How to submit an application?
- Fill in the application form (Application for the recognition of a foreign qualification (932.94 KB) "word")
- Provide every required supporting document as a separate PDF file.
- Send an e-mail with all PDF files to naric.attesten@vlaanderen.be.
Keep in mind the following
- Provide only documents in the PDF format.
- Provide us with one separate PDF file for each supporting document.
- Change the PDF file name to the name of the supporting document it contains.
- When a document is too big to send in a single e-mail, divide it into multiple PDF files.
Example
- Identity card: front and back of the document in a single PDF file
- Application form: one single PDF file
- Diploma: front and back of the document in a single PDF file
- Transcript/diploma supplement: one single PDF file (usually 3-4 pages)
- Thesis/dissertation: one single PDF file
- Study programme: one single PDF file
- When the programme of study is too big to send in a single e-mail: one PDF with the first part of the study programme + one PDF with the second part of the study programme
- Documents proving your work experience: one single PDF file
Recommended software
It is possible to scan documents and merge these into a single PDF file using free apps:
- Do you use a smartphone? Download an app like Geniusscan, Camscanner, Microsoft Office Lens or Google Drive and create one single PDF file for each supporting document
- Do you use a computer? Use PDFSAM or an online tool like Smallpdf, 2pdf, Topdf, … to split or merge your scans to a single PDF file for each supporting document.
What documents do you need?
Identity document
An official document with your name, date of birth, passport photo, etc. It proves who you are. The document must be valid when you apply for your recognition.
For example: a Belgian identity card, a passport, an identity card for foreign nationals.
Please note: an immatriculation certificate (orange card) is not a valid proof of identity.
You need this document to submit an application
Is this document not in Dutch, Afrikaans, French, English or German?
Submit the original and a sworn (official) translation into Dutch, French, English or German.
Relevant Work experience
Official document that proves you have relevant working experience. The document contains the name and the location of the employer, the period you worked there and your tasks. The employer needs to draw up and sign the document.
If this document is not written in Dutch, French, English, German or African?
Translate it into Dutch, French, English or German. Submit the original and the translation.
Do you not have this document? We cannot take your working experience into account.
Work in Flanders or Brussels
A supporting document that proves you can start working in Flanders or Brussels. Proof this with one of the following documents:
- A dated attestation by your current employer showing that you are currently working in Flanders or Brussels, stating the following information:
- The reason why your qualification or diploma needs to be recognized in order to continue your employment;
- Employer information: name, address of registered office, company registration number, description of economic activities, telephone number or e-mail address;
- Your current position in this company.
- Please attach a copy of your current employment contract to this attestation.
- A dated attestation by your future employer in Flanders or Brussels in which he or she declares on his or her honour that you can be employed there as soon as your diploma or qualification is recognized in Flanders and you meet the selection criteria. This attestation should mention the following information:
- The reason why your qualifications need to be recognized in order to exercise the intended function;
- Future employer information: name, address of registered office, company registration number, description of economic activities, telephone number or e-mail address;
- Your future position in this company.
- Date of possible commencement of the employment contract, taking into account the lead time of the procedure with NARIC-Vlaanderen;
- Duration of the future employment contract.
- A recent proof of registration by VDAB or Actiris, not more than 2 months old.
Additional relevant documents
Other official documents that can be important for the recognition of your qualification.
Is this document not in Dutch, Afrikaans, French, English or German?
Translate it into Dutch, French, English or German. Submit the original and the translation.
Diploma or degree certificate
The official document that proves that you have completed your education. If you have not yet received your official diploma or degree certificate, you can use your provisional certificate instead.
You need this document to submit an application
Is this document not in Dutch, Afrikaans, French, English or German?
Submit the original and a sworn translation into Dutch, French, English or German. This document must be translated by a translator who has sworn the oath at a Belgian court. Here you can find the requirements for the translation. Give these to your translator. If your translation does not meet these requirements, you will need to have it amended.
Transcript
A list of all the subjects you studied and the results you obtained for those subjects. Normally, you receive this document together with your diploma or degree certificate.
For European diplomas of higher education, this information is usually provided in the diploma supplement.
If this document is not written in Dutch, Afrikaans, French, English or German? Submit the original and a sworn (official) translation into Dutch, French, English or German. This document must be translated by a translator who has sworn the oath at a Belgian court.
Learning outcomes
A list of your knowledge and skills at the end of your study. You can request the list from your school or university. Sometimes this list is included in the transcript.
Is this document not in Dutch, Afrikaans, French, English or German? Translate it into Dutch, French, English or German. Submit the original and the translation.
