Foreign Diploma Equivalence in Belgium (Three Communities)
Foreign diploma equivalence in Belgium is decided community by community, not federally.
The Flemish Community routes through NARIC-Vlaanderen (within AHOVOKS), the French Community through the Service des équivalences de l'enseignement secondaire (with a separate higher-education service at equisup.cfwb.be), and the German-speaking Community through the Ministerium der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft.
Estimated time
2-4 hours to assemble documents and lodge the dossier; processing varies by community and recognition type — NARIC-Vlaanderen issues no statutory deadline, the FWB secondary service operates around an annual 15 July submission window for September-start admissions.
Cost
€0 (NARIC-Vlaanderen, with documented exemption) to €406 (NARIC-Vlaanderen doctorate recognition); French Community and German-speaking Community fees confirmed only via direct enquiry to the relevant service.
What You Need
Tap to check off items as you gather them
Additional Items
- Employer proof letter — required when the applicant resides outside Flanders or Brussels and applies through NARIC-Vlaanderen for an employment purpose. The letter must state job title, employer registration number, workplace location, contract duration, and the reason recognition is necessary; current-employer letters must include a copy of the employment contract.
- Refugee or protected-applicant alternative documentation — where original diplomas are unavailable, NARIC-Vlaanderen accepts at least one piece of supporting evidence (diploma, final-year transcript, provisional diploma, or certified duplicate) together with a self-completed form listing all internships and work experience.
- French Community (FWB) document profile — secondary equivalence is administered by the Service des équivalences de l'enseignement secondaire (Rue Adolphe Lavallée 1, 1080 Bruxelles; [email protected]; 02/690.86.86). The full per-category document checklist and fee schedule are published on the application portal; the exact per-category document, fee, and processing-time figures are not surfaced on accessible portal pages, so confirm current figures by direct enquiry to the service.
- French Community (FWB) higher-education routing — higher-education equivalence is administered separately at equisup.cfwb.be, with its own application file and fee schedule. The exact per-category figures are not surfaced on accessible portal pages; confirm them with the higher-education service directly.
- German-speaking Community (DG Ostbelgien) routing — diploma equivalence for residents of the nine German-speaking communes in eastern Wallonia, or for applicants seeking recognition tied to German-language schools or German-language regulated-profession exercise within the DG, is handled by the Ministerium der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft, Fachbereich Unterricht, Gospertstraße 1, 4700 Eupen. The DG operates at small scale and DG-specific procedural facts (fees, processing time, document checklist) are not published as a standardised flow; direct contact with the Ministerium is the canonical route.
- Federal-level document legalisation — foreign diplomas issued in Hague-Convention states require an Apostille from the issuing country's competent authority; non-Hague-state diplomas require full consular legalisation at the Belgian embassy or consulate in the issuing country and final legalisation at the SPF Affaires étrangères / FOD Buitenlandse Zaken in Brussels. NARIC-Vlaanderen does not require this step; the French Community and German-speaking Community services may still require legalisation for non-EU diplomas.
- Cross-community routing — applicants submit the dossier to the community service of the workplace or institution that requires recognition, not necessarily the community of residence. A French-speaking Brussels resident taking up a Flanders-based teaching post submits to NARIC-Vlaanderen; a Flemish-speaking applicant pursuing higher education at UCLouvain submits to the FWB higher-education service.
Step-by-Step
- 1
Identify the Right Community Service
- Determine where the recognition will be used: a Flemish (Dutch-speaking) institution or employer, a French-speaking institution or employer, or a German-speaking institution or employer within the German-speaking Community
- For Flemish-Community use, route to NARIC-Vlaanderen
- For French-Community use, route to the Service des équivalences de l'enseignement secondaire (secondary diplomas) or the higher-education service at equisup.cfwb.be (university-level)
- For German-speaking-Community use, contact the Ministerium der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft, Fachbereich Unterricht in Eupen directly
💡 Tip: The community that matters is the community of the workplace or institution that requires the recognition, not the community of residence. Brussels residents typically have a choice driven by which institution or employer sits at the other end of the application.
⚠️ Watch out: If you apply to the wrong community service, the dossier will not be transferred automatically. Withdraw and re-file with the correct community to avoid losing the application fee.
