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Applying for recognition of equivalence of your diploma by NARIC-Vlaanderen

If you have a foreign diploma and are going to work in Flanders or Brussels, in many cases you will need recognition of your foreign diploma. In most cases, NARIC-Vlaanderen is the competent authority.

Do you have a foreign diploma?

Do you want to work in Flanders (or for a Flemish employer in Brussels)?

Answer the questions in the NARIC-Vlaanderen application wizard to find out what you need to do.

NARIC-Vlaanderen application wizard opens in new window

NARIC-Vlaanderen application procedure

Below are all the steps for an online application for recognition of equivalence of a foreign diploma at NARIC-Vlaanderen. It is not possible to submit an application by post or email.

  • Stap 1

    Prepare your application

    • Answer the questions in the NARIC-Vlaanderen application wizard (available in Dutch, French and English).
      • Among other things, you will have to indicate:
        • what you want to do with your foreign diploma (study, work, practise a regulated profession, ...)
        • which country your diploma was awarded by
        • what type of diploma you want to have recognised (primary education, secondary education, higher education, ...)
        • …
    • The application wizard will advise you on:
      • whether or not you should apply for recognition of equivalence
      • where you can apply for this recognition
      • which type of recognition you can apply for (level recognition or specific recognition) at NARIC-Vlaanderen
      • how much the application costs, which documents you will need and how long the procedure will take.
    • Click the ‘Send overview via e-mail’ button after you have answered all the questions. That way, you will get the overview of all necessary documents in your inbox.
    • Collect the necessary documents
      • To process your application, NARIC-Vlaanderen needs certain general documents (such as your identity card) as well as various diploma-related documents.
        Once you have completed the questions in the application wizard, you will receive an overview of the specific documents required for your application.
      • Some documents need to be translated. Check the guidelines for these documents.
      • Can’t add all the documents yet? You can upload these documents later.
  • Stap 2

    Start your application

    • Your answers to the questions in the application wizard will automatically be used to generate the application.
    Regulated professions

    Always apply for the diploma that entitles you to practise a regulated profession. This is not necessarily your highest obtained diploma. For example, apply for your master’s diploma in medicine and not your specialisation. However, you can then add your specialisation as an additional diploma. Do you want to apply for a teaching diploma? Then start an application for your diploma that entitles you to teach, not for your bachelor’s diploma.

    If you answered any of the questions wrong, please start the application wizard again.

    • At the bottom of the page containing advice from NARIC-Vlaanderen, you will find a blue button that reads ‘Start your application’.
    • Click on this button to enter the NARIC-Vlaanderen e-portal, where you can submit your application.
  • Stap 3

    You can log in with

    You can log in with

    Read more about what to do if you cannot log into the e-portal because you don’t have a Belgian eID or don’t live in Belgium.

  • Stap 4

    Fill in your identity and contact details

    • After you have logged in, fill in the requested identity and contact details.
    • You can then indicate which language or languages NARIC-Vlaanderen can contact you.
  • Stap 5

    Provide the necessary information about your studies

    Fill in all the requested information about your course(s). The courses displayed are taken from your answers in the application wizard.

  • Stap 6

    Upload your documents

    • Upload the documents you collected when you prepared your application.
    • Each document should be uploaded under the relevant course.

    See also: Guidelines for uploading documents.

    The processing time for your application will not start until you have submitted all required documents.

  • Stap 7

    Confirm and pay for your application (if required)

    • The cost depends on the type of application.
      • : 90 euros.
      • : 180 euros.
      • Recognition of a doctorate: 300 euros.
      • For certain target groups, applications are free of charge (those on a living wage, jobseekers, asylum seekers, refugees, etc., provided proof of status is included in the application). This exemption does not apply if you have already applied for recognition of the same higher education diploma in the past. More information: Procedure for refugees to have a foreign diploma recognised by NARIC-Vlaanderen
    • How to pay?
      You can pay immediately when confirming your application. Click on ‘Confirm and pay for the application’.
      You can pay online or by bank transfer.
      • If you choose online payment, you can choose between Visa, Mastercard, Bancontact or Maestro. With Bancontact, it is possible to pay via a QR code. Once the online payment is complete, your application is immediately forwarded to NARIC-Vlaanderen. You will also receive a payment confirmation in the e-portal (not in email).
      • If you choose to pay by bank transfer, you will receive an overview of the details for the transfer (amount, account number, reference, etc.).
        • You can then click on ‘Confirm payment’.
          After your payment has been processed and received, your application will be forwarded to NARIC-Vlaanderen. In this case you will not receive a payment confirmation.
  • Stap 8

    Confirmation of application to NARIC-Vlaanderen

    You will receive an e-mail confirming your application immediately after you submit it. The subject is ‘bevestiging aanvraag bij NARIC-Vlaanderen.’ The e-mail also contains your application number (N number).

