How to get a foreign university degree recognised in Spain

A foreign degree in Spain does not receive a single ‘recognition status’ that applies in every situation. The procedure depends on the purpose: homologation is required for access to certain regulated professions, a declaration of equivalence is used to confirm an academic level, while recognition of part of previously completed studies is handled by the chosen Spanish university. Therefore, the first practical step for anyone who needs degree recognition in Spain is not to start collecting apostilles and translations, but to determine exactly which procedure is required.

The current rules are established by Royal Decree 889/2022. It applies to applications submitted under the new system after the decree entered into force and clearly distinguishes between homologation, a declaration of equivalence and recognition of studies according to their legal effects. This distinction is crucial: a positive decision confirming an academic level does not in itself grant the right to work in a profession for which Spanish law requires a specific qualification.

In practice, confusion often comes from the assumption that every foreign degree must first be ‘homologated’. This is incorrect. A graduate of a foreign university may not need official state recognition at all to work for a private company, whereas a doctor cannot resolve the issue simply by having the degree translated without completing the relevant procedure. Separate rules also apply to citizens of the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland who obtained their qualifications in these countries.

It therefore makes sense to prepare the documents only after answering two questions: what the degree will be used for and whether the intended profession is regulated in Spain. These factors determine the competent authority, the supporting documents required and even where the application must be submitted.

Three procedures that are easy to confuse

The Spanish system distinguishes between three mechanisms with different outcomes. Homologation compares a foreign qualification with a Spanish university degree that provides access to a regulated profession. A declaration of equivalence confirms that foreign higher education corresponds to an official bachelor’s or master’s academic level, but does not in itself grant professional rights. Recognition of studies applies to subjects or periods of study completed abroad that a person wants to use to continue their education at a Spanish university.

The table provides a useful rule of thumb: the name of a foreign qualification alone does not determine which route to take. The first step is to establish the purpose of recognition and the requirements for the profession or further studies.

Not every graduate needs homologation

Homologation is intended for qualifications linked to access to regulated professions specified in the current rules. These include, for example, doctors, dentists, pharmacists, nurses, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, dietitians and nutritionists, certain technical professions and some teaching professions. Each qualification is subject to its own requirements concerning education, programme content, practical training and, where applicable, proficiency in Spanish.

There is an important detail that can completely change a graduate’s plans. The fact that a profession is regulated does not necessarily mean that a foreign degree can be homologated directly. For example, the current government portal sets out a separate route for access to the legal profession: a foreign law degree cannot simply be homologated as a qualification granting the right to practise as a lawyer. It may be possible to have part of the studies completed abroad recognised by a Spanish university, after which the requirements established for the profession must be met.

The situation is simpler for non-regulated employment. If the law does not require a specific professional qualification, state homologation solely for the purpose of obtaining a job is generally not a prerequisite. An employer may assess foreign education alongside the candidate’s experience, professional skills and other credentials. However, a particular vacancy, competitive selection process or administrative procedure may set its own requirements for proof of education.

It is better to check whether a profession is regulated before paying for translations and preparing an extensive set of documents. Qualification titles often differ between countries, so the relevant criteria are the nature of the profession and Spain’s official list of regulated professions rather than a literal translation of the wording on the diploma.

Academic equivalence serves a different purpose

A declaration of equivalence confirms the level of higher education without equating a foreign degree with a specific Spanish qualification that provides access to a regulated profession. Under the current rules, the state procedure covers bachelor’s and master’s levels. For foreign doctoral degrees, recognition of equivalence falls within the competence of Spanish universities.

This distinction is particularly important when a person needs official confirmation of an academic level but does not require a professional licence. The decision is valid throughout Spain and has the corresponding academic and administrative effects. It cannot be used instead of homologation to gain access to a regulated profession.

The reverse situation also occurs: official state recognition is not required for every interaction with a university. Admission conditions depend on the particular study programme and the applicable rules, so the university’s requirements should be checked directly for the chosen course. There is little reason to begin a lengthy state procedure solely on the assumption that every foreign degree must obtain a declaration of equivalence before further study.

Continuing your studies: the university makes the decision

A person who has completed several years of study abroad or wants to transfer part of their previous education to a Spanish programme follows a different route. Recognition of foreign university subjects and periods of study falls within the competence of the Spanish university where the student intends to continue their education. The ministerial homologation procedure does not replace the university’s decision for this purpose.

The university compares the subjects already completed with its own study programme and determines which part of the previous studies can be recognised. The documentation requirements should therefore be checked with the specific institution: universities set their own conditions for the procedure within the general rules. The Royal Decree establishes a maximum period of two months from the registration of the application for a decision to be made.

