Getting your diploma recognised in Luxembourg: the step-by-step guide
Skimming?
We've prepared the shortcut for you.
Academic, professional or homologation: what's the difference?
This is the first question to ask yourself, and it's where most people get confused. There are three types of recognition in Luxembourg, each serving a different purpose.
Academic recognition gives you the right to use your title (Master, Bachelor, etc.) in Luxembourg. It goes through the registration of your qualification with the MESR. This is the most common process if you're looking for a job and your future employer wants to verify your education level. But be careful: it does not automatically give you the right to practise a regulated profession.
Professional recognition covers regulated professions: nurse, educator, accountant, architect, craftsperson, etc. Here, the content of your training is assessed to check it meets Luxembourg requirements. If you come from the EU, the process is simpler than for non-EU nationals.
Finally, homologation is a specific procedure reserved for law degrees. It grants access to the Complementary Courses in Luxembourg Law (CCDL), a mandatory step to become a lawyer in Luxembourg. The cost is €125, compared to €75 for the other two procedures.
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How to get a foreign university degree recognised
Check if your diploma is automatically recognised
If you graduated in Belgium, the Netherlands, Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania, good news: it's recognised automatically thanks to the Benelux agreements and the 2021 treaty. You don't need to do anything for academic recognition.
If your diploma is from the University of Luxembourg or an accredited private institution in Luxembourg, it's also automatically recognised.
Prepare your file
For all other diplomas, you need to apply for registration in the register of qualifications. Here's what you'll need:
- a copy of your diploma
- a transcript or diploma supplement
- a copy of your ID (or residence permit for non-EU nationals)
- proof of payment of the €75 fee
All documents in a language other than French, German, English or Luxembourgish must be accompanied by a sworn translation. The Ministry of Justice maintains a list of sworn translators (ouvre dans un nouvel onglet).
Submit your application
You can go through MyGuichet.lu (online, the fastest option) or send your file by post to the MESR. The postal address is B.P. L-2915 Luxembourg.
Receive your ministerial decree
If your file is complete, you'll receive a ministerial decree confirming the registration of your diploma. This document indicates the level on the Luxembourg Qualifications Framework (CLQ), aligned with the European framework (EQF). In practice, processing takes between 2 and 6 weeks for a complete file.
What if you want to practise a regulated profession?
Academic recognition isn't enough for certain jobs. If you want to work as a nurse, midwife, educator, craftsperson or in certain commercial and liberal professions, you need a recognition of equivalence of your professional qualifications.
The process depends on where you obtained your diploma.
If you come from an EU country, you need to prove that your qualification grants access to the profession in another member state. For nurses and midwives, since training requirements are harmonised across the EU, recognition is automatic.
If you come from a non-EU country, the bar is higher: your diploma must already be recognised by an EU member state, and you need at least 3 years of professional experience in that state.
The cost is the same: €75 per diploma. If compensation measures are needed (an aptitude test, for example), you'll need to add €300. Processing time is usually 2 to 6 weeks, with a legal maximum of 3 months.
The application is made to the Diploma Recognition Service (ouvre dans un nouvel onglet), online via MyGuichet.lu or by post.
With your diploma recognised, you can start your first job with peace of mind.
Special case: foreign secondary school diplomas
If you have a secondary school leaving certificate (baccalauréat, maturité, Abitur, A-Level...) obtained abroad, you can also request recognition. This is useful if you want to continue your studies in Luxembourg.
The main conditions: your diploma must certify at least 12 consecutive years of study and grant access to higher education in your home country. The country must have signed the Paris or Lisbon Convention.
The International Baccalaureate (IB) is recognised as equivalent to the Luxembourg diploma under certain conditions.
The fee is the same: €75. Processing takes 2 to 10 weeks for diplomas from signatory countries.
VAE: an alternative if you don't have a diploma
Validation of Prior Experience (VAE) allows you to leverage your professional or personal experience to obtain a recognised qualification in Luxembourg. Diplomas obtained through VAE have the same value as those obtained through initial training.
This is an interesting option if you have several years of experience in a field but don't hold the corresponding diploma. The application is made directly to the institution that delivers the target qualification.
For more information, check the MESR academic recognition portal (ouvre dans un nouvel onglet).
Frequently asked questions
The fee is €75 per diploma for academic or professional recognition. For the homologation of a law degree, it's €125. These fees are non-refundable, even in case of rejection.
Yes, if your documents are not written in French, German, English or Luxembourgish. The translation must be done by a sworn translator. For diplomas from non-EU countries, copies must also be certified as true copies.
No. Academic recognition gives you the right to use your title, but it does not grant the right to practise a regulated profession. For that, you need a separate professional recognition.
Between 2 and 6 weeks for a complete file, with a legal maximum of 3 months. If your file is incomplete, the deadline is suspended until the missing documents are received.
Yes. Higher education diplomas issued in Belgium, the Netherlands, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are recognised automatically. You don't need to take any steps for academic recognition.