- 2
Check Whether Your Diploma is Automatically Recognised
Applying for Flemish-Community use
- Consult the NARIC-Vlaanderen automatic-recognition list — Dutch, Luxembourgish, Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian higher-education diplomas; Dutch secondary certificates; International Baccalaureate; European Baccalaureate; diplomas issued by the French Community and German-speaking Community of Belgium; selected European University Institute Firenze and Royal Military School degrees
- If your diploma is on the list and you need only level recognition, no application is required
- If you need specific recognition (regulated professions, programme-content match), continue with the application even if your diploma is on the automatic-recognition list
💡 Tip: The Benelux-Baltic Treaty on automatic mutual recognition of higher-education diploma levels entered into force 1 May 2024 — it covers Dutch, Luxembourgish, Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian higher-education diplomas for level recognition only.
- 3
Run the NARIC-Vlaanderen Guidance Tool (Begeleidingstool)
Applying to NARIC-Vlaanderen
- Open the online guidance wizard on the NARIC-Vlaanderen portal — the wizard determines whether equivalence is required, which recognition type applies (level, specific, or professional), and which documents to assemble
- Follow the wizard's questions about your diploma, the recognition purpose (study, employment, regulated profession), and your residence status
- Note the indicated recognition type and document list before moving to the e-loket
💡 Tip: The guidance tool is the single best filter against filing an unnecessary application — many study applicants discover at this step that the host institution can admit directly without a NARIC decision.
- 4
Assemble Your Dossier
- Gather the core documents — identity document, diploma (front and back), transcript of grades (puntenlijst), study programme, and an internship certificate if you hold a medical, dental, nursing, or medical-imaging diploma
- Add the consent form (toestemmingsformulier) if your diploma was issued in a European country, in Ukraine, or in the United States
- Commission sworn translations by a translator sworn in Belgium for any document not in Dutch, French, English, or German
- If you reside outside Flanders or Brussels and apply for employment purposes, prepare an employer letter naming workplace location, job title, employer registration number, contract duration, and the reason recognition is necessary
💡 Tip: NARIC-Vlaanderen does not require Hague Apostille or any prior legalisation. Colour scans and photocopies are acceptable; only file formats .jpg, .png, or .pdf are accepted.
⚠️ Watch out: If documents are missing or untranslatable (refugee or conflict-region context), submit at least one piece of evidence of completed studies — diploma, final-year transcript, provisional diploma, or certified duplicate — together with a self-completed form listing all internships and work experience. This refugee or protected-applicant procedure is free of charge.
- 5
Authenticate to the e-loket and Submit
Applying to NARIC-Vlaanderen
- Belgian eID holders authenticate to the NARIC e-loket using itsme or the eID card reader
- Applicants without a Belgian eID can either activate a digital key in person at a Belgian municipal registration office or at the central office in Brussels (paper activation code and e-mail activation link follow), or submit the dossier by e-mail with employer proof of work in Flanders or Brussels
- Upload all required documents in .jpg, .png, or .pdf format — one file per document type
- Submit and await bank-transfer instructions by e-mail
⚠️ Watch out: If the dossier is flagged incomplete after submission, you have six months to provide the missing documents. After six months the dossier is closed automatically and a fresh application with new payment is required to restart.
- 6
Pay the Application Fee
Applying to NARIC-Vlaanderen and not in an exempt category
- Wait for the bank-transfer instructions e-mail from NARIC-Vlaanderen after dossier submission
- Pay €122 for level recognition, €243 for specific recognition, or €406 for doctorate recognition, depending on what the guidance tool indicated
- Use the IBAN and structured-payment reference exactly as issued
💡 Tip: Applicants in an exempt category — refugees, subsidiary or temporary protection holders, recipients of verhoogde tegemoetkoming or leefloon, inburgeraars, and VDAB or Actiris-registered job seekers — skip this step. Card payments and online wallets are not accepted at this stage; bank transfer only.
⚠️ Watch out: Exemption does not stack across repeat applications: if you previously applied for equivalence of the same higher-education diploma and are reapplying for the identical diploma, the fee applies even if you would otherwise be exempt.