Processing of your application

    • Once NARIC-Vlaanderen has received payment, your application will be checked.
      • If all the information is in order, your application will be accepted.
      • If more information is required, NARIC-Vlaanderen will contact you.
    • NARIC-Vlaanderen checks whether your diplomas are legally recognised in your country.
    • The authenticity of your documents is also checked.
    • If extra checks are required to authenticate a foreign diploma, NARIC-Vlaanderen may exceptionally extend the processing period.
    • NARIC-Vlaanderen determines which Flemish level your diploma level is equivalent to. If you applied for specific recognition, NARIC-Vlaanderen also determines which specific Flemish study certificate your diploma corresponds to. Advice is usually sought from experts in the field as part of this process.

  • Due to the large number of applications, the processing of your application may be delayed.

    • You were given an estimate of the expected processing time after answering the questions in the NARIC-Vlaanderen application wizard(opens in new window).
    • The processing time depends on the type of diploma you hold and the type of recognition you need (or ).
    • The processing time only starts after all the required documents have been uploaded:
      • Make sure your application is complete before you submit it. The processing time only starts when you have submitted all the required documents.
      • If you submit an incomplete application, NARIC-Vlaanderen will contact you to request the missing documents.
        • You have 6 months to send in your missing documents.
          If you do not do so, your file will be closed.
        • If you send missing documents after 6 months have passed, you will have to pay again or provide valid proof of exemption.
    • There is an exception for refugees.

    For more info, see: Processing time and status of an application for equivalence recognition at NARIC-Vlaanderen

  • You will find your file number in every email or letter from NARIC-Vlaanderen. The structure is as follows (example): 2017/0001/SPG1 or N23010000.

    • If your application number starts with an N (e.g. N230100001):
      • Then you can track the status of your application in the NARIC-Vlaanderen e-portal.
    • If your application number does not start with an N or your application is in step 3 (=’examination of equivalence’)?
      • You can track the status of your application in the NARIC-Vlaanderen status tool.

  • Once the examination is complete, NARIC-Vlaanderen will issue you a decision on the recognition of equivalence of your diploma.

    • You will receive the decision on the equivalence of your diploma (whether it is positive or negative):
      • first in the NARIC-Vlaanderen e-portal (there will be no PDF-document, only mentioning that there is a decision - not whether it is a positive or negative decision)
      • and afterwards, after max 10 working days, in a PDF document via e-mail, with the subject line ‘NARIC-Vlaanderen - de beslissing in uw dossier + application number’. This document states whether it is an approval or rejection.
    • The decision on recognition of equivalence is always issued in Dutch.

Submitting a second application

  • You can never submit a second application for the same diploma if the first application is still pending.

    If your previous application has been closed by NARIC-Vlaanderen, you can reapply for recognition of the same diploma under certain conditions.

    Conditions

    • Either you can show that the legislation or the Flemish curriculum has changed since your previous application. This may have an impact on NARIC-Vlaanderen’s decision.
    • Or you have additional documents that may change NARIC-Vlaanderen’s decision.

    If NARIC-Vlaanderen has already issued a decision on your diploma, you can use these additional documents to request a review of your application within 6 months of the decision.
    If the 6 months have already passed or your application was closed without a decision, you can request permission to submit a new application.

    How to submit a second application for the same degree?

    1. You can only submit a second application for the same diploma with permission from NARIC-Vlaanderen.
      To request permission, please email naric@vlaanderen.be(opens in your email application).
      • In the email, explain why you meet the conditions for a second application for the same diploma.
      • Attach any supporting documents (proof of change in legislation, new study programme of the equivalent Flemish course, additional documents that may change the decision, etc.).
    2. If your request is approved, you can submit a second application for the same degree via the application wizard in the NARIC-Vlaanderen e-portal.

  • Is your first application still pending? Then please ask NARIC-Vlaanderen if you can apply with another diploma. Only then will you be able to submit a second application via the application wizard.

    Would you like to submit a second application for another diploma while your first application is still being processed? This is only possible with prior permission from NARIC-Vlaanderen.

    1. Send an e-mail to naric@vlaanderen.be(opens in your email application).
    2. Mention in the e-mail:
      • your name
      • the file number of your first application
      • the diploma you want to submit a new application for
      • which type of recognition you are eligible for: or (you will see this after answering the questions in the application wizard)
    3. Attach a copy of the diploma you would like to have recognised.

    If it is not necessary to wait for the decision on your first diploma, NARIC-Vlaanderen will give you permission to submit the second application via the application wizard.

Need a duplicate?

If you have lost your decision letter from NARIC-Vlaanderen, you can apply for a duplicate.

Frequently asked questions

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Nederlands