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Papers · Belgium
Updated September 2026

🎓 How do I get my foreign diploma recognised?

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). NARIC-Vlaanderen / Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles — équivalences (naricvlaanderen.be) — the ENIC-NARIC centre for Belgium — 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. FOD Buitenlandse Zaken — eLegalization (elegalization.be) handles school and higher-education recognition. Your diploma may first need an apostille and a sworn translation — Dienst Vreemdelingenzaken / gemeente — dienst vreemdelingen (02 488 80 00).

Call firstNARIC-Vlaanderen / Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles — équivalences
Report toFOD Buitenlandse Zaken — eLegalization
If that failsDienst Vreemdelingenzaken / gemeente — dienst vreemdelingen

🗣️ What to say

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

🪜 Step by step

  1. Regulated or not?Check the EU regulated-professions database or ask NARIC-Vlaanderen / Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles — équivalences. Unregulated: employers decide, a comparability statement helps.
  2. Comparability statement: NARIC-Vlaanderen / Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles — équivalencesOnline application, copies of diploma and transcript, translation. Weeks to a few months.
  3. Regulated: the competent authorityNARIC-Vlaanderen / Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles — équivalences names it. EU diplomas: recognition within months, possibly with an adaptation period or test.
  4. Apostille and translationOften required for non-EU documents; the apostille comes from the issuing country. See the apostille page.
  5. Refugees and missing documentsThe European Qualifications Passport for Refugees and interview-based assessments exist; ask NARIC-Vlaanderen / Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles — équivalences.

📇 All contacts

NARIC-Vlaanderen / Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles — équivalencesEquivalence of foreign diplomasRecognition of foreign qualifications🔗 www.naricvlaanderen.be
FOD Buitenlandse Zaken — eLegalizationApostille and legalisation, onlineFor documents to be used abroad🔗 www.elegalization.be
Dienst Vreemdelingenzaken / gemeente — dienst vreemdelingenResidence permits, nationalityFor residence and nationality📞 02 488 80 00🔗 dofi.ibz.be
VDAB / Actiris / Forem + uitbetalingsinstelling (vakbond of HVW)Registration and unemployment benefitOn the first day without work📞 0800 30 700🔗 www.vdab.be

❓ 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 Belgium”
  • “enic naric Belgium”
  • “foreign qualification recognised work”
  • “regulated profession recognition Belgium”
  • “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

📜Apostille→⏳Residence permit delay→🔢National ID number→🪪ID or passport lost→

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