Study programme
An official document with a detailed description of each subject you followed during your studies. The document is often more than 10 pages long. You can request it from your school or university. Please note: You need the study programme for the period that you studied.
Is this document not in Dutch, Afrikaans, French, English or German?
Summarise the text into 5 to 10 lines per study subject. Write the summary in Dutch, French, English or German. Submit this summary.
Do you not have this document? Submit a letter from your school or university. This states there is no study programme or they cannot deliver you a study programme anymore. You have to submit the original document and a sworn (official) translation if the document is not in Dutch, English, French or German.
Thesis or dissertation
The thesis or dissertation is the academic work you wrote during your studies. Did you not write a thesis? You may also demonstrate your academic skills with papers or articles.
Do you have a master's qualification? If yes we need your thesis or dissertation so we can recognise your qualification in Flanders. A thesis or dissertation shows you have academic skills.
Is this document not in Dutch, Afrikaans, French, English or German?
Translate it into Dutch, French, English or German. The translation is at least 5 to 10 pages long (excluding the bibliography). The translation contains:
- the table of contents or the index
- the research question
- information about the methodology
- information about the literature review
- information about your own research
- the (partial) conclusions
Did you not write your thesis or dissertation in Latin alphabet? Please transcribe the bibliography into Latin alphabet.
List of publications
A list of your publications, such as essays, papers, academic articles or examples of project work.
Is this document not in Dutch, Afrikaans, French, English or German?
Write this document in Dutch, English, French or German.
Certificate of internship
This is an official certificate stating you completed an internship during your studies. The document describes where and when you did your internship, and which tasks you had. An evaluation of the internship is useful, but not compulsory. The work placement company or your school or university needs to draw up the internship certificate and sign it.
Is this document not in Dutch, Afrikaans, French, English or German?
Translate it into Dutch, French, English or German. Submit the original and the translation.
Explanation for different name on diploma or degree certificate
Is your name on your qualification the same as on your identity documents? If not, you need to prove why with an official document. For example, a marriage certificate, divorce certificate, proof of gender affirming procedure.
If this document is not written in Dutch, French, English, German or African? Submit the original and a sworn (official) translation into Dutch, French, English or German.
Additional training
An official document proving that you have completed additional training. For example, a study or diploma certificate.
Do you not have this document? We cannot take your additional training into account.
If this document is not written in Dutch, French, English, German or African?
Translate it into Dutch, French, English or German. Submit the original and the translation.
Portfolio
The portfolio provides an overview of your work during and after the training. For example, photos, drawings, plans, descriptions
If this document is not written in Dutch, French, English, German or African? Summarise the text in Dutch, French, English or German. Submit the original document and this summary.
Motivation letter (obligatory for doctors of medicine)
Explain why you are applying for a recognition of your foreign medical qualification in the motivation letter. The experts who will assess your qualification will read your motivation letter.
Write this document in Dutch, English, French or German.
Referral by a school or university
A letter or e-mail in which the university or institute for higher education requests recognition of your qualification by NARIC-Vlaanderen.
Do you have to submit the original documents?
No, copies or scans of your documents suffice. If your original documents are required for an authenticity check, NARIC will contact you.
Is legalization of these documents required?
No. No Apostille or other form of legalization is needed on your documents.
Do you have to submit documents for all qualifications obtained?
You enclose all documents on the qualification for which you are seeking recognition.
If you are seeking recognition of a diploma of secondary education, it may be relevant to submit a diploma or a certificate of completion of (part of) a higher education training programme as supplementary information.
If you are seeking recognition of a diploma of higher education, that follows another higher education diploma (master, second cycle, etc.), you also enclose all required documents for the preceding higher education diplomas to your file.
If you are applying for recognition of a doctoral degree (PhD), attach all required documents for the diploma giving you admission to the doctorate.
What if you do not (no longer) succeed in obtaining a document?
If the educational institution is no longer able to deliver a document, the institution must confirm this in writing.
If this document is not in Dutch, French, English or German, please add a copy of a certified translation in Dutch, French, English or German to your application.
Due to the high number of applications and limited capacity, it is currently not possible to process all applications for recognition applications in time. It currently takes about one month between receiving your application and the actual start-up of the processing of your application. Please do not contact NARIC-Vlaanderen in the meantime to check the status of your application. Your file is probably not yet being processed.
- Make sure your file is complete (link) when you submit it, so no time is lost when your application can be processed.
- Carefully follow the instructions (link) on how to properly deliver your documents.
- You can always check the status of your file online