A honors diploma from Kyiv Polytechnic - and in Italy it’s basically a wall decoration. On a forum for Ukrainians in Rome, one guy wrote: “I brought my diploma to the university, and they told me - without a Dichiarazione di Valore we won’t even look at it. Went to the embassy - 4-month waiting list. Missed the whole semester.” And this isn’t a one-off. Getting your Ukrainian diploma recognized in Italy is a multi-branch quest, and picking the wrong path means losing both time and money. Let’s break down what Dichiarazione di Valore actually is, how it differs from equipollenza, and how to do it right the first time.
What’s a Dichiarazione di Valore in plain English¶
Dichiarazione di Valore (literally - “Declaration of Value”) is an official document issued by the Italian embassy or consulate in the country where you got your diploma. It describes what your diploma corresponds to in the Italian education system: how many years of study, what level (bachelor’s, master’s), what specialization.
Here’s the key thing: a Dichiarazione di Valore is NOT diploma recognition. It’s an informational document. It doesn’t automatically give you the right to practice as a doctor or engineer in Italy. But without it, no university will accept your application, no one will start the qualification recognition process, and many employers won’t even look at your resume.
Think of it as an official “cheat sheet” for Italian institutions: “this document from Ukraine corresponds to this level in Italy.” What they do with that information is up to the university or ministry.
When you need a Dichiarazione di Valore¶
Not every situation requires this specific declaration. Here are the main scenarios:
Definitely need it¶
- Enrolling in an Italian university - for bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral programs. Without it, they won’t even accept your documents
- Equipollenza (full equivalence recognition) - when you want your diploma to have the same legal weight as an Italian one. The university compares curricula and decides whether to recognize it
- Regulated profession recognition - doctor, nurse, engineer, architect, pharmacist. Required for applications to the relevant ministry
- Some employers - large companies and government institutions often require it
Can skip it¶
- Non-regulated professions - if you’re an IT specialist, marketer, designer, manager - formal recognition usually isn’t needed. Employers care about your resume and skills
- Personal translation without official procedure - if you just want a translation of your diploma for your own records
- If you have a CIMEA attestato - in some cases it replaces the Dichiarazione di Valore (more on this below)
Three paths to recognition: Dichiarazione di Valore vs equipollenza vs CIMEA¶
These are three different things, and people mix them up constantly. Here’s a table to sort it out once and for all:
| Dichiarazione di Valore | Equipollenza | Attestato CIMEA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Informational document | Full legal recognition | Comparability certificate |
| Who issues it | Italian embassy/consulate | Italian university | CIMEA (ENIC-NARIC center) |
| Legal weight | Informational only, grants no rights | Full - diploma = Italian equivalent | Informational, but accepted by many institutions |
| Timeline | 2-6 months | 6-18 months | 2-4 weeks |
| Cost | ~50 € (consular fee) | Free (at public universities) | 50-200 € depending on type |
| Where to apply | In Ukraine (Italian embassy) | In Italy (university) | Online via cimea.it |
Dichiarazione di Valore - the first step¶
This is your entry ticket. Without it, you can’t start any recognition procedure. It’s issued by the consular section of the Italian Embassy in Ukraine (Kyiv) or a consulate.
Due to the war, the process is complicated: the embassy in Kyiv operates with limitations, and appointment wait times can stretch to 4-6 months. Some Ukrainians travel to other EU countries with Italian consulates, but that doesn’t always work - the consulate has to be “competent” specifically for Ukraine.
Equipollenza - full recognition¶
Equipollenza means an Italian university fully recognizes your diploma as equivalent to an Italian one. After equipollenza, you receive an Italian academico laurea - essentially, you’re considered an Italian university graduate.
It’s a long process: the university compares your curriculum with theirs, may ask you to take additional exams or complete internships. For medical and legal professionals, extra exams are virtually guaranteed.
Attestato CIMEA - the fast alternative¶
CIMEA (Centro Informazioni sulla Mobilità e le Equivalenze Accademiche) is Italy’s ENIC-NARIC center. They issue an attestato di comparabilità - a certificate that compares your diploma with the Italian system.
Good news for Ukrainians: CIMEA has created a dedicated database of Ukrainian qualifications and offers a free service for people with international protection (refugees, temporary protection). You can apply online via cimea-diplome.it.
Many universities and employers accept the CIMEA attestato as an alternative to a Dichiarazione di Valore. But not all of them - so always check with the specific institution before applying.
Documents needed for a Dichiarazione di Valore¶
To apply at the Italian Embassy in Ukraine, you’ll need:
- Diploma - original
- Diploma supplement (academic transcript) - listing subjects, hours, grades. Original
- Apostille - on both the diploma and supplement separately. Apostille is issued by Ukraine’s Ministry of Education. Due to the war, this can be done remotely through the “Diia” system
- Traduzione giurata (sworn translation) - of the diploma and supplement into Italian. The translation must be asseverato (sworn before an official) at an Italian court
- Passport copy - valid
- Application form - available at the embassy or on their website
Apostille and translation - the right order¶
Here’s the correct sequence:
- Get the apostille in Ukraine on the originals (diploma + supplement)
- Get a traduzione giurata done in Italy - the translator translates both the document and the apostille text, then goes through asseverazione at the tribunale
- Submit the complete package to the embassy/consulate
Common mistake: people get a notarized translation done in Ukraine and think it’ll work. It won’t. Italian institutions only accept traduzione giurata made in Italy through the asseverazione procedure. A notarized translation from Ukraine is just a piece of paper to them.
