«How to prove your education in Spain?»

This question is asked by many who dream of moving to Spain. This is done in order to be able to both study at a university or a private school, and work officially in your specialty.

Most people mistakenly believe that a simple translation with further legalization in Spain is sufficient.
The process of adapting a diploma to the standards of Spain is a complex bureaucratic process. Let's figure it out together.

1) Legalization of the diploma and its annexes in the country of origin
This is a preparatory stage for further manipulations in Spain. It serves as proof of the document outside its country of origin. The process consists either in affixing an apostille in the country of issue (if your country is a party to the Hague Convention) or consular legalization of the diploma. Further, the diploma and supplements are translated by a sworn (or consular) translator.

2) Homologation
This is the official confirmation of the diplomas of regulated professions by the Spanish Ministry of Education and equates the document to its Spanish counterpart. The procedure recognizes the specialty obtained at home as official and allows you to conduct your professional activity in Spain. Most often, homologation is necessary for specialties that require compulsory collegiality: doctors, lawyers, engineers, architects, etc.
In some cases, diplomas obtained in countries that have signed bilateral agreements with Spain on the mutual recognition of education may be exempted from this procedure. We recommend that you always check on a case-by-case basis.
Homologation is a long-term process, it is necessary to prepare for it in advance. Homologation requires a DELE-certified B2 level of Spanish, a curriculum and proof of professional experience.

3)Equivalence
Equivalence applies where homologation is not required. It concerns, for example, such professions as economist, programmer, etc.
In the case of submitting a document for equivalence, the procedure is simpler and does not require proof of the level of Spanish proficiency

4) Qualification
The procedure for recognizing only a part of previously studied subjects in a specific educational institution in Spain. This shortens the term for obtaining a Spanish diploma, in contrast to the methods described above.
Subjects are determined by each university separately. It is always taken into account not only the name of the course or curriculum, but also the curriculum, number of hours and the volume of the program. The degree to which they coincide with the curriculum of the Spanish education system determines whether you are taught a subject in Spanish or not. In this case, it is imperative to complete the remaining subjects according to the curriculum.

Who needs to homologate her degrees in Spain?
Basically, we are talking about those non-EU citizens in Spain who:

• Would like to continue their studies at a higher level, either master’s or postgraduate
• Have studied high school in their country of origin and would like to start working in Spain in any profession
• Would like to work in Spain in a regulated position, so this step is required by law
• Want to have a high professional and social recognition in their new country of residence
• Have studied in Spain in any school that bases its teachings on a foreign educational system (without taking into account primary or secondary education)

Obviously, for those positions where no credentials are required, it will not be necessary to validate the foreign degree. Therefore, depending on your situation and plans in Spain, you may not need to have your degree homologated.