Recognition of Ukrainian diplomas and qualifications in France
Official recognition of Ukrainian diplomas in France is carried out through the ENIC-NARIC centre, which issues a certificate of comparability — a document that places a Ukrainian diploma within the French education system, but does not constitute legal equivalence or authorisation to practise a profession.
International Law Firm "Zahist" has a presence in France and helps clients choose the correct path for recognition of qualifications according to their goal — study, employment, or access to a regulated profession. Our experience shows that applicants who define a specific purpose for their application in advance spend substantially less time and resources than those who submit documents at random.
ENIC-NARIC: certificate of diploma comparability
The ENIC-NARIC France centre, operating under France Éducation international, issues a certificate of comparability that determines the level of a Ukrainian diploma in the French system — bachelor’s, master’s, or another level.
The official fee is EUR 120; however, for asylum seekers, refugees, and persons with subsidiary protection, the procedure is free of charge upon presentation of the relevant proof of status.
The official time limit for assessment is up to four months after payment and receipt of the complete documentation, although in practice applicants report time frames of five to six months.
For which purposes attestation is needed and for which it is not
The specific recognition procedure depends on the purpose of the application, and an ENIC-NARIC certificate is not appropriate for every situation.
| Purpose | ENIC-NARIC certificate required |
| University study | optional; the institution decides on admission independently |
| Work in a non-regulated profession | optional, but useful for employers |
| Work in a regulated profession | insufficient; separate authorisation to practise the profession is required |
| Erasmus+ exchange programme | not required; recognition through the ECTS system |
It is important to understand: an ENIC-NARIC certificate is an assessment of the diploma level, not legal equivalence; therefore, the final decision on admission to study or employment always remains with the educational institution or the employer.
Documents for submitting an application
The set of documents for ENIC-NARIC must be complete; otherwise, the assessment period is suspended until the missing materials are provided.
- Original diploma or certified copy together with the transcript of grades.
- Sworn translation into French prepared by a translator registered with a court of appeal.
- Proof of identity.
- Proof of payment or of a status exempting from the fee.
- For higher education — a detailed study programme with the number of hours and a list of subjects.
Step-by-step procedure for obtaining attestation
- Determine the purpose of the application — study, non-regulated work, or a regulated profession.
- Create a personal account on the France Éducation international portal.
- Upload all required documents in electronic form.
- Pay the fee of EUR 120 or prove entitlement to a free procedure.
- Await assessment of the file — officially up to four months.
- Receive the certificate, valid for five years for most purposes.
Appeal against the attestation result
If the attestation result is lower than expected, the applicant has the right to submit a reasoned written request to France Éducation international within two months of receipt of the decision.
This time limit is binding and is rarely mentioned in general guidance, so it should not be missed even in the event of a minor deviation in the assessment of the diploma level.
Our experience shows that a request supported by a detailed description of the study programme and the number of hours for each subject has a substantially higher chance of a review of the conclusion.
Regulated professions: a separate recognition procedure
For doctors, nurses, pharmacists, architects, lawyers, and other regulated professions, an ENIC-NARIC certificate is not sufficient — separate authorisation to practise professional activity from the competent authority is required.
Doctors go through the PADHUE procedure with knowledge verification examinations (EVC), nurses take examinations with the regional health agency (ARS), and lawyers apply to the National Council of Bar Associations.
A legislative proposal is under consideration in the Senate that would exempt holders of temporary protection from the quota on the number of participants in EVC examinations for healthcare professionals with a diploma from outside the European Union.
Special cases: sports diplomas and other exceptions
For diplomas in the field of sports education, recognition is not carried out through ENIC-NARIC, but via a separate platform of the Ministry of Sport, which is free of charge for citizens of non-EU countries.
Incorrect submission to ENIC-NARIC instead of the specialised platform leads to a loss of time and resources; therefore, before submitting an application it is advisable to verify whether the specific specialisation falls under the general procedure.
Similar exceptions also exist for certain other highly specialised qualifications, so verifying the competent authority before commencing the procedure saves effort.
Typical mistakes in diploma recognition
The most common mistake is treating an ENIC-NARIC certificate as legal equivalence of the diploma, whereas it is only an expert assessment of the level of education.
Another widespread problem is submission of a translation prepared by a non-sworn translator, as a result of which the document is automatically rejected.
Our experience shows that applicants who clarify in advance the requirements of the specific profession with the competent authority and do not apply blindly to ENIC-NARIC save both time and resources.
How to use the certificate when looking for work
Many French employers are unfamiliar with the Ukrainian education system; therefore, an ENIC-NARIC certificate helps translate the diploma level into language understandable to a recruiter — “master’s level”, “bachelor’s level”.
It is advisable to attach the certificate to the CV and cover letter with a clear formulation such as “diploma recognised by France Éducation international as corresponding to master’s level in France”.
Our experience shows that such a specific formulation in the cover letter removes a considerable part of a recruiter’s doubts even before the interview and speeds up assessment of the candidacy.
If the diploma was not recognised: alternative paths
A negative or lower-than-expected attestation result does not mean a final refusal — there are several alternative ways to confirm qualifications.
Among the options are completing a short supplementary education programme in France, confirming competences through the validation of acquired experience procedure (VAE), or challenging the result by written request within two months of notification.
Recognition of work experience without a higher education diploma
If an official diploma is missing or has been lost, qualifications can be confirmed through the validation of acquired experience procedure (VAE), which assesses actual professional skills, not only education documents.
To take part in VAE it is necessary to demonstrate relevant practice in the field, compile a portfolio of completed projects or tasks, and undergo an interview with a panel that assesses the alignment of competences with the chosen qualification.
Our experience shows that this path is especially useful for specialists in skilled trades whose education documents are difficult to verify or officially translate.
Professional view: how to speed up recognition of qualifications
Analysis of our cases shows that applicants who apply for attestation before looking for work, rather than in parallel with interviews, have the finished document ready precisely when the employer needs it.
Another important factor is the sworn translation: it is worth having it done once to a high standard, as the same translation also serves for further submissions to various institutions.
For regulated professions we recommend first contacting the competent authority and only then deciding whether an ENIC-NARIC certificate is additionally needed.
Recognition of school education for children
For enrolling children in a French school, official diploma attestation is not required — the school itself determines the class on the basis of the child’s age, previous school reports, and, where appropriate, testing of the level of knowledge.
Ukrainian school reports and certificates of study should be translated even without sworn translator status, because at this stage the school usually also accepts an ordinary translation for information.
International Law Firm "Zahist" has a presence in France and helps clients go through the diploma recognition procedure along the correct path according to their specific goal.
An individual consultation helps to plan precisely the recognition of Ukrainian diplomas in France with regard to the specialization, level of education, and further professional plans in France.
Each specialization has its own requirements — from simple attestation to complex examinations for regulated professions, which is why a detailed consultation with a specialist remains the most reliable way to avoid wasting time and money.
The earlier an applicant begins the recognition of Ukrainian diplomas in France, the greater the chance of having the finished document ready exactly when it is truly needed for work or study.