How much does the whole process cost¶
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| Apostille in Ukraine (for diploma + supplement) | ~500-1000 UAH |
| Diploma translation into Italian (traduzione giurata) | 50-80 € |
| Supplement translation (depends on volume) | 100-300 € |
| Revenue stamps (marca da bollo) for asseverazione | 32-64 € |
| Consular fee for Dichiarazione di Valore | ~50 € |
| Total | ~300-550 € |
Prices are approximate and depend on the specific translator and supplement length. A diploma supplement can be anywhere from 3 to 15 pages - that’s what drives the final cost.
War-related simplifications: what changed for Ukrainians¶
Due to the full-scale war, Italy introduced several accommodations for Ukrainians:
Dichiarazione di Valore with limitations¶
The Italian Embassy in Kyiv continues issuing Dichiarazione di Valore, but with significant delays. Getting an appointment can be difficult - wait times stretch for months. Priority goes to “cases of proven necessity” (comprovata necessità).
CIMEA for refugees - free of charge¶
If you have temporary protection status (protezione temporanea) or refugee status in Italy - CIMEA offers a free qualification assessment service. This significantly simplifies the process.
Self-declaration as a temporary option¶
Some Italian universities and regional programs (like Lombardy’s professional courses) allow you to submit a dichiarazione di responsabilità - a statement of personal responsibility about your education level. But there’s a catch: you’ll still need to provide the Dichiarazione di Valore later, before being admitted to exams.
EU tools¶
Following EU Recommendation 2022/554, additional tools appeared: the EDEBO database (Ukrainian diploma registry) and the European Qualifications Passport for Refugees (EQPR). Italian institutions can verify Ukrainian diplomas through these systems.
Regulated professions: a separate quest¶
If you’re a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, engineer, architect, accountant, or work in another regulated profession - the Dichiarazione di Valore is just step one.
Medical professions¶
For doctors and nurses, it’s the most complex process:
- Get the Dichiarazione di Valore
- Apply to the Ministry of Health (Ministero della Salute)
- Have your qualifications assessed
- Pass the Esame di Stato (state qualification exam)
- Register with the Ordine dei Medici (medical board)
The whole process can take 1-2 years. More details in our article about medical qualification recognition.
Engineers and architects¶
They apply to the Ministero della Giustizia or MIMIT (Ministero delle Imprese e del Made in Italy). You’ll need a Dichiarazione di Valore, traduzione giurata of all documents, and often additional exams or an adaptation period.
Non-regulated professions¶
IT, marketing, design, management - formal recognition usually isn’t needed here. Employers care about your resume, portfolio, and language skills. But if you want to continue studying at an Italian university - you’ll still need a Dichiarazione di Valore or CIMEA attestato.
Step-by-step guide: from diploma to recognition¶
Step 1: Define your goal¶
What exactly do you want?
- Enroll in a university → Dichiarazione di Valore or CIMEA attestato
- Work in a regulated profession → Dichiarazione di Valore + recognition through the relevant ministry
- Work in a non-regulated profession → usually a CIMEA attestato is enough, or nothing at all
- Full recognition (equipollenza) → Dichiarazione di Valore + application to a university
Step 2: Prepare documents in Ukraine¶
- Get an apostille on the diploma and supplement through Ukraine’s Ministry of Education
- If your documents were lost due to the war - restore them first through EDEBO or the Ministry of Education
Step 3: Get a traduzione giurata in Italy¶
Find a translator for the Ukrainian-Italian pair (through the Albo CTU at your local court, AITI, or the embassy). The translation must go through asseverazione at the tribunale. More about traduzione giurata in a separate article.
Cost for translating a diploma with supplement: 150-380 € depending on volume.
Step 4: Submit to the embassy or CIMEA¶
Option A - Embassy: book an appointment via the Ambasciata d’Italia a Kiev website. Waiting time: 2-6 months. Cost: ~50 €.
Option B - CIMEA: apply online via cimea-diplome.it. Timeline: 2-4 weeks. Free for people with temporary protection.
Step 5: Apply for recognition (if needed)¶
With your Dichiarazione di Valore or CIMEA attestato - apply to a university (for equipollenza or enrollment) or the relevant ministry (for regulated professions).
FAQ¶
How much does a Dichiarazione di Valore cost for a Ukrainian diploma?¶
The consular fee itself is about 50 euros. But total expenses including the apostille, traduzione giurata, and revenue stamps come to 300-550 euros. If your diploma supplement is large (10+ pages), it could be more.
Can I replace the Dichiarazione di Valore with a CIMEA attestato?¶
In many cases - yes. Most Italian universities and some employers accept the attestato di comparabilità from CIMEA instead of a Dichiarazione di Valore. But always check with the specific institution first - not everyone accepts it. For refugees and people with temporary protection, CIMEA’s service is free.
How long does the entire recognition process take?¶
Dichiarazione di Valore through the embassy: 2-6 months (could be longer due to the war). CIMEA attestato: 2-4 weeks. Equipollenza at a university after getting the Dichiarazione di Valore: another 6-18 months. Regulated profession recognition: 1-2 years total.
Does Italy accept diplomas translated in Ukraine?¶
No. Notarized translations from Ukraine aren’t recognized in Italy. You need a traduzione giurata - a translation into Italian that went through asseverazione at an Italian court (tribunale). This is the number one mistake that costs people time and money.
My diploma was lost due to the war - what do I do?¶
You can restore documents through EDEBO (Ministry of Education registry), through a Ministry of Education service center, or through a trusted representative in Ukraine. After restoration - standard procedure with apostille and translation. More details in our article about restoring lost documents.
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