Recognition of Foreign Degrees and Diplomas

Recognition of Foreign Degrees and Diplomas

Automatic Recognition

Act which allows a generical recognition of a higher education foreign degree or diploma with identical level, objectives and nature to the Portuguese degrees of licenciado, mestre or doutor and the short cycle professional higher technical diplomas. The degrees or diplomas concerned must be included in the list approved by the commission for the recognition of foreign degrees and diplomas (please, check the document below) and awarded by a higher education institution accredited at the home country.

Decree-Law nr. 66/2018, dated 16th August – Based on the decisions of the Commission for the Recognition of Foreign Degrees and Diplomas

Level Recognition

Act that allows to recognize by comparison, on a case-by-case basis, a degree or diploma awarded by a foreign higher education institution, to a Portuguese academic degree (licenciado, mestre or doutor) or to the short cycle professional higher technical diplomas. This kind of recognition must be requested to a Portuguese Public Higher Education Institution which awards a degree or diploma in the same field of knowledge.

Ckeck the programmes we offer

Specific Recognition

Act that allows to recognize a degree or diploma awarded by a foreign higher education institution as identical to a Portuguese academic degree or higher education diploma, through comparison, on a case-by-case basis, of the level, duration and programmatic content, in a certain area of formation, field of knowledge or specialty. Please, check all the programmes at IPLeiria.

Fees

TypeIssued in paper
(cost in euros €)
Digital form
(cost in euros €)
Automatic recognition50
Automatic recognition with the conversion of the final grade100
Level recognition to a higher education diploma or to the degrees of licenciatura or mestrado600
Level recognition to a higher education diploma or to the degrees of licenciatura or mestrado with the conversion of the final grade650
Specific recognition to a higher education diploma or to a programme of licenciatura or mestrado600
Conversion of the final grade, after the automatic or level recognition has been granted100
Replacement Copy of the Certificate2520

Contact us

Online

The best way to reach us is through e-mail, allowing us to assess all your questions and send you the relevant links and information. You may do so to academicos@ipleiria.pt .

Telephone

Monday to Friday, between 9.30 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. and between 2.00 and 5.00 p.m..

Number: + 351 244 830 010

In-Person

Below, you may schedule an appointment to one of our offices located in Leiria or Caldas da Rainha.


Appointment of Jury

FAQ

The recognition request is submitted through the online form, available in the DGES’ website.

Automatic RecognitionLevel RecognitionSpecific RecognitionDocumentsVerification of their authenticityTranslation
XXXDiploma or certificate that proves the award of the degreeDigital – Verification of the diploma or certificate through an identification number, in case the foreign higher education institution has a centralised registry that can be publicly accessed through an unique identifier.
Paper – Original Diploma or Certificate or Certified copy of it. Except for the EU countries, all the originals must be legalised, as explained in the next FAQ. The originals can be presented at our offices.
a)
XXXCertificate or other document, issued by the foreign higher education institution, clearly stating the final grade and the classification scale in use, including the minimum for approval and the maximum.Digital – as long as its authenticity is unambiguous, the file is non-editable and bears qualified electronic signature, affixed by the competent authorities of that institution. It must be verifiable.
Paper – Original Certificates or Certified copies of them. Except for the EU countries, all the originals must be legalised, as explained in the next FAQ. The originals can be presented at our offices.
a)
XXTranscript of RecordsDigital – as long as its authenticity is unambiguous, the file is non-editable and bears qualified electronic signature, affixed by the competent authorities of that institution. It must be verifiable.
Paper – Original Certificates or Certified copies of them. Except for the EU countries, all the originals must be legalised, as explained in the next FAQ. The originals can be presented at our offices.
a)
XXCertificate with the syllabus of the subjects that the student took to complete the degree, issued by the foreign higher education institutionDigital – as long as its authenticity is unambiguous, the file is non-editable and bears qualified electronic signature, affixed by the competent authorities of that institution. It must be verifiable.
Paper – Original Certificates or Certified copies of them. Except for the EU countries, all the originals must be legalised, as explained in the next FAQ. The originals can be presented at our offices.
a)
XXDissertation, Thesis, Project Report, Internship Report or other final project presented for the conclusion of the degreeOnly for master and doctoral programmes. In case these documents were not needed for the conclusion of the foreign degree, their presentation here is waived. Instead, the applicant must present a certificate or other document issued by the foreign higher education institution that undoubtedly proves the aforementioned situation.a)
a) Any document issued in a foreign language other than Spanish, French or English must be translated into Portuguese by a sworn translator recognised by the Portuguese Consulate or Embassy or by the Consulate or Embassy of the issuing country in Portugal. The certification of the translation must refer to its content and not the signature of the intervenients.

According to the Portuguese legislation in force, the documents issued by foreign higher education institutions can be legalised by the Portuguese Consulate or Embassy in the country where the documents were issued or by the Hague Apostille.

  • Automatic Recognition: 30 working days after the full completion of all necessary steps for the application.
  • Level recognition: 90 working days after the full completion of all necessary steps for the application.
  • Specific recognition: 90 working days after the full completion of all necessary steps for the application.

Yes. If you cancel the request, you may present a new one, to this Institute or to another Public Higher Education Institution in Portugal. However, if you have already paid, cancelling does not grant you the right to a refund.