Degree Recognition in Italy: How to Get Your Qualifications Validated as an Expat

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Why get your degree recognised in Italy?

Education systems vary considerably from country to country. Qualifications that are well understood at home — whether vocational, professional, or academic — may not have a direct equivalent in Italy, and the same level of qualification can be interpreted very differently depending on where it was obtained.
In practice, degrees earned abroad carry no automatic legal standing in Italy. That does not mean you cannot work there with your foreign qualification, but certain situations — regulated professions, public sector competitions, university enrolment — require an official recognition process. In other cases, going through this process is not compulsory, but it gives employers a clear, standardised way to assess your credentials and can make a real difference to your application.

How do you know if your degree is recognised in Italy?

There is no single universal answer: everything depends on your profession and your project. Here are the official resources to consult.
The competent Italian consulate is your first point of contact. It can guide you based on your personal situation and sector. Book an appointment before starting any formal process.
The European database of regulated professions (available on the European Commission portal) lets you check whether your profession is regulated in Italy, meaning it requires official authorisation and specific qualifications to practise.
The ENIC-NARIC network, represented in Italy by the CIMEA (Centro di Informazione sulla Mobilità e le Equivalenze Accademiche), supports both academic and professional recognition processes. CIMEA also operates the ARDI database (Automatic Recognition Database Italia), which allows you to download a free comparability statement for degrees from the 55 countries that have signed the Lisbon Recognition Convention.

For which professions is recognition required?

Degree recognition in Italy is compulsory primarily for regulated professions, those whose practice requires official authorisation. For non-regulated professions, it is not obligatory but can offer a meaningful competitive advantage.
The question of recognition becomes concrete when your qualifications are not fully understood by an employer, a public administration, or a professional body, which could limit your career progression or access to certain roles. In that case, going through a formal equivalence process ensures your background is given its full value.

Regulated professions: the CIMEA procedure

If your profession is regulated in Italy, here is how to proceed.
Step 1 — Contact the CIMEA to obtain an attestato di comparabilità. This body analyses your curriculum, training, and specialisation to assess whether your level meets the Italian standards required to practise your profession. The process is handled entirely online through the Diplome platform (cimea-diplome.it). Standard processing takes 30 working days from the acceptance of your file; an express procedure is available within 15 working days for an additional fee.
If certain subjects or competencies are missing compared to the Italian curriculum, CIMEA may require you to complete additional modules before issuing the statement.
Step 2 — Contact the relevant ministry for your sector:

• State education: Ministry of Education (Ministero dell’Istruzione e del Merito). While your application is being processed, you can apply to private institutions, which are not subject to the same requirements.
• Medical and healthcare professions (doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, etc.): Ministry of Health (Ministero della Salute).
• Other regulated liberal professions (lawyers, architects, engineers, etc.): the relevant professional body (ordine or collegio) manages the recognition process.

Special case — Public sector competitions: if you wish to sit a public competition in Italy (concorso pubblico), recognition of your degree is a mandatory step. A waiver is theoretically possible under Article 38 of Legislative Decree 165/2001, but it remains exceptional and subject to strict conditions that must be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Non-regulated professions: the Dichiarazione di Valore

For professions not regulated under Italian law, there is no obligation to obtain official degree recognition. Employers are free to recruit based on their own criteria and to assess your qualifications directly.
That said, to strengthen your application and make it easier for Italian employers to understand your level of education, you can request a Dichiarazione di Valore (Declaration of Value) from the competent Italian consulate.
This document is not an official recognition of your degree. It is an informational document that certifies the nature and level of the institution that awarded your degree, the standard duration of the course, the conditions of access to the programme, and the value of the qualification in the country where it was obtained. It is used by Italian universities and public bodies to assess your credentials.
Worth knowing: the Dichiarazione di Valore is only available for degrees that are officially recognised at national level in the country of issue (accredited by the relevant national ministry or authority). Degrees awarded by unaccredited private institutions are not eligible.
To obtain it, contact the Italian consulate with jurisdiction over the place where your degree was awarded (not your place of residence). Consular fees are around thirty euros, though the document is free for study-related purposes.
For a full overview of the administrative steps involved in relocating to Italy, see our guide on the steps to move to Italy.