This route may also be relevant after an unsuccessful homologation attempt. The law allows a person to apply for recognition of the corresponding periods of study if homologation has been refused or if a conditional decision has ceased to be valid because the required additional measures were not completed within the established period. At this stage, the objective is different: the person uses part of their previous education towards obtaining a Spanish degree rather than seeking full recognition of the original qualification.

Documents: what to prepare before applying

The required documents depend on the procedure and the particular qualification, although there is a basic set for homologation and a declaration of equivalence. Applicants will need a document proving their identity and nationality, their foreign university degree and an official academic transcript. The transcript must provide sufficient information to assess the duration of the studies, the subjects completed and the academic workload. Homologation may require additional documentation proving compliance with the requirements of the specific regulated profession.

Foreign documents must meet the applicable authenticity requirements. Documents from countries that are parties to the Hague Convention generally require an apostille; in other cases, the prescribed legalisation procedure applies. Documents issued in European Union, European Economic Area and Swiss countries are exempt from the legalisation requirement under this procedure.

Academic documents issued in a language other than Spanish must be accompanied by an official translation. It is more practical to establish the final list of documents required for the particular qualification before commissioning translations, as additional documentation varies according to the purpose of the application.

Submitting the application and paying the fee

Applications for homologation and declarations of equivalence are submitted electronically. The government portal allows applicants to start the procedure from abroad, so there is no need to move to Spain solely to submit the documents. Once the case has been registered, subsequent notifications and actions relating to it are also handled through the electronic system.

A government fee of €166.50 is charged for processing the application. It can be paid electronically if the applicant has suitable identification methods and banking details, using form 790-107, or by bank transfer from abroad. Proof of payment is required where the system does not receive confirmation of the payment automatically.

Before submitting the documents, it is useful to run through a short checklist:

1. Check whether the intended profession is regulated and which procedure corresponds to the purpose of the application.
2. Check the requirements for the specific foreign degree and field of study.
3. Prepare the degree certificate, academic transcript and any additional supporting documents required for the chosen qualification.
4. Complete legalisation or obtain an apostille where required.
5. Arrange an official translation of documents that must be submitted in Spanish.
6. Pay the fee using the chosen method and keep proof of payment if it needs to be attached.
7. Submit the application and monitor electronic notifications relating to the case.

The order of these steps has practical consequences. For example, translating documents that the authority does not require for a particular case will create unnecessary costs, while choosing the wrong procedure may result in an application that does not address the original objective.

Six months under the law and waiting for a decision in practice

The Royal Decree sets a maximum period of six months for processing an application for homologation or a declaration of equivalence, calculated from the date it enters the electronic register. However, this period should not be treated as a guaranteed date for receiving a positive or negative decision: the case undergoes examination and, where required, its documentation is reviewed by the Technical Analysis Committee for Homologations and Declarations of Equivalence.

The absence of notification after the statutory period has legal significance. The law allows the application to be considered rejected through negative administrative silence. This mechanism makes it possible to challenge the outcome without having to wait indefinitely for a formal response from the authority; it is not equivalent to an expert finding that the foreign education does not meet the relevant requirements.

There is a significant inaccuracy in the original text at this point: after administrative silence, it suggests filing an administrative appeal with a higher authority. Decisions under this procedure exhaust the administrative route, while the Royal Decree provides for the possibility of an optional application for reconsideration or an appeal before the administrative courts. For an individual case, the appropriate method and deadline for challenging the decision should be determined according to its procedural status, particularly where recognition affects access to a profession.

Conditional homologation: what happens when study programmes differ

Differences between education completed abroad and the requirements of the corresponding Spanish qualification do not always result in rejection. If the committee identifies deficiencies in particular knowledge, competences or practical training, homologation may be granted subject to the completion of additional educational requirements.

The form of these requirements depends on the deficiencies identified. The law provides for four options:

• Completing a period of supervised practical training.
• Passing an aptitude test.
• Completing an academic or technical project or assignment.
• Completing specified courses.

The required measures can be completed at a Spanish university offering the relevant official programme. The Royal Decree originally established a maximum period of four years from notification of the decision; a separate decision in 2025 extended this period by a further two years for the cases concerned. The two-year period stated in the original material should therefore not be used as a reference.

If the established period expires without the requirements being completed, the conditional homologation ceases to have effect. A new application for homologation of the same foreign degree cannot be submitted after this outcome, although the legislation still allows an application for recognition of the corresponding periods of university study.

