There are three types of recognition in Portugal:

Automatic recognition [RA]

This is the act that allows for the general recognition of a foreign higher education degree or diploma, whose level, objectives and nature are identical to the Portuguese degrees of licenciado, mestre and doutor or diploma de técnico superior profissional, which appears on the list of degrees and diplomas established by the commission for the recognition of foreign degrees and diplomas.

• Which foreign degrees does the RA apply to?
  • Check this table
  • Check the DGES form
•  You can apply for this recognition WITH or WITHOUT a final classification [Article 6(1) of Decree-Law 66/2018 of 16 August]

Recognition of level [RN]

This is the act that allows a foreign higher education degree or diploma to be recognised by comparability, on an individual basis, as having a level corresponding to a Portuguese higher education degree or diploma.

• You can apply for this recognition WITH or WITHOUT final grading [Article 6(1) of Decree-Law 66/2018 of 16 August]

Specific recognition [RE]
This is the act that allows a foreign higher education degree or diploma to be recognised as identical to a Portuguese higher education degree or diploma, through a case-by-case analysis of the level, duration and syllabus content, in a given area of training, branch of knowledge or speciality.

• This request implies recognition WITH the attribution of a final classification [no. 2 of article 6 of Decree-Law no. 66/2018, of 16 August]

Analysing the request for degree recognition implies payment of the fee set out in the IPCB's Table of Fees.

The respective fee must be paid after the notification sent by the IPCB. Failure to pay by the deadline will result in the application being cancelled.

1. The request for recognition is made online, on the RecON platform, made available by DGES for this purpose, and the requested documents must be attached in digital format.
2. If you have selected the IPCB to carry out the recognition, you will be contacted at the email address you indicated in the RecON, in order to pay the respective fee..
3. After this payment, the application will be analysed and processed at the IPCB until the final decision is made, which will then be communicated to the applicant.

Each form of recognition can only be applied for once for the same foreign academic degree or higher education diploma.
Holders of academic degrees or diplomas that cannot be the subject of Automatic Recognition may apply for the same academic degree or diploma:

1. Level Recognition;
2. Specific Recognition.

The same academic degree or diploma can be the subject of both types of recognition provided for in points a) and b) .

• Consult the Practical Guide to Supporting the Application for Recognition. 
• For more information you can consult the DGES website.

According to Article 4(2) of Decree-Law 66/2018, you must present a document that unequivocally proves that the degree or diploma was awarded, namely:

Automatic Recognition

• A copy of the diploma or document issued by the foreign higher education institution proving that you hold the degree or diploma for which recognition is sought, authenticated by the competent authorities; OR
• A simple copy of the document issued by the foreign higher education institution with the degree or diploma registration number, in the case of foreign higher education institutions that have centralised registers that can be consulted publicly through a unique identifier; OR
• Diploma or certificate issued by the foreign higher education institution, in its original version, proving that you hold the degree or diploma for which recognition is sought.

Recognition Level and Specific Recognition

·         A copy of the diploma or document issued by the foreign higher education institution proving that you hold the degree or diploma for which recognition is sought, authenticated by the competent authorities;  OR

• A simple copy of the document issued by the foreign higher education institution with the degree or diploma registration number, in the case of foreign higher education institutions that have centralised registers that can be consulted publicly through a unique identifier;  OR

• Diploma or certificate issued by the foreign higher education institution, in its original version, proving that you hold the degree or diploma for which recognition is sought.
• A document issued by the foreign higher education institution stating the curricular units in which the applicant passed and which led to the degree or diploma for which they are seeking recognition, as well as the respective syllabus, the duration of the studies leading to the degree and the respective final classification.
• In the case of a master's degree, a digital or digitised copy of the defended dissertation, project work or internship report.
•  In the case of a degree at doctoral level, a digital or scanned copy of the thesis defended, except when it has been replaced by other research work, works or artistic achievements, in which case the appropriate elements must be submitted in digital or scanned format in order to know the content of the research carried out and the grounds that explain the process of conception and elaboration, the research capacity, and its framework in the evolution of knowledge in the field in which it is inserted.

Paper documents must be originals or notarised

In Portugal, according to Decree-Law no. 28/2000 of 13th March, documents can be authenticated by the following entities:

• Parish Councils
• CTT - Correios de Portugal (Post Office)
• Chambers of Commerce and Industry
• Lawyers and Solicitors

In the case of documents issued in countries outside the European Union, these must be validated by the:

• Portuguese embassy or consulate in the country of origin, or
• Apostille of the Hague Convention.

Document translation
All documents written in a language other than Portuguese, Spanish, French or English must be translated into Portuguese by a translator recognised by the Portuguese diplomatic representation. 

Document presentation and format

1. The documents requested for each type of recognition can take one of three forms:Original document OR
2. Copy of original document certified by Competent Authorities OR
3. Another document that allows the degree and necessary data to be verified unequivocally, for example, directly at the issuing institution via a unique identifier.

Considering that the documents are submitted on the platform in digital format, they will only be considered valid if: 

• its authenticity is unequivocal, and
• in a non-editable format (.pdf), and
• have a qualified electronic signature affixed by the competent authorities of the institution issuing it.

If the documents submitted do not fulfil these requirements, the IPCB is obliged to request:

• a duly authenticated copy of these documents by post, OR
• presenting the original document in person at the IPCB Academic Services.

(*) Exempted in situations where there was no Thesis/Dissertation, being proven by a document issued by the respective foreign higher education institution confirming that for the conclusion of the degree there was no need to submit these elements.
For the doctoral degree, when the thesis has been replaced by other research work, works or artistic achievements, the appropriate elements must be submitted in digital or digitised format in order to know the content of the research carried out and the grounds that explain the process of conception and elaboration, the research capacity, and its framework in the evolution of knowledge in the field in which it is inserted.

The Automatic Recognition certificate is issued within a maximum of 30 working days from receipt of the duly completed application.

The jury's decision (in the case of Level Recognition) or the decision on the application for Specific Recognition will be made within a maximum of 90 working days from receipt of the duly completed application.

For teaching in Portugal, we recommend contacting the DGAE (“General Directorate of School Administration”), the body that regulates teaching in Portugal and which can provide more information on the type of Recognition best suited to your situation.