Any information related to the recognition of foreign degrees in Italy is provided by the Information Center on Mobility and Academic Equivalences (CIMEA). The establishment of this Center corresponds to the commitments made by our country with the signing and ratification of the Lisbon Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications Relating to Higher Education in the European Region.
Depending on the level of the degree and the purpose of the recognition (e.g., continuation of studies, access to public competitions, achievement of the corresponding Italian degree, pursuit of regulated professions, etc.), there are different procedures and administrations responsible for recognition. An overview of the various recognition procedures is available at https://www.cimea.it/pagina-procedure-riconoscimento- titles.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation is not competent to recognize foreign degrees. However, Italian diplomatic-consular representations abroad (Embassies or Consulates) may issue the on-site Dichiarazione di Valore of a degree or professional qualification obtained abroad in their jurisdiction.
The Dichiarazione di Valore is not a form of recognition of the degree, but a document of an informative nature that educational institutions and the Administrations responsible for the recognition of degrees in Italy may use for the evaluation of the degrees themselves, for the purposes of the continuation of studies, the exercise of regulated professions, etc.
The information contained in the Declaration of Value concerns: the nature and level of the institution that issued the foreign degree; the legal duration of the course of study; requirements for access to the course; any grade obtained with reference to the evaluation system in force; the value of the degree in the country of origin for the purposes of continuing studies and possibly the exercise of the profession; any other information that may be considered useful for its evaluation in Italy.
Legalization
Degrees in a foreign language to be valid in Italy for the Public Administration must be legalized and translated into Italian. Legalization confirms the authenticity of the signature, placed on the qualification, of the public official who issued it, as well as the authenticity of the stamp on the document. Exempted from “legalization” are countries that have acceded to the Hague Convention (October 5, 1961), in these cases legalization is replaced by the “Apostille.”
Apostille
It is in force, therefore, among countries that have acceded to the Hague Convention of October 5, 1961 and replaces, only among them, legalization. It is necessary to have, on the foreign title, the so-called “Hague Apostille” affixed before applying for the Declaration of Value. Each adhering country indicates which authorities are competent to issue the Apostille. The “Apostille” is not necessary when the country from which the foreign document originates has acceded to an international, bi- or multi-lateral convention that excludes it. To see the list of adhering states and the authorities competent to issue the Apostille click here.
Please note
This Embassy of Italy in Kenya has jurisdiction for the Issuing of Declarations of Value only from recognized Kenyan Institutions;
Services offered
Consular Declaration:
Declaration Of Value:
Foreign Titles:
For any other information please send an email to the following email address: nairobi.studio@esteri.it