Declaration of Value: How to Get Your Foreign Diploma Recognised in Italy
Enrolling at an Italian university with a foreign degree? Here's what the Dichiarazione di Valore is, how to get it, and when the CIMEA Statement of Comparability is the smarter choice.
In a nutshell
The Dichiarazione di Valore (Declaration of Value, or DV) is the official document — written in Italian — that explains what your foreign academic qualification is worth in the Italian system: what level it corresponds to and whether it lets you enrol at a university or sit a public-sector exam. It is issued by the Italian embassy or consulate in the country where you studied. There is now also a faster, fully digital alternative: the CIMEA Statement of Comparability, accepted by every Italian university and increasingly preferred for enrolment purposes.
At a glance
| Cost | Declaration of Value (consulate): approx. €41 + legalisation (€16–50) + translation (€30–150 per page). CIMEA Statement: flat fee of €320 |
| Timeline | DV via consulate: 30 days to 6 months. CIMEA Statement: 30 working days |
| Where in Rome | CIMEA: Viale Ventuno Aprile 36, Roma (the DV must be requested at the consulate of the country that issued the qualification — not in Rome) |
| Documents needed | Original diploma/degree certificate, certified Italian translation, Apostille or consular legalisation, transcript of records |
Why you need it
The Declaration of Value is not a minor bureaucratic formality — without it, an Italian university cannot recognise your foreign diploma or degree, which means it cannot enrol you.
You will typically need it for: undergraduate, master's or PhD enrolment; competitive public-sector exams; family reunification applications; converting a study permit to a skilled-work permit. For regulated professions (doctor, engineer, lawyer), the DV or CIMEA Statement is only the first step — a separate equivalency procedure with the MUR (Ministry of Universities and Research) and the relevant professional body is still required.
The CIMEA Statement of Comparability is the digital document issued by CIMEA, Italy's national centre for the European ENIC-NARIC network, recognised by both the MUR and the MAECI (Ministry of Foreign Affairs). It certifies the level of your qualification within the Italian system according to the European QF-EHEA framework (Bologna Process). All Italian universities accept it for enrolment. For some specific administrative procedures — certain competitive exams, family reunification at the Questura (police headquarters — also issues residence permits) — the consular DV may still be required: always check the specific notice or requirements.
How to get the Declaration of Value at the consulate
The starting point: the DV must always be requested at the consulate of the country that issued the qualification, not the consulate of the country where you currently live. The full list of Italian diplomatic missions abroad is at esteri.it.
Each consulate has its own forms and fees. Check the specific office's website before doing anything else.
The documents required in almost every case are:
- The original qualification (diploma or degree certificate)
- Official Italian translation, carried out by a translator accredited to the consulate or sworn in the country of issue
- Apostille (for countries party to the 1961 Hague Convention) or consular legalisation for countries not party to the Convention
- Transcript of records listing your courses and grades (for university-level qualifications)
- Certification from the local Ministry confirming that the issuing institution is officially recognised
- Identity document and payment of consular fees
Book your appointment through the Prenot@Mi portal. After submitting the documents, wait for the DV to be issued — timelines vary widely. Some high-volume consulates (particularly in Asia) can take up to six months.
How to get the CIMEA Statement online
If you want a faster, fully digital route, go to diplome.cimea.it, register, and fill in your academic details. You will need to upload:
- Your qualification in PDF
- Transcript of records (your full academic record with grades)
- Study programme or syllabus
- Diploma Supplement if available (for European qualifications issued after 2005)
- Apostille or legalisation of the qualification
- Identity document
- Italian or English translation if the qualification is in another language
After paying €320 by credit card, CIMEA verifies the authenticity of your qualification through the ENIC-NARIC network of your country of origin. You receive the Statement as a digitally signed PDF with a QR verification code within 30 working days. You can download it from your personal area, and the receiving party (university, employer, public body) can verify it online.
If you are a refugee or beneficiary of international protection and cannot retrieve your original documents because you had to flee, CIMEA offers a special free procedure called the Background Paper, based on partial documents and alternative certifications. Details at cimea.it.
Mistakes to avoid
- Using unauthorised intermediaries. No private agency is authorised to issue a Declaration of Value — only Italian consulates and CIMEA can do so. Anyone promising a DV in 48 hours for thousands of euros is trying to scam you.
- Forgetting the Apostille. For countries party to the Hague Convention, the Apostille is mandatory before you submit documents to the consulate. Without it, your application will be rejected on the spot.
- Mixing up the DV and the translation. The Declaration of Value does not translate your diploma — it certifies its academic standing. The sworn Italian translation is a separate document that must be submitted alongside it.
Special cases
EU qualifications with a Diploma Supplement. University qualifications issued by EU/EEA countries that follow the Bologna Process are often automatically comparable with Italian ones. In many cases the Diploma Supplement (issued free by your foreign university) plus a copy of the degree is enough — no DV needed. Check directly with the Italian university you are applying to.
Non-EU qualifications. A CIMEA Statement or DV is almost always required. For countries such as China, India, Egypt, Bangladesh and Nigeria, CIMEA has specific expertise thanks to its connections with the ENIC-NARIC, NUFFIC and anabin networks.
Countries not party to the Apostille Convention. For countries such as Canada (most provinces), some Gulf states, Ethiopia and Eritrea, consular legalisation is required: first legalisation by the local Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then legalisation by the Italian consulate.
Documents in a language other than Italian or English. A sworn Italian translation must be attached. In Italy, translations can be sworn before the Tribunale di Roma (Viale Giulio Cesare 54, Ufficio Asseverazioni Civili). The Patronato (free union-run office helping with social-security and immigration paperwork) offices of ACLI, INCA-CGIL and ITAL-UIL in Rome offer free assistance with gathering documents.
Degrees from foreign universities with a campus in Italy. Even if you studied in Italy at an Italian branch of a foreign university (e.g. American University of Rome, John Cabot University), your qualification is still considered foreign and a DV or CIMEA Statement is required.
Official sources
- MAECI — Dichiarazione di Valore
- CIMEA — Official website
- CIMEA — Statement of Comparability
- CIMEA — Dichiarazione di Valore CIMEA
- DiplomeMe CIMEA portal
- MUR — Recognition of foreign qualifications
- 1961 Hague Convention — Apostille
- Prenot@Mi — Consulate appointment booking
- Italian diplomatic network
Legal references: Legge 11/07/2002 n. 148 (Lisbon Convention), DPR 31/08/1999 n. 394 art. 39, DPR 30/07/2009 n. 189, Legge 30/12/2010 n. 240 art. 17, Hague Convention 1961.