Recognition of diplomas, validation of acquired experience Luxembourg

In Luxembourg, certain certificates, diplomas, patents and school reports obtained abroad can be recognized as equivalent. This can be useful for university studies or certain trades.

Whatever your level of education and qualifications, find out here what steps to take.

Recognition of diplomas in Luxembourg

In Luxembourg, some foreign certificates and diplomas are not automatically recognized. However, the recognition of a diploma can be useful in certain cases, in order to continue a course of study, to have a high school or university diploma recognized or to gain access to certain professions.

Conditions for recognition of diplomas

The recognition of equivalence is subject to certain conditions. These depend on the type of degree.

International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBO)

The International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma is considered equivalent to the Luxembourg secondary school diploma. In order to be recognized in Luxembourg, the criteria set by the International Baccalaureate Organization must be met, as well as other conditions such as the examination papers, the languages studied and the length of the course.

Diploma from a country that has signed the Paris or Lisbon conventions

Certificates and diplomas from a country that has signed a Council of Europe convention – Paris or Lisbon – can be recognized in Luxembourg.

However, the certificate or degree in question must meet two main requirements:

it must be the result of at least 12 consecutive years of successful study
it must give access to higher education in the country of origin.

This is particularly true of the following degrees:

The baccalaureate

The baccalaureate is a diploma obtained after passing the exam marking the end of secondary education. This allows access to higher education.

Maturity

The Maturity is a certificate issued at the end of secondary school in some countries such as Albania, Switzerland, Belgium, Hungary and Italy.

Careful! These conditions do not automatically lead to the recognition of a diploma. The decisions of the competent department are made on a case-by-case basis.

Which countries are signatories to the Paris or Lisbon conventions?

The signatory countries are Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

Diploma from another country

Diplomas from a country that is not a signatory to the Paris or Lisbon Convention must meet several conditions in order to be recognized in Luxembourg.

The certification must be in accordance with the requirements of the countries that are signatories to one or other of the above-mentioned conventions, but also with other criteria, as appropriate.

Cost of diploma recognition

The application for recognition of a diploma is subject to the payment of a fee of 75 euros. A compensatory amount of 300 euros is also payable if an adaptation period or an additional aptitude test is required.

How to pay the fee?

The tax must be paid in advance to the Registration, Domains and VAT Administration. The proof must be sent at the same time as the request for equivalence for processing.

The payment of the fee does not prejudge the acceptance of the application. In case of refusal of equivalence, this fee is not refunded.

Proof of payment must be attached to the file.

It is possible to obtain a duplicate of the equivalence certificate. The person concerned must pay a fee of 10 euros.

For more information, see the relevant page on guichet.lu.

Procedures for diploma recognition

As with the requirements, the steps to take depend on the type of degree.

Diploma from a country that has signed the Paris or Lisbon conventions

To apply for diploma recognition, the applicant must complete a file. This must be composed of the following documents:

A copy of a valid ID,
A written document stating the reason for the request,
A CV detailing the educational background, but also the place and date of birth,
A copy of the school reports for the last two years or, failing that, a certificate of attendance signed by the school principal,
Any diplomas,
Proof of payment of the tax.

The documents must be written in Luxembourgish, French, German or English. Otherwise, they must be translated into one of these languages by a sworn translator in Luxembourg. In the latter case, the translator’s signature must be affixed to all documents. Otherwise, proof of the translator’s oath must be included in the file.

The application must then be sent by mail to the Department of Credential Recognition of the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth (MEN). A response is provided to the applicant within approximately two to six weeks.

Careful! If you are not a citizen of a European Union country, you must have your documents (identity card, diploma, report card, etc.) certified by an embassy, consulate or municipal administration.

Diploma from another country

To have a diploma recognized from a country that has not signed the Paris or Lisbon conventions, the applicant must put together a file with the following elements

A copy of a valid ID,
A written document stating the reason for the request,
A CV detailing the educational background, but also the place and date of birth,
A copy of the school reports for the last two years or, failing that, a certificate of attendance signed by the school principal,
Any diplomas,
A certificate of residence attesting to accommodation in one of the European Union states,
Proof of payment of the tax.

The file must also contain, depending on the case, a diploma attesting to the successful completion of at least three years of higher education in a member state of the European Union, proof of enrolment or a diploma from an institute recognized by a third country accompanied by proof of knowledge of one of the three official languages (a language certificate, proof of course attendance, proof that the subject was passed at the secondary school leaving examination, etc.).

The documents must be written in Luxembourgish, French, German or English. If this is not the case, they must be translated into one of these languages by a sworn translator in Luxembourg.

