Validation of academic courses

This process is required if your educational qualification enables you to practise one of the regulated professions in Spain, included in the following sectors:

• Health (doctors, dentists, veterinary surgeons, physiotherapists, etc.)
• Legal (lawyers and court representatives)
• Technical (architects, engineers, etc.)
• Education (school teachers – nursery, primary, secondary, etc.).

To obtain recognition for your higher education qualification you must:

• Pay the application fee for recognition: The recognition fee is paid by downloading fee form 790, here. Form 790 also has information on the amount you have to pay. You can present the form at any bank, savings bank or cooperative credit institution that collaborates with tax collection: See a list of those institutions here.
• Fill in the application form for recognition: Follow this link.
• Present the following documentation:

• Application form for recognition
• Proof of payment of the recognition fee (Form 790)
• Certified copy of your identity document (red card, NIE [foreign resident card], DNI [Spanish national ID card], etc.)
• Certified copy of the qualification which you would like to be recognized or certificate proving the qualification was issued.
• Certified copy of the academic transcript for the studies completed to obtain the qualification, showing the official duration of the syllabus in academic years, the subjects studied, the total study hours for each subject expressed in hours or European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS)
• The Spanish language certificate required to practise the intended profession must be presented. Generally a B2 level is required, but that may vary with the regulated profession.

Please note that in some sectors or professions, additional documents are required. This is the case for recognition for the qualification giving access to the regulated medical profession, for example. You will find more details on specific documentation for regulated professions on the Spanish government’s official website here.

Important note:  Documents issued in other countries must be official. The original documents must be correctly legalized and accompanied by their corresponding official translation, where necessary.

Find further information on the legalization process for these documents on the Spanish government’s official website, here.

You can find further information on the official translation process for documents on the Spanish government’s official website here.

Where do I present the application?

You can present the application at any public registry of the central government, autonomous communities and some local authorities (many town councils have signed agreements enabling them to act as public registries).

If you have a higher education qualification but you do not want to practise that profession in Spain, or the professional sector for your qualification does not correspond to one of the regulated professions (health, legal, technical and educational sectors), you must apply for the equivalence of your foreign qualification.

To present the application for equivalence of your foreign qualification, you must:

1. Pay the equivalence fee: You must download fee form 790 here. You can present the form at any bank, savings bank or cooperative credit institution that collaborates with tax collection: see a list of those institutions here.
2. Fill in the equivalence application form: See it online here

3. Present the following documentation:

• The equivalence application form
• Proof of payment of the fee (Form 790)
• Certified copy of your identity document (NIE [Foreign resident card], passport, etc.)
• Certified copy of the foreign qualification for which you are seeking equivalence, and, where applicable, the corresponding official translation.
• Certified copy of the academic certificate for the studies showing the official duration, academic years, syllabus, subjects taken and number of study hours for each subject, as well as the total number of class hours and, where applicable, a certified copy of the corresponding official translation.

For further information on the equivalence process for foreign qualifications, see the Spanish government’s official website here.

You can collect the credentials in person or through a person or agency (Gestoría), duly authorized with a power of attorney or written authorization for the purpose, signed by the person concerned and accompanied by photocopies of the National Identity Document (DNI) or passport of the person concerned and the authorized person.

Place and Opening Hours for collecting credentials: Subdirección General de Títulos, Paseo de la Castellana 162, 28046 Madrid.

Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Service closed 24 and 31 December

If you cannot collect the decision in Madrid, you can write to the Subdirección General de Títulos asking them to send it to the Área de Alta Inspección de Educación of the Central Government Office or Sub-Office (Delegación del Gobierno or Subdelegación del Gobierno) in the relevant province.

You can also ask, in the same way, for the credentials to be sent to the Education Department of the Spanish Embassy.

For more detailed information see the official website of Spain’s Ministry of Education and Vocational Training here:

http://www.educacionyfp.gob.es/servicios-al-ciudadano/catalogo/gestion-titulos/estudios-universitarios/titulos-extranjeros/homologacion-educacion-superior.html

The education or training establishment where you studied should provide all the above documents. If you do not have this documentation you should contact your education or training establishment in the foreign country and ask them for the original documents.

If you are no longer in your country of origin, there are two routes for obtaining this documentation:

• You can apply for it at the embassy or consulate of your country of origin in Spain
• You can grant power of attorney to a trusted person who is resident in your country of origin, so they can collect your official documentation and obtain the legalizations on your behalf.

If for any reason you cannot contact your education or training establishment, try to access the documentation that will help you show what your studies are online. However, note that Spain’s Ministry of Education will only assess this type of document if your status as refugee has already been recognized.

Documents are always legalized in the country of origin and on the original document, not photocopies. There are two procedures:

1. The diplomatic route. Three stamps are required:

• Stamp of the Ministry of Education in the country of issue.
• Stamp of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the country of issue.
• Stamp of the Spanish Embassy or Consulate in that country.

1. Hague Apostille: for documents issued in countries that have signed the Hague Convention, a single legalization or “apostille” issued by the authorities in that country is sufficient.

For more information on the legalization of documents, see the Spanish government’s official website here.

It is a translation done by a translator who is duly authorized and registered in Spain. Find a list of sworn translators here.

The official translation of documents can also be arranged through Spanish Embassies or Consulates abroad.

The Ministry of Education will notify you if addition information or documentation is required to process your application.

The official letter will indicate what documents are required to process your recognition/validation application. You must present them within three months, although you can request an extension. If you do not present the documentation within the period, your file will be closed.

For further information on the recognition, equivalence and validation of foreign studies and qualifications, follow these links:

• Foreign higher or university qualifications and studies.
• Non-university qualifications and studies.

You can also call 060, the government helpline, which provides general information on central government public services and procedures. See more information on this helpline and how to access other forms of contact here.