Asiakasnäkymä

Recognition of foreign qualifications and degrees in Finland

The recognition of foreign qualifications and degrees means deciding whether your foreign qualification or degree makes you qualified to work or study in Finland in a regulated profession.

Service organiser

Kunnat

Opetus- ja kulttuuriministeriö (OKM)

Language

Finnish

Swedish

English

Charges

Service fees 0,00€

The decisions to recognise foreign qualifications and degrees in Finland are subject to a fee.

See the Finnish National Agency for Education website for more information on processing and decision fees: Applying to the Finnish National Agency for Education for a decision on recognition of a qualification | Finnish National Agency for Education.external link, opens in a new tab

Implementation

Other service

The target group includes clients who have completed a qualification or degree abroad and who wish to work in Finland in a profession regulated by law or a position that requires a degree of a certain level or who wish to finish studies that they started abroad. The service does not have an age limit, nor is it tied to the client’s municipality of residence.

In most cases, excluding professions regulated by law, the employer, educational institution or higher education institution will assess what kind of competence and expertise your foreign qualification or degree has provided to you.

Who is the service for?

Municipality of residence

Municipality of residence does not matter

Age

All people of working age

Situation

Person with higher education

Immigrant (integration period ongoing)

Immigrant (integration period over)

In need of additional training

Active jobseeker

You need a decision on the recognition of your foreign qualification or degree if you wish to work in Finland in a profession regulated by law or a position requiring a degree of a certain level.

If you have a certificate proving that you have completed a foreign qualification or degree and you need to have it recognised in Finland, you can contact the competent authority directly to start the recognition process. You should start the process by reviewing the Finnish National Agency for Education website: Recognition of qualifications | Finnish National Agency for Educationexternal link, opens in a new tab.

Seek recognition by using the online form. The form is available in Finnish, Swedish and English in the Studyinfo service: Studyinfo – application form – APPLICATION FORM / Recognition of qualificationsexternal link, opens in a new tab.

If you are in labour market integration training or ‘study paths for long-time immigrants living in Finland’ (slow, basic and fast) training (Study paths for long-time immigrants living in Finland (slow, basic and fast) | Työllisyyspalveluiden Palvelumanuaali), you can discuss with your trainer whether the recognition process for foreign qualifications and degrees is necessary for you and your employment or not. In most cases, excluding professions regulated by law, the employer, educational institution or higher education institution will assess what kind of competence and expertise your foreign qualification or degree has provided to you.

PLEASE NOTE! Also contact your assigned employment services specialist. Discuss the recognition of foreign qualifications and degrees with them.

Benefits of participating in the service

Thanks to the recognition of your qualifications and degrees, you gain an understanding of what kind of eligibility a foreign qualification or degree provides for you when you search for a job or apply for education in Finland. Sector-specific authorities can also tell you about your right to practise a trade or use a professional title.

The recognition of foreign qualifications and degrees in Finland improves your chances of finding employment corresponding to your education on the open job market.

Conditions for participating in the service

This service is useful if you need to have a foreign qualification or degree recognised in Finland.

How can I participate in the service?

If you have completed a qualification or degree abroad, you may require a decision on the recognition of your foreign qualification or degree in order to work or study in Finland.

In most cases, the employer, educational institution or higher education institution assesses what kind of competence and expertise your foreign qualification or degree has provided to you.
You need a decision on the recognition of your foreign qualification or degree from the Finnish National Agency for Education or another authority if you wish to work in a regulated profession or a position requiring a degree of a certain level or certain training.

More information on the recognition of foreign qualifications and degrees is available in different languages on the InfoFinland.fi websiteexternal link, opens in a new tab.

A list of regulated professions is available on the Finnish National Agency for Education website: Regulated professions in Finland | Finnish National Agency for Educationexternal link, opens in a new tab.