Procedure for refugees to have a foreign diploma recognised by NARIC-Vlaanderen
If you are applying for recognition of your foreign diploma as a refugee, asylum seeker or person with a ‘protected’ status, you are exempt from paying for your application to NARIC-Vlaanderen. NARIC-Vlaanderen also takes a more flexible approach if you are unable to provide certain documents. However, at least 1 piece of evidence must be added that you have completed your education.
Do you have a foreign diploma?
Do you want to work or study in Flanders or Brussels?
Answer the questions in the application wizard NARIC-Vlaanderen and find out what you need to do….
Whom this procedure applies to
- Asylum seekers who have submitted their application for asylum to the Immigration Office. More info: asiel en migratie (in Dutch)(opens in new window)
- Recognised refugees who have received international protected refugee status from the competent federal authorities as described in the Geneva Convention. More info: Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless persons
- People under subsidiary protection: those who are not eligible for the status of refugee but have a well-founded fear of persecution or serious and unjustified harm if they return to their country of origin. More info: Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless persons
- Those under temporary protection: who have been granted temporary protection by the competent federal authorities (e.g. in the context of the crisis in Ukraine). More info: ‘What is temporary protection and how do you apply for it? (IBZ Immigration Office)(opens in new window)
Your application is free of charge with proof of your status
Asylum seekers and people granted refugee status, subsidiary protection or temporary protection have a legal residence status. Upload proof of your status to show that you fall under one of these four categories and can submit your application for free.
What proof should you upload? You can find out by answering the questions in the NARIC-Vlaanderen application wizard(opens in new window). Once all the questions have been answered, you will see the list of required documents, including which document you need to submit in order to apply free of charge. Agentschap Integratie en Inburgering(opens in new window) can help you start an application.
If you cannot provide this proof, you will have to pay for your application.
Documents
Do you have all required documents? (Overview: Documents for your application at NARIC-Vlaanderen)
- Yes. NARIC-Vlaanderen will handle your application under the normal procedure. Apply for recognition of your foreign study certificate via the application wizard NARIC-Vlaanderen.
- No
- You need at least one document proving that you completed your education abroad. For example a diploma, a transcript of the final year of study, a provisional diploma or a duplicate of a diploma
- Submit an application for recognition of your foreign diploma using the NARIC-Vlaanderen application wizard.
More information for professionals
Wondering how you can set up pathways for refugees, displaced persons and persons in refugee situations as a higher education institution(opens in new window)? including those who have no official documentation on their education? Discover the toolkit developed by ARENA, an Erasmus+ project whose aim is to improve mobility, employability and access to further education.