- 7
Track the Dossier in the e-loket
Applying to NARIC-Vlaanderen
- Monitor the e-loket status display — three phases are shown: assignment to a case officer (dossierbehandelaar), assignment of an advisory request to an advisor (adviesverlener), and completion of the equivalence study
- Respond promptly to any clarification or document request — you have six months to supply missing documents before the dossier is closed automatically
- Receive the decision by e-mail within ten working days of the case-officer's signature; a formal decision letter follows by post
💡 Tip: The e-loket shows estimates, not exact dates. Level recognition is generally faster than specific recognition; the clock starts only when the dossier is complete.
- 8
Submit to the French Community Secondary-Equivalence Service (If Applicable)
Recognition is required for use in the French Community at secondary level
- Contact the Service des équivalences de l'enseignement secondaire at Rue Adolphe Lavallée 1, 1080 Bruxelles — [email protected], 02/690.86.86 — for the current dossier requirements, fee schedule, and processing timeline
- Lodge the dossier ahead of the annual 15 July deadline for the academic year you intend to start; the service publishes the exact cut-off date for each upcoming academic year
- Late dossiers are accepted but the service cannot guarantee an outcome in time for the September academic start
💡 Tip: The 15 July annual deadline structure makes this de facto study-driven for most applicants. Many Belgian universities require the equivalence ruling before granting registration.
⚠️ Watch out: If the September academic start passes without the FWB ruling, raise the matter with the host university — some institutions admit conditionally on the basis of a dossier deposit confirmation. Otherwise, defer enrolment to the next academic year.
- 9
Submit to the French Community Higher-Education Service (If Applicable)
Recognition is required for use in the French Community at higher-education level
- Route to the dedicated higher-education portal equisup.cfwb.be
- Contact the higher-education service for the current dossier requirements, fee schedule, and processing timeline before assembling documents
- Lodge the dossier through the portal's published channel
💡 Tip: Higher-education equivalence is administered separately from the secondary-equivalence service — the two services have distinct portals, fees, and timelines.
⚠️ Watch out: If the equisup portal pointer is unclear, the secondary-equivalence service at [email protected] can redirect you to the correct higher-education contact.
- 10
Contact the German-Speaking Community Ministry (If Applicable)
Recognition is required for use within the German-speaking Community of Belgium
- Contact the Ministerium der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft, Fachbereich Unterricht, Gospertstraße 1, 4700 Eupen — directly
- Request the current procedural requirements; the German-speaking Community operates at small scale and typically provides application-by-application guidance
💡 Tip: Many residents of the German-speaking Community pursuing higher-education recognition route through the FWB service for French-language higher education or a German-speaking equivalent in a neighbouring jurisdiction.
⚠️ Watch out: If the recognition need is German-language but for use outside the German-speaking Community, route to the community where the use will occur (Flemish or French Community), not to the DG Ministry.
- 11
Receive the Decision and Plan Next Steps
- Read the equivalence decision carefully — it states the recognition type granted (level, specific, or refusal) and the underlying Belgian community-level reference
- For regulated professions, follow the sectoral-authority route (AGODI for teaching; Departement Zorg for healthcare; Orde van Architecten; the professional orders for law and veterinary medicine) to obtain practising authorisation
- For employment outside regulated professions, the equivalence decision is itself the document used with employers
- For study admission, present the decision to the host institution
💡 Tip: An equivalence decision is necessary but not sufficient for regulated-profession practice — the sectoral authority issues the practising authorisation separately.
- 12
File an Appeal Within the Statutory Window (If Applicable)
You disagree with the NARIC-Vlaanderen decision
- For higher-education diplomas (hbo5, bachelor, master, doctorate), file within thirty days of receipt of the decision to the Raad voor betwistingen inzake studievoortgangsbeslissingen, by registered letter or in-person petition
- For secondary or adult-education diplomas, file within sixty days to the Raad van State, by registered letter, with a copy sent to NARIC-Vlaanderen
- Include the original decision, your written grounds, and any supporting documentation
💡 Tip: No NARIC-side appeal fee applies. The Conseil d'État (Raad van State) is the cross-cutting Belgian administrative-decision appeal forum where the higher-education appeal council is not the competent body.
⚠️ Watch out: If you miss the appeal window, the original decision becomes final. A fresh application with additional evidence is the only remaining route, and a new fee applies unless an exemption is granted.
