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 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, ...)
- …
- Among other things, you will have to indicate:
- 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.
- To process your application, NARIC-Vlaanderen needs certain general documents (such as your identity card) as well as various diploma-related documents.
- Answer the questions in the NARIC-Vlaanderen application wizard (available in Dutch, French and English).
- Stap 2
Start your application
- Your answers to the questions in the application wizard will automatically be used to generate the application.
- 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
- a Belgian electronic identity card (eID) and a card reader (in Dutch)
- Itsme (in Dutch)
- a security code sent via mobile app (in Dutch)
- a security code sent via SMS (in Dutch).
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.
- 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).
- 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.
- 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.
- You can then click on ‘Confirm payment’.
- The cost depends on the type of application.
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.
- Once NARIC-Vlaanderen has received payment, your application will be checked.
- 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.
- You have 6 months to send in your missing documents.
- 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.
- If your application number starts with an N (e.g. N230100001):
Once the examination is complete, NARIC-Vlaanderen will issue you a decision on the recognition of equivalence of your diploma.
- You will receive this decision both:
- in the NARIC-Vlaanderen e-portal, and
- via e-mail.
- The decision on recognition of equivalence is always issued in Dutch.
- You will receive this decision both:
Submitting a second application
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?
- 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.).
- 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.
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.
- Send an e-mail to naric@vlaanderen.be(opens in your email application).
- 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)
- 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.