← FFCheckWho do I contact?LV
Papers · Latvia
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). Akadēmiskās informācijas centrs (AIC) — ENIC/NARIC (67225155) — the ENIC-NARIC centre for Latvia — 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. Zvērināti notāri — apostille (kopš 2019) (latvijasnotars.lv) handles school and higher-education recognition. Your diploma may first need an apostille and a sworn translation — Pilsonības un migrācijas lietu pārvalde — uzturēšanās atļaujas un pilsonība (67209400).

Call firstAkadēmiskās informācijas centrs (AIC) — ENIC/NARIC
Report toZvērināti notāri — apostille (kopš 2019)
If that failsPilsonības un migrācijas lietu pārvalde — uzturēšanās atļaujas un pilsonība

🗣️ What to say

"I hold [diploma], awarded by [institution, country] in [year], and want to [work as … / continue studying in …] in Latvia. 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 Akadēmiskās informācijas centrs (AIC) — ENIC/NARIC. Unregulated: employers decide, a comparability statement helps.
  2. Comparability statement: Akadēmiskās informācijas centrs (AIC) — ENIC/NARICOnline application, copies of diploma and transcript, translation. Weeks to a few months.
  3. Regulated: the competent authorityAkadēmiskās informācijas centrs (AIC) — ENIC/NARIC 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 Akadēmiskās informācijas centrs (AIC) — ENIC/NARIC.

📇 All contacts

Akadēmiskās informācijas centrs (AIC) — ENIC/NARICRecognition of foreign qualifications, regulated professionsRecognition of foreign qualifications📞 67225155🔗 www.aic.lv
Zvērināti notāri — apostille (kopš 2019)Apostille issued by sworn notariesFor documents to be used abroad🔗 www.latvijasnotars.lv/apostille
Pilsonības un migrācijas lietu pārvalde — uzturēšanās atļaujas un pilsonībaResidence permits, naturalisationApplication, renewal, refusal📞 67209400🔗 www.pmlp.gov.lv
Nodarbinātības valsts aģentūra (NVA)Registration, unemployment benefit (VSAA)On the first day without work📞 80200206🔗 www.nva.gov.lv

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

Your tools for Latvia

Before it goes wrongCan I?What is allowed, what is not, which permit you need — with the official source.Energy · LatviaElectricity & gasThe rules that protect you as an electricity and gas customer in Latvia, 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.