What Could Go Wrong
Wrong community service: Dossier submitted to a community service that does not match the workplace or institution requiring the recognition
Recovery: Withdraw and re-file with the correct community service. The original application fee is generally not refundable; pay the fee again to the correct service.
Missing transcript: Only the diploma was submitted to NARIC-Vlaanderen; the transcript of grades (puntenlijst) is also mandatory
Recovery: Add the puntenlijst to the open dossier through the e-loket. The six-month incomplete-dossier window starts from the original incomplete notice.
Missing consent form: The diploma was issued in a European country, Ukraine, or the United States but no toestemmingsformulier was attached
Recovery: Upload the signed consent form to the open dossier. The diploma-authenticity verification cannot proceed without it.
Incomplete dossier window lapses: More than six months have passed since the incomplete notice without the missing documents being supplied
Recovery: The original dossier is closed automatically and the application fee is forfeited. File a fresh application with the complete document set and pay a new fee, unless an exemption applies.
Non-Belgian sworn translation: Translations were prepared by a translator sworn outside Belgium
Recovery: NARIC-Vlaanderen accepts only translations by translators sworn in Belgium meeting its specified formatting guidelines. Commission Belgian-sworn translations and upload them to the dossier.
Costs
| Item | Amount | Payment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NARIC-Vlaanderen — niveau-erkenning (level recognition, e.g. bachelor) | €122 | Bank transfer only; IBAN and structured-payment instructions issued by e-mail after dossier submission | Listed on the NARIC-Vlaanderen fee schedule as «Niveau-erkenning (open definitie) (bijv. bachelor, ...) — 122 euro». |
| NARIC-Vlaanderen — specifieke-erkenning (specific recognition, e.g. bachelor bedrijfsmanagement) | €243 | Bank transfer only | Listed on the NARIC-Vlaanderen fee schedule. Specific recognition is required for regulated professions and for any case where the precise programme content matters. |
| NARIC-Vlaanderen — erkenning van een doctoraat (recognition of a doctorate) | €406 | Bank transfer only | Listed on the NARIC-Vlaanderen fee schedule. |
| NARIC-Vlaanderen — fee waiver (protected applicants and equity-listed categories) | €0 | No payment required | Asylum applicants, recognised refugees, subsidiary-protection holders, temporary-protection holders (including Ukrainian war-displaced applicants), recipients of verhoogde tegemoetkoming or leefloon, inburgeraars, and VDAB or Actiris-registered job seekers apply free of charge. The exemption does not stack across repeat applications for the same higher-education diploma. |
- Payment:
- Bank transfer only; IBAN and structured-payment instructions issued by e-mail after dossier submission
- Notes:
- Listed on the NARIC-Vlaanderen fee schedule as «Niveau-erkenning (open definitie) (bijv. bachelor, ...) — 122 euro».
- Payment:
- Bank transfer only
- Notes:
- Listed on the NARIC-Vlaanderen fee schedule. Specific recognition is required for regulated professions and for any case where the precise programme content matters.
- Payment:
- Bank transfer only
- Notes:
- Listed on the NARIC-Vlaanderen fee schedule.
- Payment:
- No payment required
- Notes:
- Asylum applicants, recognised refugees, subsidiary-protection holders, temporary-protection holders (including Ukrainian war-displaced applicants), recipients of verhoogde tegemoetkoming or leefloon, inburgeraars, and VDAB or Actiris-registered job seekers apply free of charge. The exemption does not stack across repeat applications for the same higher-education diploma.
FAQ
General
Which community service should I apply to?
Apply to the community service of the workplace or institution that requires the recognition, not necessarily the community where you live. For a Dutch-speaking Flemish institution or Flemish-Brussels employer, apply to NARIC-Vlaanderen. For a French-speaking institution or Brussels employer, apply to the FWB Service des équivalences de l'enseignement secondaire (for secondary diplomas) or to the higher-education service at equisup.cfwb.be (for university degrees). For recognition tied to German-language schools or German-language regulated-profession exercise within the German-speaking Community, contact the Ministerium der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft directly. Brussels is bilingual, so residents typically have a choice driven by where the institution or employer sits — there is no separate Brussels-region equivalence service for academic diplomas.
Do I need to apply for equivalence before I can study in Belgium?