Getting your degree recognised to study in Italy

If you want to continue your education in Italy, the rules vary depending on your current level.
If you hold a secondary school leaving certificate (A-levels, International Baccalaureate, or an equivalent qualification from your home country): most national secondary diplomas are recognised at the same level as the Italian Esame di Stato (Maturità), allowing you to enrol directly at an Italian university. Simply contact the international students office (Ufficio Studenti Stranieri) of your chosen institution to find out what documents are required, including any language requirements (some programmes ask for a CILS or CELI certificate).
If you are already a university student: you can enrol at an Italian institution and request an exemption from exams for subjects already completed. Italian higher education, like the rest of Europe, operates on the ECTS credit system, which facilitates mobility and the transfer of academic credits. Whether exemptions are granted remains at the discretion of the Italian university.
Two routes are available:

• The Erasmus programme: ideal for a semester or academic year abroad, with credits validated at your home university. It is the most accessible way to experience Italian academic life.
• Direct enrolment: for a full degree programme in Italy, public universities are accessible at reasonable tuition fees. Major universities in Milan, Bologna, Rome, and Florence welcome thousands of international students every year.

In both cases, the Dichiarazione di Valore and, depending on the university, the CIMEA comparability statement may be required. Some universities now accept the ARDI attestation (available as a free download) in place of the Dichiarazione di Valore.
Studying in Italy is also a gateway to the local job market: you build an academic and professional network on the ground, improve your Italian, and make future integration considerably easier. To go further, find out how to work in Italy after your studies.

Conclusion

Degree recognition in Italy follows clear rules once you understand the system. For regulated professions, the process through CIMEA and the relevant ministry is unavoidable. For everything else, the Dichiarazione di Valore is a straightforward document that noticeably strengthens your application with Italian employers.
Start by identifying whether your profession is regulated, use the CIMEA ARDI database for a free initial assessment, and contact the Italian consulate for the consular steps. Handled with enough advance planning, this process need not be an obstacle to your move to Italy.

Frequently asked questions

Is a secondary school leaving certificate from my country recognised in Italy?

In most cases, yes. National secondary diplomas from EU and many non-EU countries are recognised at the same level as the Italian Esame di Stato (Maturità), allowing direct enrolment at an Italian university. Contact the international students office of your chosen university to confirm what documents are required.

Can I get exemptions for exams I have already passed in my home country?

Yes. If you are already a university student, you can request recognition of previously validated courses to avoid repeating them in Italy. The ECTS credit system makes this process easier, though the final decision rests with the Italian university and depends on how closely the programmes align.

Do I need to pass an Italian language test to study in Italy?

It depends on the university and the programme. Some institutions require a certificate of Italian (CILS, CELI, or PLIDA), while many master’s programmes are taught entirely in English, particularly at universities in northern Italy such as Bocconi and Politecnico di Milano.

Is it possible to study in Italy through Erasmus?

Yes. The Erasmus+ programme allows you to study in Italy for a semester or a full academic year, with credits recognised by your home university. It is the most structured and accessible option for a first academic experience in Italy.

What is the Dichiarazione di Valore and what is it used for?

The Dichiarazione di Valore (Declaration of Value) is a document issued by the competent Italian consulate. It certifies the nature, level, and standing of your degree in the country where it was awarded. It is not an official recognition, but is frequently requested by Italian universities and public bodies as part of an application or enrolment file.

What is CIMEA and how do I use it?

CIMEA (Centro di Informazione sulla Mobilità e le Equivalenze Accademiche) is Italy’s official body for the recognition of foreign qualifications and a member of the European ENIC-NARIC network. It issues attestati di comparabilità (comparability statements) through its online Diplome platform. For degrees from countries that have signed the Lisbon Recognition Convention, a free comparability statement can be downloaded directly from the ARDI database on cimea.it.

How long does the degree recognition process take in Italy?

The standard CIMEA procedure takes around 30 working days from the acceptance of your file. An express option is available within 15 working days for an additional fee. Processing times for ministerial recognition (regulated professions) vary and can take several months.