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In Portugal, the homologation or recognition of foreign academic degrees is the procedure that allows a diploma obtained in another country to have official validity. This process is regulated by Decree-Law no. 66/2018, of August 16, and by Portaria no. 33/2019. There are three types of recognition - automatic, level and specific - each with different requirements, fees and deadlines. Obtaining recognition is essential for practicing regulated professions, continuing studies or accessing public tenders. JJ Gestoria offers complete assistance to evaluate your situation, gather the correct documentation and process the homologation of your university degree without complications, verifying equivalencies, preparing translations and following up until the resolution.
Do you need to validate your university degree to study or work in Portugal? Schedule a consultation with JJ Gestoria and let our specialized team guide you every step of the way.
Recognizing your degree opens academic and professional doors. It is mandatory for regulated professions such as Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Psychology, Engineering, Architecture or Law, and also to participate in public competitions or to teach at the university. It may be required if you plan to do professional internships or pursue postgraduate studies. Although areas such as Management, Marketing or Information Technology do not always require formal recognition, validation increases your competitiveness, makes it easier to obtain visas or professional credentials and improves your employability. In addition, the process converts the grades and credits of your original education to the Portuguese scale (0-20), which helps you to meet the requirements for access to masters and doctorates and to compare your career with local standards. In short, homologating your degree multiplies your opportunities and fully integrates you into the Portuguese academic and labor system.
Generically recognizes a foreign degree whose level, objectives and nature are identical to the Portuguese bachelor's, master's or doctoral degrees. It applies only to diplomas included in an official list of equivalences and awarded by accredited institutions. The cost is usually around 33 € and the average term is about 30 days. This is the fastest option, but is not available for all countries and qualifications.
Determine, on a case-by-case basis, whether your foreign degree corresponds to the Portuguese level of bachelor, master or doctorate, without associating it to a specific course. You must choose a Portuguese university related to your field and submit documents such as diploma, syllabus, academic record and, when applicable, thesis or dissertation. It usually takes up to 90 days and carries rates in excess of 500 €depending on the university.
Compare your training with a specific course at a Portuguese university (scientific area, duration, contents and credits). This is the most detailed process and often indispensable for regulated professions. It usually costs from 400 € and may include knowledge tests or the obligation to take additional subjects if there are content gaps.
Before starting the homologation, apostille your documents in the country of origin (Hague Convention). Include: university diploma, academic transcripts, syllabus and proof of internships. Ensure authenticated copies and, when applicable, sworn translations into Portuguese.
Verify at the Direção-Geral do Ensino Superior (DGES) which type of recognition fits your case. For automatic recognition, complete the online form, upload the documents and pay the fee. For level or specific recognition, select a university with a similar course and send the file for evaluation. Include authenticated copies of the diploma and academic record, as well as a statement with the classification of the training area (CNAEF y FOS).
Fees vary according to the type of recognition and the institution: around 33 € for the automatic and, in general, over 500 € for the level and the specific one. The usual deadlines range from 30 days (automatic) to 90 days (level and specific). Some universities may charge additional fees for grade conversion or issuance of final certificates.
We analyze your training and professional objective to define whether automatic, level or specific recognition is appropriate. We review current equivalencies, estimate costs and deadlines, and give you a clear plan of action.
We help you with the apostille, sworn translations and DGES forms. We coordinate the presentation to the university when the automatic application does not apply, supervise the progress and manage additional requirements, including eventual knowledge tests or complementary subjects, until the final resolution.
In Portugal, the recognition of foreign studies of basic and secondary education (equivalent to the baccalaureate) is carried out through a procedure of
equivalence or equalization. This process allows qualifications from foreign educational systems to be recognized within the Portuguese educational system.
and is available to any Portuguese citizen or foreigner residing in the country.
We verify that the certificates are correctly apostilled and translated, complying with the requirements of the Portuguese Ministry of Education.
We complete the official form on behalf of the applicant and submit it to the appropriate school.
We maintain contact with the institution to avoid additional requirements and inform you of the status until we receive the equivalency.
If you wish to continue higher studies in Portugal, we will guide you through the next steps once you have validated your baccalaureate.
Do you need to validate your university degree to study or work in Portugal? Schedule a consultation with JJ Gestoria and let our specialized team guide you every step of the way.
