Depending on the position you’re applying for, there is one thing employers will most likely ask you about: your professional qualifications and your university diplomas. But if you didn’t obtain your degree in Luxembourg and have never worked here before, your diploma and qualifications are very likely not yet officially recognized.
However, this is vital if you want to work in a ‘regulated profession’ such as in craftmanship, the medical, commercial, or the educational sector. So, don’t wait any longer and start the application process!
Recognition of higher education diplomas
The process to get your academic diplomas such as a bachelor’s degree recognized, depends on the country you studied in. If you have studied in Belgium or the Netherlands, your higher education diplomas will be automatically recognized. However, if you studied in another country you need to go through the application process to get your diplomas recognized.
Application process
The application can either be completed online or you can fill out this form and send it per post to the Department for the Recognition of Diplomas. To speed up the application process, you should have the following documents at hand:
- a copy of your final diploma;
- a copy of the transcript of grades or a diploma supplement;
- an academic and a professional CV;
- a copy of your ID;
- proof that you paid the application fee (copy or screenshot of wire transfer statement);
- and a copy of the Luxembourg residence permit if you are not a national of an EU or EEA member state or the Swiss Confederation.
The documents must be sent with a certified translation into French, German, Luxembourgish, or English, if they are in a language other than these four languages. The fee of the application process is € 75 per diploma. If your application for recognition is refused, this fee will not be refunded.
It is important to note that the recognition of your academic diploma, does not mean that you may also exercise the profession in Luxembourg. If you want to work in a regulated profession (e.g. architect, accountant, doctor), you will also need to get your professional qualifications recognized.
Recognition of professional qualifications
There are several regulated professions for which you may need an official recognition of your professional qualifications in order to be able to work in Luxembourg. You can find a full list of these regulated professions here.
Qualification obtained in the EU
While the recognition of your professional qualification is easier when you obtained it in the EU, you still need to follow the application process. The following documents will be needed during the process:
- the evidence of your former qualifications obtained in another EU member state in the profession in which you wish to work in Luxembourg;
- if the profession is not regulated in the member state where you obtained your qualifications, you need to prove that:
- you worked full time for at least one year in the profession within the last 10 years in that member state;
- you got evidence of formal qualifications or an attestation of your professional competence.
- if you are a medical professional whose native language is neither French, German or Luxembourgish, you need to demonstrate your knowledge of German or French. This means that you have to prove at the Institut National des langues Luxembourg that you have at least a B2-level in German or French.
Since the minimum training requirements for nursing and midwifery diplomas are the same in all EU countries, your professional qualification will be recognized automatically in these professions.
Qualifications obtained in a non-EU country
If you have obtained your professional qualification in a non-EU country, you need to show that your qualification is equivalent to the one asked for in Luxembourg and already recognized by another member state. Additionally, you need to prove that you have at least three years of working experience in that member state.
Application process
In order to get your professional qualifications recognized, you have to send a complete application dossier to the Department for the Recognition of Diplomas. You can either do this online via MyGuichet.lu or per post. Your application dossier should consist of:
- a formal request for the recognition of your qualifications in a regulated profession (Craftwork activities, Commercial activities, socio-educative professions, medical professions);
- a CV in the Europass format or a similar one that consists of:
- a detailed school curriculum (all the classes you took, additional workshops etc.);
- evidence of your professional experience and internships completed (needs to be proven by a document with some legal value such work certifications or pay slip;
- your date and place of birth.
- a copy of your diplomas/ qualifications of your last three school years;
- copies of certificates of employment in the professions for which recognition is requested;
- a copy of your ID;
- proof that you paid the fee for the application process.
If you are a professional in the health sector, you need to send additional documents:
- a medical attest of good physical and mental health;
- if your native language is different than French, German or Luxembourgish, you need to prove that you have a very good knowledge of either French or German. You can find more information about the application process for medical professionals here.
The fee for the application is € 75. Paying this fee is mandatory and you won’t get it back, even when your diploma is not recognized in the end. If any compensatory measures are required such as an aptitude test, you need to pay an additional € 300. Get all the information about the payment here.
All the copies of documents issued by countries outside of the EU must be certified as true copies by an authorized authority (such as local authority or an embassy).
If the documents are not written in German, French or English, a translation by a certified translator must be enclosed. The translator's stamp needs to be put on both the translation and on the original document. All documents must be signed by the translator.
Your application should be processed between 2 to 6 weeks, however sometimes it can take up to 3 months until you get a reply. Once everything is good, you will get your recognized diploma via mail.
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