Degree and Diploma Recognition

There are three types of recognition in Portugal: automatic recognition, specific recognition and level recognition

The recognition of academic degrees and diplomas of higher education awarded by foreign higher education institutions, has been regulated in Portugal since 1st January 2019, by Decree-Law no. 66/2018. This Decree-Law repeals the previous two, Decree-Law no. 283/83 and Decree-Law no. 341/2007

The new Decree-Law standardises procedures applied to the recognition of foreign qualifications, making them more transparent, equitable and straightforward, introducing changes to previous regimes and which translate into the clarification of concepts, and the extension of the recognition of foreign qualifications of course diplomas not deemed equivalent to academic higher degrees, but with objectives and of a nature identical to higher professional technical courses. It introduces simplified procedures, establishing a system of precedence in the level recognition, which guarantees more automated decision-making, avoiding repetition, reducing costs and response times on decisions concerning recognition.

Aspects inherent to the procedural steps are defined in Ordinance no. 33/2019, of 25 January, amended by Ordinance no. 43/2020, of 14 February.

Automatic recognition is the act that generically recognizes a foreign higher education degree or diploma, the level, objectives and nature of which are identical to the Portuguese degrees of bachelor, master and doctor or of a higher professional technician diploma, which is included in the list of degrees and diplomas set by the commission for the recognition of foreign degrees and diplomas

To which foreign degrees does it apply

  • Check here if it applies to your Degree / Diploma
  • Check this table

Where and how to order

  • Public Higher Education Institutions
  • Directorate-General for Higher Education

Recognition is requested by the Diploma holder by completing an online form.

Necessary documentation

A document must be submitted that unequivocally proves the awarding of the degree or diploma, i.e.

– A diploma or final certificate duly authenticated by the competent authorities and proving ownership of the degree or diploma for which recognition is being requested.

If you wish the final grade to be converted, you must submit a document that attests to the final grade obtained.

– A document issued by the foreign higher education institution indicating the final grade awarded for the degree or diploma for which recognition is being sought; and the final grading scale used in the country in question, showing the minimum grade that corresponds to a pass on said scale, as well as the maximum grade.

If the document in question is not in Portuguese, Spanish, French or English, it must also be accompanied by a translation into Portuguese, Spanish, French or English and the translation must have been duly certified by the competent authorities.

Note : If it is not possible to upload all mandatory documents on the DGES platform, they must be sent by email to acad@ualg.pt, duly identified with the applicant's name and case number.

Fees

The value of the fee is defined by the fee table (See Document box below).

Deadlines

– If any of the required documents are missing when the request is submitted, a period of not more than 30 working days will be granted during which said documents must be provided.

– Failure to pay applicable fees or emoluments by the deadline shown in the instructions provided will result in the process being cancelled (extinction of process).

– Recognition will be forthcoming no later than 30 working days after all of the necessary documentation has been submitted.

  • Doctor's Degree Recognition from the European University Institute in Florence
    According to Decree-Law 66/2018, academic degrees and diplomas awarded by the European University Institute in Florence are automatically recognized. As such, they should be required as a common Automatic Recognition process.

Specific recognition is the act that allows the recognition of a foreign higher education degree or diploma identical to an academic degree or diploma of Portuguese higher education, through a case-by-case analysis of the level, duration and program content, in a given training area, branch of knowledge or specialty.

Where and how to order

  • Public Higher Education Institutions
  • Directorate-General for Higher Education

Recognition is requested by the Diploma holder by completing an online form.

Necessary documentation

A document must be submitted that unequivocally proves the awarding of the degree or diploma, i.e.

– A diploma or final certificate duly authenticated by the competent authorities and proving ownership of the degree or diploma for which recognition is being requested.

– A document listing the modules passed and the respective final grade, as well as the duration of the studies and respective syllabus content leading to the obtaining of the degree; said document must be duly stamped by the higher education institution that issued it.

– A document issued by the foreign higher education institution indicating the final grade awarded for the degree or diploma for which recognition is being sought; and the final grading scale used in the country in question, showing the minimum grade that corresponds to a pass on said scale, as well as the maximum grade.

– In the case of a degree corresponding to the level of doctor or master, a digital copy of the thesis or dissertation defended, respectively, duly stamped by the higher education institution that awarded the degree; or, alternatively, a statement/minutes attesting that the submitted document was the one used in the defence of the thesis or dissertation in question.