Qualifications from the EU: separate rules for professional recognition

Some professionals have another route that should not be confused with academic recognition of a foreign degree. European Union rules govern the professional qualifications of citizens of the EU and European Economic Area and, under a separate agreement, also apply to Switzerland. If a professional intends to work in a regulated profession in Spain, the first step is to establish whether the European professional recognition system applies and which authority is responsible for considering the application.

For seven professions, European legislation provides for a system of automatic recognition where the established qualification requirements are met: doctors, general care nurses, midwives, dentists, pharmacists, architects and veterinary surgeons. In this context, ‘automatic’ does not mean that a professional can immediately start working without completing any formalities. The applicant submits the required documents to the competent authority in the host country and obtains the necessary authorisation.

Other regulated professions may fall under the general European system. Under this system, the Spanish authority compares the professional’s training with the requirements for the relevant activity and may impose a compensation measure where substantial differences are identified. Some professions are governed by specific rules, so there is no single procedure applicable to everyone holding a European qualification.

There is another limitation that is particularly relevant for migrants. Simply obtaining a degree in an EU Member State does not automatically bring every holder within the scope of the European directive: nationality, the country where the qualification was obtained, the profession and the history of any previous recognition can affect the applicable legal route. For third-country nationals, Spanish national rules generally remain the starting point unless the particular circumstances fall within a recognised exception.

Who assesses the degree and why you should check the criteria before applying

The decision on homologation or a declaration of equivalence is made by the competent department of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. Complex cases may also be reviewed by the Technical Analysis Committee for Homologations and Declarations of Equivalence. The committee may request an expert report from the National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation when specialist academic analysis is required to assess a foreign study programme.

The agency’s role is limited to expert assessment. It does not make the final decision on an application, manage the applicant’s administrative case or provide information about the stage of the procedure. However, the criteria published by the agency are useful before documents are submitted: for a number of regulated professions, they indicate which knowledge, competences, duration of training and practical components specialists will assess. These requirements continue to be updated in 2026.

Checking the criteria in advance is particularly useful for graduates in medicine, architecture, engineering, teaching and other regulated fields. A foreign degree having the same name as a Spanish qualification does not in itself prove that the study programmes are equivalent. Comparing the academic transcript and curriculum with the current criteria beforehand makes it easier to identify which supporting evidence may be missing from the application.

Reference table: which route applies to your situation

Before preparing the documents, it is useful to reduce the key details to one practical decision point. This does not replace checking the requirements for a specific profession or university programme, but it helps determine which authority to approach first and what outcome to expect.

There is a simple way to identify a mistake before submitting an application: describe the desired outcome in one sentence. ‘I need the right to work as a doctor’, ‘I need official confirmation of a master’s level qualification’ and ‘I want to continue my university studies’ lead to different procedures. If the objective cannot clearly be matched to one row of the table, the requirements of the profession, employer, selection process or educational institution should be clarified first.

Checklist before submitting your application

Even choosing the correct procedure does not eliminate the risk of delays caused by an incomplete set of documents. The government authority reviews the application and requests corrections if any required materials are missing; while awaiting a response, the processing period may be suspended. It is therefore more practical to check the application as a complete package rather than upload documents as they become available.

• The purpose of the application is clearly defined: professional activity, confirmation of an academic level or continuation of studies.
• You have checked whether the profession is regulated in Spain.
• You have chosen the procedure that provides the required legal or academic outcome.
• The details in the degree certificate, academic transcript and application are consistent.
• The academic transcript contains the information required to assess the study programme and academic workload.
• For a regulated profession, you have checked the additional requirements and published assessment criteria.
• The documents have been legalised or apostilled where required in the particular case.
• Required documents in a foreign language are accompanied by an official Spanish translation.
• The fee has been paid using the correct method if it applies to the chosen procedure.
• After submission, the case registration details have been saved and access to electronic notifications is available.

The final point is easy to underestimate. If the authority requests corrections to the application or additional documents, there is usually a limited period in which to respond. Monitoring notifications after the case has been registered becomes as practical a part of the procedure as preparing the original set of documents.

Before applying: one clear objective instead of unnecessary procedures

The key question before starting the process is very specific: what official outcome is required from the assessment of the foreign degree? Everything else depends on the answer. For someone who needs access to a regulated profession, academic equivalence cannot replace homologation; a person who wants previously completed subjects recognised should instead apply to a university.

Requirements can change, and the criteria for individual professions may be updated. It is advisable to check the current conditions of the procedure using information from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, while the academic assessment requirements for regulated professions can be checked in the materials published by the National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation. This check is particularly useful immediately before paying the fee, legalising documents and commissioning translations.

If the recognised degree is needed for a job search or the next stage of relocation involves employment, once the administrative process has been completed, you can explore suitable vacancies in Spain on Flagma.