How do I get my foreign diploma recognised? · Iceland

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 Ísland (Háskóli Íslands) (enicnaric.is) — the ENIC-NARIC centre for Iceland — 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. Sýslumaðurinn á höfuðborgarsvæðinu — apostille (syslumenn.is) handles school and higher-education recognition. Your diploma may first need an apostille and a sworn translation — Útlendingastofnun (444 0900).

Call firstENIC/NARIC Ísland (Háskóli Íslands)

Report toSýslumaðurinn á höfuðborgarsvæðinu — apostille

If that failsÚtlendingastofnun

🗣️ What to say

"I hold [diploma], awarded by [institution, country] in [year], and want to [work as … / continue studying in …] in Iceland. 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 Ísland (Háskóli Íslands). Unregulated: employers decide, a comparability statement helps.
Comparability statement: ENIC/NARIC Ísland (Háskóli Íslands)Online application, copies of diploma and transcript, translation. Weeks to a few months.
Regulated: the competent authorityENIC/NARIC Ísland (Háskóli Íslands) 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 Ísland (Háskóli Íslands).

📇 All contacts

ENIC/NARIC Ísland (Háskóli Íslands)Assessment of foreign education, regulated professionsRecognition of foreign qualifications🔗 www.enicnaric.is

Sýslumaðurinn á höfuðborgarsvæðinu — apostilleApostille certificationFor documents to be used abroad🔗 www.syslumenn.is/thjonusta/vottord-og-stadfestingar/apostille

ÚtlendingastofnunResidence permits, citizenshipFor residence and citizenship📞 444 0900 🔗 www.utl.is

Vinnumálastofnun — atvinnuleysisbæturRegister on day one, unemployment benefitOn the first day without work📞 515 4800 🔗 www.vinnumalastofnun.is

❓ 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

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

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🎓 How do I get my foreign diploma recognised?