If the document in question is not in Portuguese, Spanish, French or English, it must also be accompanied by a translation into Portuguese, Spanish, French or English and the translation must have been duly certified by the competent authorities.

Note : If it is not possible to upload all mandatory documents on the DGES platform, they must be sent by email to acad@ualg.pt, duly identified with the applicant's name and case number.

Fees

The fee amount is defined by the fee table (see Documents box below).

Deadlines

– If any of the required documents are missing when the request is submitted, a period of not more than 30 working days will be granted during which said documents must be provided.

– Failure to pay applicable fees or emoluments by the deadline shown in the instructions provided will result in the process being cancelled (extinction of process).

– Recognition will be forthcoming no later than 90 working days after all of the necessary documentation has been submitted.

Level recognition is the act that allows for the recognition, by comparability, individually, of a foreign higher education degree or diploma as having a level corresponding to an academic degree or diploma of Portuguese higher education.

Where and how to order

  • Public Higher Education Institutions
  • Directorate-General for Higher Education

Recognition is requested by the Diploma holder by completing an online form.

Necessary documentation

A document must be submitted that unequivocally proves the awarding of the degree or diploma, i.e.

– A diploma or final certificate duly authenticated by the competent authorities and proving ownership of the degree or diploma for which recognition is being requested.

– A document issued by the foreign higher education institution indicating the final grade awarded for the degree or diploma for which recognition is being sought; and the final grading scale used in the country in question, showing the minimum grade that corresponds to a pass on said scale, as well as the maximum grade.

– A document listing the modules passed and the respective final grade, as well as the duration of the studies and respective syllabus content leading to the obtaining of the degree; said document must be duly stamped by the higher education institution that issued it.

– In the case of a degree corresponding to the level of doctor or master, a digital copy of the thesis or dissertation defended, respectively, duly stamped by the higher education institution that awarded the degree; or, alternatively, a statement/minutes attesting that the submitted document was the one used in the defence of the thesis or dissertation in question.

If the document in question is not in Portuguese, Spanish, French or English, it must also be accompanied by a translation into Portuguese, Spanish, French or English and the translation must have been duly certified by the competent authorities.

Note : If it is not possible to upload all mandatory documents on the DGES platform, they must be sent by email to acad@ualg.pt, duly identified with the applicant's name and case number.

Fees

The fee amount is defined by the fee table (see Documents box below).

Deadlines

– If any of the required documents are missing when the request is submitted, a period of not more than 30 working days will be granted during which said documents must be provided.

– Failure to pay applicable fees or emoluments by the deadline shown in the instructions provided will result in the process being cancelled (extinction of process).

– Recognition will be forthcoming no later than 90 working days after all of the necessary documentation has been submitted.

Recognition of academic degrees and diplomas

Decree-Law No. 66/2018, of August 16th, which approves the legal regime of recognition of higher education degrees and diplomas awarded by foreign higher education institutions, determines the existence of three types of recognition: Automatic, Level and Specific.

The recognition requests are made exclusively online, by filling in a specific form.

Eligible under the automatic recognition, a process that allows a faster decision process (maximum 30 days after the complete preparation of the process) are the applications concerning the following degrees of Ukraine:

Bologna Degrees
Ucraine Portugal Legislation
Бакалавр (Bakalavr) 1st Cycle - licenciado

Deliberação genérica n.º 22

Deliberação n.º 1642/2015, de 20 de agosto

Магістр/Магистра

Спеціаліст/ Спеціалістa (Spetsialist) (para as formações longas com 5 ou mais anos)
2nd Cycle - mestre
  3rd Cycle - doutor

 

pre-Bologna Degrees
Ucraine Portugal Legislation

Бакалавр (Bakalavr)

врач/врача/bрач/bрачa/лікар/лікаря (Médico)

викладач/викладача/преподаватель/преподавателя (Professor)

інженер/інженера/инженер/инженера (Engenheiro)

архітектор/архітектора/архитектор/архитектора (Arquitecto)

економіст/економіста/экономист/экономиста  (Economista)

специалист/специалистa (Spetsialist) (formações com 4 ou mais anos)
Licenciado

Deliberação genérica n.º 16 | 16-A

Deliberação n.º 3273/2009, de 10 de dezembro

Deliberação n.º 2153/2009, de 23 de julho

Магістр (Magistr) Mestre

Кандидат наук (Kandydat nauk)

Доктор наук (Doctor Nauk)
Doutor

 

Article 13 of Ministerial Order no. 33/2019, of January 25th, provides for the possibility of waiving the delivery of diplomas, certificates and other academic documentation necessary for the recognition of foreign academic degrees and diplomas related to qualifications of applicants in an emergency situation for humanitarian reasons who, due to that circumstance, are unable to provide proof of those qualifications.