For most foreign applicants pursuing study at a Flemish university, hogeschool, or CVO, formal NARIC equivalence is not required — the institution makes admissibility decisions directly. NARIC equivalence is required only in four cases: admission to a Belgian medical specialisation (the base medical diploma must be recognised first), FWO doctoral funding applications, CVO adult-vocational training that depends on a secondary-equivalence ruling, or any case where the host institution explicitly demands a NARIC decision. For French Community higher education, applicants submit to the higher-education service at equisup.cfwb.be ahead of academic admission. For French Community secondary equivalence — often required for university admission — the 15 July annual deadline applies.
What is the difference between level recognition and specific recognition?
Niveau-erkenning (level recognition) declares that a foreign diploma corresponds to a Belgian community-level qualification by level only — e.g. «this foreign bachelor degree is at the level of a Belgian bachelor». Specifieke erkenning (specific recognition) declares that the foreign diploma corresponds to a specific Belgian programme by both level and content — e.g. «this foreign bachelor degree corresponds to the Belgian bachelor bedrijfsmanagement». Specific recognition is required for regulated professions and for cases where precise programme content matters; level recognition is sufficient for general employment access where any bachelor-level diploma satisfies the employer.
Do I need a Hague Apostille on my diploma?
Not for NARIC-Vlaanderen. NARIC-Vlaanderen does not require Apostille or any prior legalisation on documents submitted to it; the toestemmingsformulier (consent form) is the verification mechanism for European, Ukrainian, and American diplomas. The French Community and German-speaking Community services may still require legalisation for non-EU diplomas — check with the relevant community service directly before assembling the dossier. Federal-level legalisation, when required, runs through the SPF Affaires étrangères / FOD Buitenlandse Zaken in Brussels.
How long does NARIC-Vlaanderen take to issue a decision?
NARIC-Vlaanderen does not publish a single statutory maximum. The duration depends on diploma type and recognition category — level recognition is generally faster than specific recognition. The clock starts only when the dossier is complete; if missing documents are not provided within six months, the dossier is closed and a fresh application with new payment is required. After the case-officer's decision is signed, the result arrives by e-mail within ten working days. Duplicate decision letters take four to six weeks to issue.
Does the NARIC-Vlaanderen fee apply to all applicants?
No. Asylum applicants, recognised refugees, persons with subsidiary or temporary protection (including Ukrainian war-displaced applicants), recipients of verhoogde tegemoetkoming or leefloon, integration-programme inburgeraars, and VDAB or Actiris-registered job seekers all apply free of charge. The exemption does not apply when the same applicant reapplies for equivalence of the same higher-education diploma a second time — the fee resumes on repeat applications for the identical diploma.
Can I appeal a NARIC-Vlaanderen decision?
Yes. For higher-education diplomas (hbo5, bachelor, master, doctorate), file the appeal within thirty days of receipt of the NARIC-Vlaanderen decision letter to the Raad voor betwistingen inzake studievoortgangsbeslissingen, by registered letter or in-person petition. For secondary-education or adult-education diplomas, file within sixty days to the Raad van State, by registered letter, with a copy sent to NARIC-Vlaanderen. No NARIC-side appeal fee applies.
I am a Ukrainian refugee. What changes for me?
The temporary-protection attestation entitles the applicant to a free NARIC-Vlaanderen application. Minimum documentation is at least one piece of evidence of completed Ukrainian education — diploma, transcript, provisional document, or certified duplicate — together with a self-completed form documenting all internships and work experience. NARIC publishes a Ukrainian-Flemish education-system comparison document and Ukrainian-language application guidance. Recognition is mandatory only for government employment positions, regulated professions, or where the employer specifically requests it; many roles can be taken up immediately without formal NARIC equivalence.
I am a foreign teacher. Can I start work before NARIC decides?
Since 1 September 2024, foreign teachers in Flemish primary, secondary, part-time arts, or adult education may be temporarily appointed and paid by the hiring school while the NARIC-Vlaanderen equivalence procedure is pending. The school applies on behalf of the teacher — the individual does not apply directly. If NARIC ultimately refuses the equivalence, the temporary appointment ends automatically and the school is not required to recover wages already disbursed.
Are any foreign diplomas automatically recognised without an application?
