Homologación in Spain: recognition of a foreign degree

Homologación, equivalencia and convalidación

Homologación matches a foreign university award to a specific Spanish Grado or Máster that gives access to a regulated profession listed in RD 889/2022.

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Equivalencia certifies only the Grado/Máster academic level and field of knowledge. It does not itself confer access to a regulated profession.

Convalidación has two meanings: a Spanish university recognises part of foreign university studies, or the education authorities recognise non-university ESO, Bachillerato or FP studies.

For admission to a Spanish master’s, a non-EHEA graduate normally need not obtain homologación first: under article 18.2 RD 822/2021 the university verifies the level and whether the award gives master’s access in its home system. That check grants no recognition for any other purpose.

The EU route cannot be chosen from the diploma country or passport alone. RD 581/2017 covers EU nationals with professional qualifications obtained in a Member State; mixed histories require a case-specific check.

Who needs it

• Anyone who wants to work in a regulated profession in Spain (medicine, education, law, engineering, psychology).
• Anyone needing access to a master’s, a doctorate, or a public-service level (oposiciones).
• Holders of school/vocational degrees (FP, Bachillerato) — to study or work.
• Non-EU and EU nationals — the EU route for regulated professions is usually faster.

What to file where

• University homologación and equivalencia under RD 889/2022 are filed with the central State ministry. In judgment 282/2025 the Supreme Court annulled the transfer of that function to the Basque Country; regional powers over non-university awards are a separate matter.
• For homologación/equivalencia applicants, RD 889/2022 requires electronic handling of the application, documents, notices and administrative appeals; university convalidación follows the chosen university’s channel.
• You cannot pursue homologación and university convalidación simultaneously for the same completed qualification; choose the route first.
• Where training differs substantially, the decision may require an aptitude test, placement, project/work or courses. The measure must be completed at an eligible Spanish university within four years.
• Where Spanish is required, B2 can be proved by DELE, an official EOI certificate, the former certificado de aptitud, at least 75% of the specific degree being homologated taught in Spanish, or education in Spanish before access to higher education. Nationals of countries where Spanish is official are exempt.

Timing

• The statutory maximum for a homologación/equivalencia decision is six months from electronic registration. No notice by then permits a negative-silence challenge; operational backlog does not create a new lawful deadline.
• After the initial document review, a defect notice allows 10 working days to cure. A reasoned exceptional extension may reach, but not exceed, 35 working days; the six-month clock is suspended while cure is pending.
• Before a proposed refusal or conditional decision, the applicant has 10 working days for observations and evidence.
• For university convalidación of partial studies, RD 889/2022 gives the university a maximum of two months.

Documents

• The degree and academic transcript showing programme length, subjects and hours/ECTS. Apostille or diplomatic legalisation is not required for documents issued by EU, EEA or Swiss authorities.
• An official Spanish translation where needed; passport or identity/nationality evidence; and proof of fee payment.
• For professional recognition, include syllabuses, clinical/practical hours and other competence evidence; include Spanish B2 proof where required.
• Keep the electronic receipt, expediente number and every notice: short deadlines run from electronic notification events.

How to apply

• Define the purpose first: regulated work, an academic level, master’s admission, continuation of incomplete studies, or a school/FP award.
• Check the RD 889/2022 regulated-profession list and separately whether EU professional recognition under RD 581/2017 fits your citizenship and qualification history.
• Prepare the degree, transcript, syllabus, translation and legalisation only where required; pay the fee.
• For homologación/equivalencia, file through the ministry’s electronic office and monitor notices; for university convalidación, follow the chosen university’s channel.
• Answer any cure or hearing notice on time and address each stated training gap precisely.
• For conditional homologación, choose an eligible Spanish university and complete the measure within four years; after approval, download the credential.

A real case: why university-degree decisions stayed with the State

Common mistakes

• Buying an equivalencia solely for a master’s without asking the university about direct admission under article 18.2 RD 822/2021.
• Assuming any EU diploma automatically falls under RD 581/2017 without checking citizenship, qualification state and profession.
• Apostilling EU/EEA/Swiss public documents even though RD 889/2022 exempts them from legalisation.
• Opening homologación and convalidación simultaneously for one completed qualification.
• Missing an electronic notice, a 10-working-day response window or the four-year conditional-homologación limit.

Refusal and complementary requirements

• The outcome may be favourable, unfavourable or conditional. Conditional homologación is not a refusal: it must identify the compensatory measure.
• Against an express refusal, choose either an optional recurso de reposición to the same ministry within one month or a direct contencioso-administrativo court claim, normally within two months. Do not run both routes at once.
• Negative silence has special judicial time-limit rules. Do not mechanically apply the express-refusal two-month period; calculate from the actual registration and notice record.
• Compensatory requirements must be completed within four years. If that limit expires, the conditional decision lapses and the same award cannot be submitted for homologación again, although convalidación remains possible.

Related guides

Key terms in this guide

Frequently asked questions

Official sources