Before initiating a request for the recognition of foreign qualifications in Italy, applicants must undertake several preparatory steps to ensure that all documentation required by the competent authority is accurately compiled. This preparatory phase, which precedes the formal procedure, is often fraught with complexity, particularly for those unfamiliar with the intricacies of the process. Errors, whether in form or substance, made during this stage frequently result in the rejection of the application.
These challenges are further aggravated by the lack of clear and detailed guidance from the relevant authorities. When such guidelines are available, they are often inconsistent or ambiguous, leaving applicants with unresolved questions that are difficult to address without specialised assistance. This preliminary stage involves the collection, organisation, and preparation of all documents that must be submitted to the competent authority. The process varies significantly depending on the type of administrative procedure, the specific requirements of the authorities involved, and the legal framework of the applicant’s country of origin, particularly in relation to the validity and legal recognition of the educational or professional qualifications in question.
A key document in most recognition applications is the Declaration of Value (Dichiarazione di Valore), issued by the Italian consular authority in the country where the qualification was obtained. The requirements for obtaining this document can vary depending on the policies and practices of each consular office. As such, the thorough preparation of the documents proving the possession of an educational qualification or professional title is crucial to securing a positive outcome from the relevant Italian authority, which will ultimately determine the legal validity of the qualification in Italy. Applications submitted with incomplete or improperly formatted documentation will be deemed inadmissible or unprocessable.
Furthermore, it is essential to note that, unlike Italian qualifications, foreign educational titles and certificates cannot be self-certified, as stipulated by Article 19 of Presidential Decree No. 445/2000. These documents must be presented in strict compliance with the specific requirements set forth by Italian legislation in order to be deemed valid.
The Declaration of Value is a pivotal component in the administrative proceeding for the recognition of foreign qualifications in Italy. Although it holds no direct power to confer formal recognition of the qualification it describes, it plays a key role in supporting the overall evaluation. Issued exclusively by the Italian consular authority in the country where the academic title or professional qualification was obtained, the Declaration of Value serves as an official certification attesting to the value of an academic or professional title earned within a foreign education system. Its purpose is to verify both the authenticity of the qualification and its equivalency in relation to the Italian education system, ensuring that the course of study meets the necessary standards for further evaluation by the relevant authorities in Italy. It should be noted that the Declaration of Value can also be requested for lower or upper secondary school qualifications, as well as for professional courses. However, it cannot be issued for incomplete courses of study.
While some legal perspectives consider the Declaration of Value somewhat outdated—particularly due to the reforms introduced by Law 148/2002 and its diminishing use by universities for qualifications obtained within the European Union—it remains a valuable reference tool. The document aids competent academic authorities in assessing the foreign qualification by offering a reliable source of information about the educational system in the country of origin and the inherent value of the qualification itself.
Although the prevailing legal interpretation tends to view the Declaration of Value as an outdated document, since the regulations governing it were largely amended by the aforementioned Presidential Decree No. 148/2002, and it is often not required by universities for qualifications obtained within the European Union, it remains a significant reference document for supporting the academic authority’s assessment during the review process. Its purpose is not to interfere with the academic freedom to evaluate the validity of a qualification, in accordance with the autonomy granted to universities, but rather to provide important background information on the education system of the country of origin and the value of the qualification itself.
The Italian Council of State (Consiglio di Stato) has underscored that the Declaration of Value should not be treated as a decisive or exclusionary criterion for qualifications obtained within the European Union. The public administration is obliged to provide a well-founded rationale for its decisions, moving beyond the formal elements of skills and qualifications presented by the Declaration. Instead, a more comprehensive and substantive evaluation is required, drawing on all available investigative tools at the discretion of the official overseeing the recognition process. This ensures a fairer and more nuanced assessment of foreign qualifications, reflecting both their formal structure and intrinsic value.