The possibility of exemption shall be assessed on a case-by-case basis by the competent authority for recognition, which, when making a decision to that effect, shall adopt the procedures it considers appropriate for the verification of ownership of the degree or diploma. The institution may use the European Qualifications Passport for Refugees (described above) or, apply other procedures that they consider valid to prove the qualifications in undocumented situations (e.g. interviews, tests, analysis of transcripts extracted from institutional websites, among others), having the institutions autonomy to identify the appropriate procedures.

As academic recognition not synonymous of professional recognition, whenever the access to regulated professions is at stake, the interested parties should clarify with the competent entities (Professional Associations or Associations of the sector) the necessary conditions for the professional exercise.

 In effect, for the exercise of some professional activities, the automatic recognition of the academic degree may not be sufficient, so in these specific situations, the applicant may have to undertake a specific recognition, which is a process that takes longer and involves an evaluation by a jury.

However, in other situations, recognition of the academic degree may even be dispensed with when certain requirements harmonised at European level for the exercise of the profession are met. Therefore, it is always suggested that citizens should contact the Entity/Order that regulates the profession in Portugal beforehand when their aim is purely professional.
After this contact, and if the academic recognition of the foreign degree/diploma is effectively requested, the request should be submitted through the online form.

In accordance with article 6 of Decree-Law 24-B/2022, of March 11th, the recognition requests submitted by beneficiaries of temporary protection, have priority and are exempt from the requirements foreseen in specific or sectorial legislation regarding:
 

  • Formalities for legalization of documents issued by foreign entities
  • Certification or authentication of translations into Portuguese of documents drafted in a foreign language
  • Certification or authentication of copies of original documents
  • Fees and charges for registration or of any other nature


Article 3 of Decree-Law No. 28-A/2022, of March 25th, also provides that titleholders of a foreign academic degree or diploma who do not meet the minimum training requirements for the respective recognition are guaranteed, upon request, admission to a higher education institution that grants the degree or diploma in the same training area, specialty or branch of knowledge.

For this purpose:

  • The number of admissions is not subject to quantitative limitations arising from previous fixed vacancies by the legally and statutorily competent entities or from the limited number of vacancies or admissions set in accreditation procedures
  • The totality of the training and professional experience may be credited, without needing to observe the limitations defined in article 45 of Decree-Law no. 74/2006, of March 24th, in its present version


The application may be submitted directly to the higher education institution at any time.

The admitted students are integrated in the programmes and organization of studies in accordance to the curricula in effect at the higher education institution where they register and enrol in the academic year in which they do so.
Therefore, all students admitted in the present semester will be immediately integrated in the academic year 2021-2022, in the curricular year corresponding to the one resulting from the crediting of the respective training carried out in the study cycles in the foreign higher education institution.

When qualifications and professional experience cannot be documentally proved, the higher education institution may carry out alternative procedures to verify those conditions, namely by using the European Qualifications Passport for Refugees or other procedures considered adequate by the institution, having the institutions autonomy to identify such procedures.

The application of the guidelines identified above regarding the recognition of degrees is independent of the nationality of the applicant or whether the degree or diploma in question is issued by a Ukrainian institution.

Due to the fact that nationals of other countries may also be beneficiaries of temporary protection, and also considering the increasing international mobility, there is a possibility that applications may be submitted by citizens who have obtained their qualifications in higher education institutions located in other territories. In this situation, without prejudice to the rights provided by article 6 of Decree-Law no. 24-B/2022, of March 11th and article 3 of Decree-Law no. 28-A/2022, of March25th, the recognition should be handled according to the country concerned, and the degree or diploma from that country may be eligible for automatic recognition or not.

The list of countries whose degrees are eligible for automatic recognition can be consulted here.

More information available here