Yes, for the Flemish Community. Dutch secondary certificates (vmbo, mavo, vbo, havo, vwo) and Dutch bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees are automatically recognised, alongside Luxembourg brevet de technicien supérieur, diplôme d'études supérieures générales, bachelor, master, and doctorat degrees, and Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian higher-education diplomas (under the Benelux-Baltic Treaty in force since 1 May 2024). The International Baccalaureate, the European Baccalaureate, diplomas issued by the French Community and German-speaking Community of Belgium, and selected European University Institute Firenze and Royal Military School degrees are also on the automatic-recognition list. Automatic recognition is for level equivalence only — protected professional titles still require a specific-recognition decision.
After This Process
- → Use the equivalence decision to support a regulated-profession practising authorisation from the relevant sectoral authority (AGODI for teaching; Departement Zorg for healthcare; Orde van Architecten for architecture; the professional orders for law and veterinary medicine)
- → If applying for Belgian employment, attach the equivalence decision to the employer file
- → If applying for study admission, present the equivalence decision to the host institution alongside the institution's direct-admission documentation
- → For diplomas requiring federal-level legalisation before community-level submission, route through the SPF Affaires étrangères / FOD Buitenlandse Zaken for the Apostille or consular-legalisation step
Sources
- NARIC-Vlaanderen — AHOVOKS authority page (vlaanderen.be ↗)
- NARIC-Vlaanderen — applying for recognition (vlaanderen.be ↗)
- NARIC-Vlaanderen — required documents (vlaanderen.be ↗)
- NARIC-Vlaanderen — application fee schedule (vlaanderen.be ↗)
- NARIC-Vlaanderen — processing time and dossier status (vlaanderen.be ↗)
- NARIC-Vlaanderen — automatic-recognition list (vlaanderen.be ↗)
- NARIC-Vlaanderen — appeals (vlaanderen.be ↗)
- NARIC-Vlaanderen — regulated-profession sectoral authorities (vlaanderen.be ↗)
- NARIC-Vlaanderen — Ukraine procedure (vlaanderen.be ↗)
- FWB Service des équivalences de l'enseignement secondaire (equivalences.cfwb.be ↗)
- FWB equivalence portal — general (equivalences.cfwb.be ↗)
- FWB higher-education equivalence service (equisup.cfwb.be ↗)
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9 sources cited last accessed 2026-05-26
T1 official portal · T2 embassy/consulate · T3 news · T4 community — higher tier wins on conflict. methodology →
- T1Agentschap voor Hoger Onderwijs, Volwassenenonderwijs, Kwalificaties en Studietoelagen (AHOVOKS) 2026-05-26
NARIC-Vlaanderen operates as a service component of AHOVOKS, the Flemish Agency for Higher Education, Adult Education, Qualifications and Student Grants. It is the equivalence authority for foreign diplomas presented for use in the Flemish Community (Flanders and Dutch-speaking institutions or employers in Brussels).
vlaanderen.be - T1NARIC-Vlaanderen — application fee schedule 2026-05-26
NARIC-Vlaanderen application fees by recognition type: niveau-erkenning (level recognition, e.g. bachelor) — 122 euro; specifieke-erkenning (specific recognition, e.g. bachelor bedrijfsmanagement) — 243 euro; erkenning van een doctoraat (recognition of a doctorate) — 406 euro. Payment by bank transfer only; instructions issued by e-mail after dossier submission. Exemptions cover asylum applicants, recognised refugees, subsidiary-protection and temporary-protection holders, increased-allowance recipients (verhoogde tegemoetkoming), leefloon recipients, inburgeraars, and VDAB or Actiris-registered job seekers; repeat applications for the same higher-education diploma do not stack the exemption.
vlaanderen.be - T1NARIC-Vlaanderen — documents page 2026-05-26
Required documents for NARIC-Vlaanderen: identity document (valid passport, Belgian ID card, or foreign residence card); diploma scanned front-and-back; transcript of grades (puntenlijst) — always mandatory; study programme or per-course content descriptions; internship certificate (stagebewijs) for medical, dental, nursing, and medical-imaging diplomas. File formats limited to .jpg, .png, .pdf — colour scans and photocopies acceptable. Documents not in Dutch, French, English, or German require certified translation by a translator sworn in Belgium. No Hague Apostille or prior legalisation is required. A toestemmingsformulier (consent form) is required for European, Ukrainian, and American diplomas, authorising direct verification with the issuing institution.