Good to know. If the file is not complete, the applicant is informed by mail. He then has three years to send back the missing documents.

Careful! If you are not a citizen of a European Union country, you must have your documents (identity card, diploma, report card, etc.) certified by an embassy, consulate or municipal administration.

Recognition of equivalence of education levels

Purpose of the request for equivalence

The application for recognition of a level of education is intended for people (pupils, students or adults) who have not yet obtained the final diploma of their training and

wishing to enter the Luxembourg education system or
resume a course of study or
take adult education.

Cost of recognition of equivalence

There is a fee to apply for recognition of equivalence. It is subject to a fee of 75 euros.

The recognition of equivalence for children at a Luxembourg basic education level (corresponding to cycle 1 to 4) is free of charge.

How to pay the tax?

There is a fee for applying for recognition of equivalence. It is subject to payment of a fee of 75 euros.

Recognition of equivalence for children at a Luxembourg basic education level (primary school level) is free of charge.

The fee is to be paid by bank transfer to the Administration de l’Enregistrement, des domaines et de la TVA. Proof of payment must be attached to the file. The payment of the fee is compulsory in order for the file to be processed. This does not mean that the recognition of equivalence is granted.

If equivalence is refused, no refund is possible.

It is possible to obtain a duplicate of the equivalence certificate. The person concerned must pay a fee of 10 euros.

For more information, see the relevant page on guichet.lu.

Procedures for requesting equivalence of education levels

To apply for academic recognition, the student must assemble a file consisting of:

A copy of a valid ID,
A written document stating the reason for the request,
A CV detailing the educational background, but also the place and date of birth,
A copy of the school reports for the last two years or, failing that, a certificate of attendance signed by the school principal,
Any diplomas,
Proof of payment of the tax.

The documents must be written in Luxembourgish, German, French or English. Otherwise, they must be translated into one of these languages by a sworn translator in Luxembourg. In the latter case, the translator’s signature must be affixed to all documents. Otherwise, proof of the translator’s oath must be included in the file.

The application must then be sent by mail to the Department of Credential Recognition of the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth (MEN). A response is provided to the applicant within approximately two to six weeks.

If the file is incomplete, the applicant is informed by mail. He then has three years to complete it. After this period, the application is cancelled.

Careful! If you are not a citizen of a European Union country, you must have your documents (identity card, diploma, report card, etc.) certified by an embassy, consulate or municipal administration.

Recognition for access to certain professions

Certain patents, certificates and diplomas obtained abroad can be recognized in the Grand Duchy. Their recognition allows access to certain professions (liberal, socio-educational, commercial, artisanal…).

However, such recognition is not automatic and is subject to a number of conditions.

Cost of recognition of patents or certificates

There is a fee for applying for recognition of equivalence. It is subject to a fee of 75 euros.

In the case of a required compensatory measure, such as an adaptation course or an aptitude test, a supplement of 300 euros is required. A duplicate can also be obtained for the sum of 10 euros.

If the equivalence is refused, no refund is possible.

Please note! Payment of the fee is compulsory in order for the file to be processed. This does not mean that the recognition of equivalence is granted.

Proof of payment must be attached to the file.

Steps to be taken for recognition of professional qualifications or level of education

To apply for recognition of diplomas, professional qualifications or equivalence of education, the applicant must prepare a file containing the following elements

The completed application for recognition of equivalence,
A copy of a valid identification document showing place of birth,
A CV in Europass format,
Proof of payment of the tax.

Third country nationals must also attach a copy of their valid residence permit. For the socio-educational professions, proof of the last three years of training must be attached.

Careful! All documents must be written in English, German or French or translated into one of these languages by a sworn translator.

The file must then be sent to the Service de la reconnaissance des diplômes.

Service de reconnaissance des diplômes
18-20, montée de la Pétrusse
L-2327 Luxembourg

Good to know. If a document is missing from the file, the applicant is informed by mail. He then has a period of three years to transmit the elements. After this period, the application for recognition is cancelled.

Validation of acquired experience (VAE)

The validation of acquired experience (VAE) allows to value a professional or extra-professional experience by certifying it (under certain conditions).

This procedure concerns everyone, regardless of age, level of education, or professional situation.

At the end of this procedure of validation of his professional experience, the candidate obtains a certification and a qualification allowing him to possibly change function, to find a job more easily if he is looking for a job, to progress more quickly in his professional career or to gain value units and time in a training that he/she would like to undertake or has already begun.

For more information on VAE, click here.