Recognition and validation procedure

You have a foreign educational qualification and would like to start the recognition/validation procedure in the Republic of Croatia? Complete a short questionnaire and find out in a quick and easy way whether it is possible to recognize/validate your qualification, which institution has the authority for the process and what you need to do to initiate the procedure.

Please answer the following questions.

Type of education

Step 1

Recognition purpose

Step 2

Required documentation
and important notes

Step 3

Administrative fee payment

Step 4

Application form and
address for delivery

Step 5

Duration of the procedure

Step 6

To access the recognition procedure questionnaire, please put yout phone/tablet to 'landscape' mode.

Which level of education have you completed abroad?

Primary education
e.g. primary education in total duration of 8 or 9 years.

Secondary education in general, grammar or art program
e.g. general/language grammar school or secondary school of music.

Secondary education in vocational program
1 to 6 years of vocational education resulting (mostly) in a certain qualification/occupation - e.g. economist or motor vehicle driver.

Master craftsman’s educational program (master craftsman’s exam)
master craftsman’s exam after which master craftsman’s qualification is acquired – e.g. Master craftsman-car mechanic or master craftsman–cook.

Post-secondary non-tertiary education
education level above secondary, that requires completion of secondary level education, but is not considered as tertiary education.

Higher education
education level acquired by completion of a higher education program – e.g. Masters of Business Administration degree or graduate engineer of electrical engineering.

Vocational training program or short course
e.g. vocational training program for baker or course for bartender.

Professional qualification (regulated profession), specialization or professional exam
acquired by completion of formal education and professional training, i.e. by possessing a certain level of professional experience – e.g. nurse or primary and secondary school teacher.

I have attended a certain education abroad without completion and would like to continue my education in the Republic of Croatia

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Certain professional secondary level qualifications in the Republic of Croatia are on the list of regulated professions. All persons who want to provide services within a regulated profession in the Republic of Croatia, and have acquired their professional qualification abroad, have to contact the competent authority (professional associations (chambers) or competent ministries) which grants access to that regulated profession in Croatia, and apply for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications.

If your qualification is listed among the qualifications in the following drop-down menu, please select it and follow the further instructions.

Agency for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Education can validate foreign qualifications from the Regulated Professions Database, for the purpose of accessing the labour market in the Republic of Croatia, solely for working outside one’s specialty (unrelated to the regulated profession). The abovementioned means that the Opinion issued by this Agency cannot be used for applying for a job in one’s profession, but serves as formal recognition of a vocational qualification (in this case, please choose the menu option “Regulated profession for working outside one’s specialty” and follow the instructions).

If your qualification is not listed in the drop-down menu, please select the option "NONE OF THE ABOVE" and follow the further instructions.

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REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION AND IMPORTANT NOTES

The documentation needs to be enclosed with the application form which can be filled out online or you can download it to your computer, print it, fill it and sign it personally.

The recognition or validation procedure can’t start until all required documentation is properly submitted!

DOCUMENTATION THAT MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH THE APPLICATION FORM:

1. Original or certified copy of final diploma/certificate of the foreign educational qualification whose recognition is requested (we do not accept confirmations or substitute documents)
2. Certified translation to Croatian language of the document mentioned in Point 1
3. Original or certified copy of the diploma supplement (if such exists)
4. Certified translation to Croatian language of the document mentioned in Point 3
5. Originals or certified copies of certificates for each grade of VET school. If you do not have the aforementioned certificates, it is necessary to submit an original or certified copy of the Transcript of Records containing the information on subjects taken and grades
6. Certified translation to Croatian language of the document mentioned in Point 3
7. Copy of diploma/certificate on previously completed education (e.g. copy of the primary school final diploma/certificate or copy of the previously completed secondary school final diploma/certificate)
8. Copy of government issued proof of identity (identity card or passport)
9. Copy of citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship or passport)
10. Copy of the marriage certificate or copy of the official decision of the competent authority (for those applicants who changed their first and/or last name)
11. CV (presenting acquired education and work experience)
12. Copy of all submitted documents (stated under points 1. to 11.), including the application form.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

Foreign educational qualifications can be formally recognized/validated only if they were acquired based on approved educational programs and if they were issued by the institutions that are authorized by the competent authority.
If necessary, upon the receipt of the application, Agency may request additional verification of submitted documents as well as other evidence.
If the application is incomplete, the applicant will receive written request to deliver missing documentation.
Translation of documents issued in Serbian, Montenegrin or Bosnian language is not required if they are issued in Latin alphabet.
The decision on the recognition process/opinion on the foreign educational qualification states the title of the foreign educational qualification in original language as well as Croatian translation. Therefore, when translating the final diploma/certificate that has not been issued in Latin alphabet, you should warn the translator that translation must contain the title of the qualification in the original language (but written in Latin alphabet – so called Latin transliteration) as well as Croatian translation.
Certified translation to Croatian language is issued by the certified court interpreter for the language in which the foreign qualification is issued (List of certified court interpreters in the Republic of Croatia - March 2017)
Certified copies of official documents in the Republic of Croatia are issued by the authorized public notary. Certified copies issued in foreign countries are valid if they are issued by the authorized person or the institution.
Upon your written request, if submitted application is complete, Agency will issue a formal confirmation that the process of recognition/validation is in progress.
If you possess legally valid document (decree, decision, conclusion, etc.) upon which your foreign educational qualification has already been recognized/validated in the Republic of Croatia, please enclose the original or certified copy of that document.
IN CASES OF SUSPECTED FORGERY OF SUBMITTED DOCUMENTS, THE AGENCY SHALL (EX OFFICIO) UNDERTAKE ALL LEGAL ACTIONS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE RESPECTIVE DOCUMENTS, AS WELL AS INFORM THE COMPETENT AUTHORITIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW.
By using the services and procedures of this Agency you trust us your personal data. On May 25, 2018 Statement of Personal Data Protection starts to apply.

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