vlaanderen.be - T1NARIC-Vlaanderen — processing time and dossier status 2026-05-26
NARIC-Vlaanderen does not publish a single statutory maximum processing time — the duration depends on diploma type and recognition category. The clock starts only when the dossier is complete; if missing documents are not submitted within six months, the dossier is closed and a fresh application with new payment is required. Decisions are delivered by e-mail within ten working days of the case-officer's signature; duplicate decision letters take four to six weeks. The e-loket displays estimates only, organised in three phases: assignment to a case officer (dossierbehandelaar), assignment of an advisory request to an academic advisor (adviesverlener), and completion of the equivalence study.
vlaanderen.be - T1NARIC-Vlaanderen — automatic-recognition list 2026-05-26
Diplomas automatically recognised in the Flemish Community without an application: Dutch secondary certificates (vmbo, mavo, vbo, havo, vwo), Dutch bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees; Luxembourg brevet de technicien supérieur, diplôme d'études supérieures générales, bachelor, master, and doctorat; Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian higher-education diplomas (under the Benelux-Baltic Treaty on automatic mutual recognition of higher-education diploma levels in force 1 May 2024); the International Baccalaureate and European Baccalaureate; diplomas issued by the French Community and the German-speaking Community of Belgium; selected European University Institute Firenze degrees and Royal Military School engineering degrees. Automatic recognition applies to level equivalence only — protected professional titles still require specific recognition.
vlaanderen.be - T1NARIC-Vlaanderen — regulated-profession layer 2026-05-26
For regulated professions, NARIC-Vlaanderen issues the diploma-level equivalence while access to practise is governed by a sectoral authority: teaching professions route to Agentschap voor Onderwijsdiensten (AGODI); approximately twenty-five healthcare professions (including arts, tandarts, verpleegkundige, psycholoog, kinesitherapeut) route to Departement Zorg; architecture routes to Orde van Architecten; legal professions to the respective professional orders; veterinary medicine to the national professional order. A temporary-employment exception in force since 1 September 2024 allows foreign teachers in Flemish primary, secondary, part-time arts, or adult education to be appointed and paid by a school while the NARIC equivalence procedure is pending — the school applies on the teacher's behalf.
vlaanderen.be - T1NARIC-Vlaanderen — Ukraine procedure 2026-05-26
NARIC-Vlaanderen applies a Ukraine-specific procedure for applicants holding the temporary-protection attestation: application is free of charge; minimum documentation is at least one piece of evidence of completed Ukrainian education (diploma, final-year transcript, provisional diploma, or certified duplicate) plus a self-completed form listing all internships and work experience. NARIC publishes a Ukrainian-Flemish education-system comparison document and Ukrainian-language application guidance. Recognition is mandatory only for government employment, regulated professions, or where the employer specifically requests it.
vlaanderen.be - T1Service des équivalences de l'enseignement secondaire (Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles) 2026-05-26
The French Community secondary-equivalence service is administered by the Service des équivalences de l'enseignement secondaire of the Ministère de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, at Rue Adolphe Lavallée 1, 1080 Bruxelles. Contact: [email protected], telephone 02/690.86.86. For an academic-year 2026-2027 enrolment, the application file must reach the service no later than 15 July 2026, per the published notice «Pour entamer des études supérieures pour l'année académique 2026-2027, votre dossier doit être introduit...pour le 15 juillet 2026 au plus tard». Higher-education equivalence is administered separately via the dedicated portal equisup.cfwb.be.
equivalences.cfwb.be - T1NARIC-Vlaanderen — appeals 2026-05-26
Appeal forums against a NARIC-Vlaanderen decision: for higher-education diplomas (hbo5, bachelor, master, doctorate), file within thirty days of receipt to the Raad voor betwistingen inzake studievoortgangsbeslissingen (Council for Disputes Regarding Study Progress Decisions), by registered letter or in-person petition. For secondary-education or adult-education diplomas, file within sixty days to the Raad van State (Council of State) by registered letter, with a copy sent to NARIC-Vlaanderen.
vlaanderen.be