The recognition of academic degrees and diplomas awarded by foreign higher education institutions is governed by Decree-Law No. 66/2018 of 16 August and by Ministerial Order No. 33/2019 of 25 January, as amended by Ministerial Order No. 43/2020 of 14 February, and allows for the recognition of:
- foreign academic degrees of a level, purpose and nature identical to those of bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees awarded by Portuguese higher education institutions;
- certificates from non-degree courses awarded by foreign higher education institutions, which are of a level, have objectives and a nature identical to those of higher professional technical courses;
- degrees or certificates awarded exclusively by foreign higher education institutions, which are of a level, have objectives and a nature identical to those of degrees and certificates awarded by Portuguese higher education institutions.
Applications for the Recognition of Foreign Degrees and Diplomas are submitted via an
online form. The supporting documentation must be submitted when completing the form. Recognition of foreign academic degrees and diplomas may be requested only once for the same foreign academic degree or higher education diploma, in the following ways:
- Automatic recognition;
- Recognition of level;
- Specific recognition.
As academic recognition is not synonymous with professional recognition, whenever access to regulated professions is at stake, interested parties should check with the relevant authorities regarding the conditions required for professional practice. In fact, for the practice of certain professional activities, automatic recognition of the academic qualification may not be sufficient; therefore, in such specific situations, the applicant may have to undergo another type of recognition, a process with longer deadlines and involving an assessment by a panel.
It is therefore always advisable to contact the body or professional association that regulates the profession in Portugal beforehand when the objective is purely professional.
Fees payable by type of recognitionA fee is associated with each type of recognition:
- Automatic Recognition - €55.00
- Level Recognition - €440.00
- Specific Recognition - €495.00
Jury AppointmentsSpecific recognition - Bachelor's degree in Management |
see noticeIf you have any queries, please contact the Academic Service:
Tel. +351 214 460 010; Email:
secretariaalunos@enautica.pt Automatic Recognition allows for the general recognition of a foreign higher education degree or diploma whose level, objectives and nature are identical to Portuguese bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees or higher professional technical diplomas, as listed in the register of degrees and diplomas established by the Commission for the Recognition of Foreign Degrees and Diplomas.
What documents do I need to submit?In accordance with Article 4(2) of Decree-Law No 66/2018 of 16 August, in conjunction with the provisions of Articles 3, 4, 5 and following of Order No. 33/2019 of 25 January, as amended and republished by Order No. 43/2020 of 14 February, you must submit a document that unequivocally proves that the degree or diploma has been awarded, namely:
- A copy of the diploma or a document issued by the foreign higher education institution proving ownership of the degree or diploma for which recognition is sought, authenticated by the competent authorities for that purpose;
- A copy of a document issued by the foreign higher education institution stating the registration number of the degree or diploma, in the case of foreign higher education institutions that have centralised registers accessible to the public via a unique identifier;
- The original diploma or certificate issued by the foreign higher education institution, proving the holder’s entitlement to the degree or diploma for which recognition is sought;
- Where a final grade on the Portuguese grading scale is required, the applicant must also submit a document or documents issued by the foreign higher education institution indicating the final grade awarded for the academic degree or diploma for which recognition is sought, and the foreign final grading scale showing the minimum grade required for a pass on that scale and the maximum grade.
Level Recognition allows for the individual recognition, on the basis of comparability, of a foreign higher education degree or diploma as being of a level equivalent to a Portuguese higher education degree or diploma.
What documents do I need to submit?In accordance with Article 4(2) of Decree-Law No 66/2018 of 16 August, in conjunction with the provisions of Articles 3, 4, 5 and following of Ministerial Order No. 33/2019 of 25 January, as amended and republished by Ministerial Order No. 43/2020 of 14 February, you must submit a document that unequivocally proves that the degree or diploma has been awarded, namely:
- A copy of the diploma or a document issued by the foreign higher education institution proving ownership of the degree or diploma for which recognition is sought, authenticated by the competent authorities for that purpose;
- A copy of a document issued by the foreign higher education institution stating the registration number of the degree or diploma, in the case of foreign higher education institutions that have centralised registers accessible to the public via a unique identifier;
- The original diploma or certificate issued by the foreign higher education institution, proving that the applicant holds the degree or diploma for which recognition is sought.
- Where a final grade on the Portuguese grading scale is required, the applicant must also submit a document or documents issued by the foreign higher education institution indicating the final grade awarded for the academic degree or diploma for which recognition is sought, and the foreign final grading scale showing the minimum grade required for a pass on that scale and the maximum grade.
In addition to the aforementioned documentation, specific documentation may be requested, namely:
- A document issued by the foreign higher education institution listing the modules in which the applicant achieved a pass, and which led to the award of the degree or diploma for which recognition is sought, as well as the respective syllabuses, the duration of the studies leading to the award of the degree and the respective final grade;
- In the case of a degree corresponding to master’s level, a digital or scanned copy of the defended dissertation or project work, or the internship report;
Specific Recognition allows for the recognition of a foreign higher education degree or diploma that is identical to a Portuguese academic degree or higher education diploma, through a case-by-case analysis of the level, duration and curriculum content within a specific field of study, branch of knowledge or specialism.
What documents must I submit?In accordance with Article 4(2) of Decree-Law No. 66/2018 of 16 August, in conjunction with the provisions of Articles 3, 4, 5 and following of Ministerial Order No. 33/2019 of 25 January, as amended and republished by Ministerial Order No. 43/2020 of 14 February, you must submit a document that unequivocally proves that the degree or diploma has been awarded, namely:
- A copy of the diploma or a document issued by the foreign higher education institution proving ownership of the degree or diploma for which recognition is sought, authenticated by the competent authorities for that purpose;
- A copy of a document issued by the foreign higher education institution stating the registration number of the degree or diploma, in the case of foreign higher education institutions that have centralised registers accessible to the public via a unique identifier;
- The original diploma or certificate issued by the foreign higher education institution, proving that the applicant holds the degree or diploma for which recognition is sought;
- Where a final grade on the Portuguese grading scale is required, the applicant must also submit a document or documents issued by the foreign higher education institution indicating the final grade awarded for the academic degree or diploma for which recognition is sought, and the foreign final grading scale showing the minimum grade required for a pass on that scale and the maximum grade.
In addition to the aforementioned documentation, specific documentation may be requested, namely:
- A document issued by the foreign higher education institution listing the modules in which the applicant achieved a pass, and which led to the award of the degree or diploma for which recognition is sought, as well as the respective syllabuses, the duration of the studies leading to the award of the degree and the respective final grade;
- In the case of a degree corresponding to master’s level, a digital or scanned copy of the defended dissertation or project work, or the internship report.
