How do I get my foreign diploma recognised? · Austria

Direct answer

Two different things: academic recognition (for further study or a general statement of comparability) and professional recognition (to practise a regulated profession: nurse, teacher, engineer, electrician). ENIC NARIC Austria (BMBWF) (01 531 20 5920) — the ENIC-NARIC centre for Austria — issues the comparability statement and tells you whether your profession is regulated and which authority recognises it. Regulated professions go to the competent authority per profession; EU qualifications benefit from the automatic or general system. Landesgericht / Bundesministerium (Apostillen) (bmeia.gv.at) handles school and higher-education recognition. Your diploma may first need an apostille and a sworn translation — Aufenthaltsbehörde (MA 35 / Bezirkshauptmannschaft) (migration.gv.at).

Call firstENIC NARIC Austria (BMBWF)

Report toLandesgericht / Bundesministerium (Apostillen)

If that failsAufenthaltsbehörde (MA 35 / Bezirkshauptmannschaft)

🗣️ What to say

"I hold [diploma], awarded by [institution, country] in [year], and want to [work as … / continue studying in …] in Austria. Is the profession regulated, which authority recognises the qualification, and what documents and translations do you need?"

🪜 Step by step

Regulated or not?Check the EU regulated-professions database or ask ENIC NARIC Austria (BMBWF). Unregulated: employers decide, a comparability statement helps.
Comparability statement: ENIC NARIC Austria (BMBWF)Online application, copies of diploma and transcript, translation. Weeks to a few months.
Regulated: the competent authorityENIC NARIC Austria (BMBWF) names it. EU diplomas: recognition within months, possibly with an adaptation period or test.
Apostille and translationOften required for non-EU documents; the apostille comes from the issuing country. See the apostille page.
Refugees and missing documentsThe European Qualifications Passport for Refugees and interview-based assessments exist; ask ENIC NARIC Austria (BMBWF).

📇 All contacts

ENIC NARIC Austria (BMBWF)Assessment of foreign qualifications, nostrificationFor recognition of foreign qualifications📞 01 531 20 5920 🔗 www.bmbwf.gv.at/naric

Landesgericht / Bundesministerium (Apostillen)Apostille by document typeFor documents to be used abroad🔗 www.bmeia.gv.at/reise-services/beglaubigungen

Aufenthaltsbehörde (MA 35 / Bezirkshauptmannschaft)Residence permits, citizenshipFor residence and citizenship🔗 www.migration.gv.at

AMS — ArbeitsmarktserviceUnemployment registration and benefitOn the first day without work📞 050 904 940 🔗 www.ams.at

❓ Frequently asked

Does an EU diploma need recognition?

For a regulated profession yes — but the procedure is faster and often automatic (doctors, nurses, architects…). For an ordinary job, no.

What does it cost?

Comparability statements are cheap or free; professional recognition has fees per authority. Ask before you apply.

My profession is regulated and I am from outside the EU

Recognition is case by case, sometimes with an aptitude test. Start early; it can take a year.

📎 Sources

Last checked: 2026-09-26

🔎 Common searches

Recognise your own search? The answer above covers all of these.

“diploma recognition Austria”
“enic naric Austria”
“foreign qualification recognised work”
“regulated profession recognition Austria”
“comparability statement diploma”

🧭 Is this still correct?

We check this information carefully, but phone numbers, websites and rules change — and sometimes we get something wrong. Spotted a mistake or a change? Let us know below.

🔗 Related questions

Your tools for Austria

Before it goes wrongCan I?What is allowed, what is not, which permit you need — with the official source.Energy · AustriaElectricity & gasThe rules that protect you as an electricity and gas customer in Austria, and who to contact. Every fact is checked on an official source.Recognise it firstIs dit veilig?Check a phone number, website or message against 47,000 scam dossiers.

🎓 How do I get my foreign diploma recognised?