A foreign diploma does not automatically need formal recognition just because you want to work in Portugal. For most non-regulated professions, the employer decides what qualifications it requires. Formal recognition matters when you need your foreign higher-education qualification to have recognised academic standing in Portugal, or when another authority specifically asks for it.
First question: do you actually need recognition?
- Ordinary non-regulated job: often no formal recognition is legally required; ask the employer what evidence it wants.
- Need Portuguese academic recognition: use the DGES foreign degree recognition system.
- Regulated profession: academic recognition alone may not give you the right to practise. Check the competent professional authority. See guide #49.
- Foreign secondary-school qualification: DGES is for higher education; consult the Direção-Geral da Educação (DGE) for school-level equivalence.
The three higher-education recognition routes
| Route | What it recognises |
|---|---|
| Automatic recognition | For foreign degrees/diplomas specifically included in the approved list; it recognises a corresponding Portuguese degree/diploma generically. |
| Level recognition | Individual comparison recognising the foreign qualification at a Portuguese higher-education level, such as licenciado, mestre or doutor. |
| Specific recognition | Compares both the level and the specific scientific field/course, for example recognition as a degree in Biology. |
DGES states that all three forms have the same legal validity, but they serve different purposes. Use its recognition checker to see which route may fit your qualification.
Where and how to apply
Applications use the official online recognition form. Automatic recognition can be handled by DGES or a Portuguese public higher-education institution. Level and specific recognition are handled only by Portuguese public higher-education institutions, selected through the online application system.
DGES currently states maximum decision periods of 30 working days for automatic recognition and 90 working days for level or specific recognition, counted from a properly completed application. Fees vary by recognition type and institution.
Documents and translations
You will need documentation proving the degree/diploma, and the chosen route or institution may require additional academic records. Check the live form before arranging translations or certifications: document requirements vary. DGES publishes detailed recognition FAQs.
Academic recognition is not professional recognition
This distinction matters most for regulated professions. Having a foreign degree academically recognised does not necessarily authorise you to work as a doctor, nurse, architect, lawyer or another regulated professional. The competent Portuguese authority may require a separate professional-recognition procedure. Continue with guide #49 — Regulated professions.
Useful official links
- DGES — foreign higher-education degree recognition
- DGES — check which recognition may apply
- DGES — recognition FAQs
- DGE — foreign school qualifications
Last verified: 2 October 2026. Recognition requirements depend on what you need the qualification for; check the current DGES system and, for regulated professions, the competent professional authority.