Academic recognition of foreign credentials in Latvia

The Academic Information Centre (AIC) is responsible for the credential evaluation of foreign qualifications and degrees (Section 11.1, Paragraph 1 of the Education Law).

Academic recognition of foreign credentials is required if a person wishes to:

• continue education in Latvia;
• work in an unregulated profession in Latvia.

If you have obtained a foreign qualification and the purpose of its recognition is to work in a regulated profession in Latvia, please see the section “Professional recognition of foreign qualifications”.

Applying for Academic Recognition

The application should be submitted by the document owner, education institutions, state institutions, employers, professional organisations.

Education institutions have to submit an application for academic recognition in the State Education Information System.

The application may be submitted in person at the Academic Information Centre or by sending an e-mail to aic@aic.lv, signed with a secure electronic signature, or by sending it to the official AIC e-address, attaching the following documents:

• Application (application sample);
• A copy of an identity document;
• A copy of the document certifying the change of name or surname, if the name or surname differs in the education document and the identity document.
• An education credential (diploma, certificate, attestation, etc.) and its supplement(s) (transcript).

When submitting the application in person, copies of the documents listed in Paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 have to be attached thereto, presenting the originals.

Electronic documents and copies of documents must be clearly legible, derived from the originals and fully reflect the entire document.

If necessary, the Academic Information Centre may request translations of documents into Latvian or any other official language of the European Union and/or their legalization in accordance with the procedures specified in the Document Legalization Law.

Academic Recognition Procedures

The Academic Information Centre examines credentials based on the following criteria:

• Credential authenticity;
• The status of the education institution both in the country of registration and in the country where the education programme is implemented;
• Status of the education programme (duration, degree, type, form and place of realisation, quality assurance etc.);
• The place of the obtained qualification (diploma, degree, certificate) in the education system of the specific country, in the qualification framework, quality assurance, academic and professional rights, obtained credit points etc.).

The Academic Information Centre issues a statement as to which certificate or academic degree obtained in Latvia may (if possible) a foreign credential or academic degree be equated to.

The statement of the Academic Information Centre is prepared within a month. During the credential evaluation process, the additional information may be requested from the applicant, the issuing authority or other responsible authorities. The term for reviewing documents can be extended up to 4 months.

The Academic Information Centre issues the statement in the form of an electronic document signed with a secure electronic signature.

Information on the evaluated foreign credential and its owner will be entered in the Register of Education Documents Issued in Foreign Countries (Education Law, Section 11²).

A statement from the Academic Information Centre may be submitted to a Latvian education institution or employer.

This procedure does not apply to the Bologna Process higher education qualifications from Lithuania, Estonia, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and qualifications ensuring access to higher education issued in Lithuania and Estonia after 7 January 2019. See more information on Agreement among the governments of the Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania on the automatic academic recognition of qualifications  and Automatic academic recognition between the Baltic and Benelux countries.

Refugee qualifications recognition

Refugees, displaced persons or persons in a refugee-like situation who for valid reason cannot document the qualifications can apply for a face-to-face interview at the Academic Information Centre. The interview fee is EUR 81.00.

Decision-making on Credential Recognition

Based on the statement issued by the Academic Information Centre, the decision on credential recognition is made by:

• Educational institution – for continuing education at the level of secondary education;
• Higher education institution – for continuing education at the higher education level;
• Employer – for work in an unregulated professions.

The decision regarding the credential recognition may be contested in accordance with the procedures specified in the Administrative Procedure Law.

Credential Recognition Fee

According to Cabinet of Ministers Regulations No. 281 (adopted 13 May 2025), the fee for the academic recognition and evaluation of foreign education credentials by the Academic Information Centre (AIC) is EUR 54.60

After confirmation of receipt of the application, payment is made to the account indicated below, indicating the name and surname of the owner of an educational document in the payment order.

Foundation “Academic Information Centre”
Reg. No.: LV40003239385
Legal address: Valnu Street 2, Riga LV-1050
Bank: Valsts kase
Code: TRELLV22
Account: LV23TREL9152080000000