A university degree obtained in Türkiye is not automatically valid in Spain. For the degree to have legal effect in Spain, you apply to the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. The type of application depends on what you want to do with the degree: homologation (homologación) is needed to practise a regulated profession, and an equivalence declaration (declaración de equivalencia) in other cases.
The difference between homologation and equivalence
- Homologation treats the foreign degree as equivalent to a specific official Spanish degree and authorises you to practise a regulated profession. This covers medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, physiotherapy, general health psychology, veterinary medicine, architecture, certain branches of engineering and teaching
- Equivalence recognises the degree at Bachelor's (Grado) or Master's (Máster) level in a given field; its effects are academic and administrative. It is used to continue studying, sit public sector examinations or show an employer the level of your degree
- Equivalence at doctoral level is granted not by the Ministry but by Spanish universities
- The professions of lawyer (abogado) and court representative (procurador) are not covered by homologation; there is a separate process for access to these professions in Spain
Minimum requirements
- The degree must have been awarded by a university or higher education institution officially recognised in Türkiye
- For Bachelor's equivalence, a programme of at least three years (180 ECTS) giving access to Master's studies is required
- For Master's equivalence, a programme of at least one year (60 ECTS) giving access to doctoral studies is required
- Universities' own certificates and continuing education diplomas cannot be recognised through this procedure
Documents and application
- Proof of identity and nationality
- The degree certificate or a document showing that it has been awarded
- A transcript showing the length of the programme, the subjects and the hours or credits for each subject
- An apostille and an official Spanish translation for documents issued in Türkiye
- Proof of payment of the fee
- If more than 15% of your credits were transferred from another institution, a document from that institution
Applications can only be made electronically. As a rule, the Ministry gives 10 working days to provide missing documents; if they are not provided in that time, the application is treated as withdrawn.
Timeframes and possible outcomes
By law, a decision must be issued within six months at the latest; if no decision is notified within that time, the application may be treated as refused. In practice, processing can exceed this limit. A homologation application can be approved, refused or approved subject to conditions. A conditional decision requires you to complete courses, a placement, an aptitude test or a project at a Spanish university to make up for the gaps identified; as a rule, these conditions must be met within four years. There is also a separate arrangement to speed up applications from people with an offer of highly qualified employment. Even if you do not plan to practise your profession in Spain straight away, an equivalence certificate is useful for showing the level of your degree when applying for jobs.
Recognition of secondary school and vocational training diplomas follows a separate procedure of the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sport. There is also a separate process for medical specialist qualifications.
How we work with you
- We determine whether you need homologation or equivalence, depending on your goal
- We make sure your degree and transcript are presented in a way that can be compared with Spanish programmes
- We list the documents to be obtained from your university in Türkiye and plan the apostille and translation steps
- We prepare the application, respond to requests for missing documents on time and follow up the decision
- If you receive a conditional decision, we plan with you the steps you need to complete
Frequently asked questions
How do I know which application to make?
If your profession is on Spain's list of regulated professions and you want to practise it, you need homologation. If it is not on the list, or you do not intend to practise the profession, you apply for equivalence.
How long does the application take?
The legal maximum is six months. The process can take longer, for example when an expert opinion is requested on the file. We therefore recommend planning your work or study plans with this period in mind.
I am a lawyer in Türkiye. Can I practise as a lawyer in Spain?
The legal profession is not covered by homologation. To practise as a lawyer in Spain, there are separate stages such as the professional access training and examination required by law. We assess your options together based on your situation.
Who should translate my documents?
Documents need an official Spanish translation; this is usually done by sworn translators (traductor jurado) authorised by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The apostille must be obtained in Türkiye before the translation.
Can I work in Spain without degree recognition?
In non-regulated professions, employers do not always ask for equivalence. In regulated professions, however, homologation is required. In all cases, you also need an appropriate residence or work permit to work in Spain.
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Requirements and amounts are updated every year. Your file is prepared under the rules in force on the day you apply.