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Papers · Malta
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). MFHEA — Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MQRIC) (2381 0000) — the ENIC-NARIC centre for Malta — 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. Legalisation Unit (Ministeru għall-Affarijiet Barranin) — apostille (2204 2000) handles school and higher-education recognition. Your diploma may first need an apostille and a sworn translation — Expatriates Unit / Aġenzija għaċ-Ċittadinanza (Identità) (2590 4800).

Call firstMFHEA — Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MQRIC)
Report toLegalisation Unit (Ministeru għall-Affarijiet Barranin) — apostille
If that failsExpatriates Unit / Aġenzija għaċ-Ċittadinanza (Identità)

🗣️ What to say

"I hold [diploma], awarded by [institution, country] in [year], and want to [work as … / continue studying in …] in Malta. 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 MFHEA — Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MQRIC). Unregulated: employers decide, a comparability statement helps.
  2. Comparability statement: MFHEA — Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MQRIC)Online application, copies of diploma and transcript, translation. Weeks to a few months.
  3. Regulated: the competent authorityMFHEA — Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MQRIC) 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 MFHEA — Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MQRIC).

📇 All contacts

MFHEA — Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MQRIC)Recognition of foreign qualificationsRecognition of foreign qualifications📞 2381 0000🔗 mfhea.mt
Legalisation Unit (Ministeru għall-Affarijiet Barranin) — apostilleApostille and legalisationMaltese documents for use abroad📞 2204 2000🔗 foreignandeu.gov.mt
Expatriates Unit / Aġenzija għaċ-Ċittadinanza (Identità)Residence permits and citizenshipApplication, renewal, refusal📞 2590 4800🔗 identita.gov.mt
JobsplusRegistration, unemployment benefit (Social Security)On the first day without work📞 2220 1300🔗 jobsplus.gov.mt

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