Recognition of professional qualifications

Currently, companies operate in the EU single market and may recruit staff from any Member State or even from outside the EU. The workforce has a variety of skills, competences and professional qualifications that may have been acquired in one or more EU countries.

In order to meet the employer's requirements, an applicant must have their professional qualifications recognised in the employer's country. Both employees and self-employed individuals must follow the rules for the recognition of professional qualifications abroad.

A system of recognition and equivalence of diplomas is very well developed in the European Union. By consulting a database, an applicant can find out whether a profession is recognised in a given Member State and by which authorities.

In order to carry out certain types of activities, proof of the right to carry out that activity is required. Thus, in order to operate in the desired field, at least one of the employees in the company must have a diploma, certificate, etc. proving relevant skills in that field. The same applies to an authorised natural person, who, according to the NACE code, is required to have a professional qualification in the respective field for the approval of the activity they wish to pursue.