levels with precedence, the maximum time limit is 30 days after the completion of the application.
For applications for level recognition and specific recognition, the maximum time limit is 90 days after the completion of the application.
How apply for recognition of foreign degrees and diplomas of higher education?
The application for recognition must be submitted using the form available in the portal of the Directorate-General for Higher Education (DGES).
In the first step you will have to indicate the country where the degree was awarded and the degree.
In the second step you will see the recognition options available. In Portugal there are three forms of recognition:
- Automatic recognition - the simplest and quickest option, however, is not available for diplomas from all countries. This recognition can be awarded by DGES or by a public higher education institution of your choice
- Level recognition - available for diplomas from all countries. The recognition is awarded by a public higher education institution of your choice, provided that it teaches courses comparable to your diploma, by comparability to a Portuguese degree or diploma (bachelor, master or doctorate)
- Specific recognition - available for diplomas from all countries. The recognition is awarded by a public higher education institution of your choice, provided that it comprises the lecture of courses comparable to your diploma, by personalised case-by-case analysis. Not only the level, but also the duration and syllabus contents in a particular training area are assessed.
You can consult the list of courses in each higher education institution in Portugal on the DGES website.
After choosing the type of recognition you want, you should fill in the respective form.
Besides filling in the form you will need to attach some documents to the application. You can check the documents required for each type of recognition on the DGES website or directly with the higher education institution you choose to assess your application.
Unique recognition number
When the process is finalised, DGES issues the Certificate of Recognition. You can find the Unique Recognition Number, which you may need for other administrative processes, on the certificate.