Spanish civil service exams with a foreign degree: homologation and sworn translation

Every year thousands of foreigners consider competing in Spanish oposiciones (civil service exams): healthcare professionals who arrived during the pandemic, teachers with international master's degrees, lawyers with European careers, technicians with Latin American qualifications. The key question: can my foreign degree be accepted in a Spanish civil service competition?

Short answer: yes, after homologation or declaration of equivalence. The long answer depends on the profession type, degree origin and exam timeline. This guide explains the flow and where sworn translation fits.

The three figures: homologation, equivalence and professional recognition

There are three different concepts often confused:

1. Homologation

The full equivalence of a foreign degree to a corresponding and current Spanish official degree (e.g.: homologating a UK Medical Doctor to a Spanish Degree in Medicine). Validation for all purposes: professional practice, access to civil service exams, continuing education, etc.

Granted by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities by Royal Decree.

Timeline: 6-18 months depending on volume and profession.

2. Equivalence

Recognition that the foreign degree equals the Spanish academic level without equating to a specific qualification. Used when there's no "mirror" Spanish official degree (e.g.: a US Bachelor in Liberal Arts equals a Spanish University Degree without specifying field).

Enables access to higher education and to civil service exams requiring generic "university qualification", but not for regulated professions (doctor, lawyer, architect, etc.).

Timeline: 3-6 months.

3. Professional recognition

For regulated professions in EU/EEA/Switzerland (Directive 2005/36/EC). Allows practice in Spain of regulated professions through a more agile procedure than traditional homologation. Applies to:

• Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, veterinarians, midwives.
• Architects.
• Some other sectors (auditors, lawyers with limitations).

Timeline: 4 months under the Directive.

It's faster than homologation but only valid for EU/EEA/Switzerland nationals with degrees from EU/EEA/Switzerland countries. A US citizen with a US degree cannot use this route.

Regulated vs non-regulated professions

Regulated professions (require homologation or professional recognition)

• Doctor, nurse, pharmacist, dentist, veterinarian, physiotherapist, podiatrist, optometrist, lab technician.
• Lawyer, procurador.
• Architect, technical architect, civil engineer, industrial engineer.
• Non-university education teacher (with its specific procedure).
• Statutory auditor.
• Transport professions (pilot, controller, ship captain).

To compete for a MIR (Medical Internal Resident) position, public teacher, State lawyer, etc., the foreign degree must be homologated (or recognised under Directive 2005/36/EC).

Non-regulated professions

• General Administration bodies (administrative, technical, manager, auxiliary).
• State Security Forces in grades not requiring specific qualification.
• Many Local and Autonomous Administration positions.

For these, generic equivalence (at undergraduate level or equivalent) or demonstration that the foreign degree is of sufficient university level usually suffices.

Typical exam categories and qualification requirements

Public health exams

• MIR (Medical Internal Resident): requires homologated Medicine degree first. Equivalence does not suffice.
• Nursing in public competition: homologated Nursing or recognised under Directive 2005/36/EC for EU/EEA/Switzerland degrees.

Education exams

• Secondary Education Teachers Corps: University Degree (4 years or 240 ECTS) + Master's in Teacher Training + C1 certification in the official vehicular language. For foreigners, both degree and master's need homologation.
• Primary School Teachers Corps: homologated Degree in Primary/Infant Education.

State General Administration exams

• Superior Civil Administrators: undergraduate degree in Law, Economics, Politics or equivalent — generic equivalence suffices.
• Technical Corps: undergraduate degree — generic equivalence suffices.

Local Administration exams

Municipalities usually require undergraduate degree or equivalence, but rarely specify the field. Generic equivalence usually suffices.

Justice exams

• Judge/Prosecutor: undergraduate/degree in Law homologated + Spanish citizenship.
• Court Clerk: homologated Law degree.
• Judicial Aid / Management / Processing Corps: graded requirements, high school equivalent often suffices (no degree needed).

Document package for homologation or equivalence

To start the procedure before the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, you must provide:

Identity

• Passport and/or NIE.

Foreign university degree

• Original degree (degree certificate / diploma).
• Apostille from issuing country (or consular legalisation if not a Hague signatory).
• Sworn Spanish translation of degree and apostille. We cover this in the university degree technical fact sheet.

Academic transcript

• Academic transcript / relevé de notes with course list, ECTS credits or equivalent, grades and programme duration.
• Apostille from issuing country.
• Sworn Spanish translation. We cover this in the academic transcript technical fact sheet.

Course syllabi

• Detailed syllabi of each course in the programme, with content description, lead professor, bibliography and lecture hours.
• Some countries deliver them with the transcript, others have to be requested separately from the university.
• These often do NOT get apostilled (private university documents) but DO get translated to Spanish.

Fee

• Payment of model 790 fee, code 107: approximately €170 (varies annually).

Other (per case)

• Proof of affiliation to professional college in country of origin (for regulated professions).
• Certificate of no professional sanctions.
• Internship or residency accreditation (for medical professions).

Timelines by procedure type

Important: during the procedure you can request a certificate of pending homologation, which some calling bodies accept provisionally to compete in exams (with the condition that homologation is obtained before final appointment).

Sworn translation: technical details

For foreign university degrees the sworn translation is not just of the diploma cover — it's of the complete package:

• The official degree with original denomination, holder data and signatures/seals.
• The academic transcript with all subjects, credits and grades.
• The course syllabi provided.
• The apostille of the degree.
• The apostille of the transcript (if it has one).

The sworn translator faithfully reproduces the transcript structure, keeping the original subject names (not "translating" them to Spanish equivalents — the Ministry does that) and converting the grading system with explanatory note (e.g.: "GPA 3.7/4.0 — approximately equivalent to 'sobresaliente' in the Spanish system, without prejudice to assessment by the evaluating body").

Country-specific particulars

🇺🇸 US

• University degrees apostilled by state Secretary of State of the university.
• Transcripts generally apostilled with prior authentication by university registrar and subsequent state apostille.
• Credit system: must indicate approximate ECTS equivalence in translation (1 US credit hour ≈ 1.67 ECTS).
• Grading system: GPA scale 4.0 or letters (A-F).

🇬🇧 UK

• Degrees apostilled by FCDO Milton Keynes.
• Classification system (First Class Honours, Upper Second Class, etc.) — translator includes explanatory note.

🇫🇷 France

• University diplomas don't need apostille between EU for degrees (yes for other documents).
• But beware: EU Reg 2016/1191 does NOT cover academic degrees. Apostille by Cour d'appel remains.

🇩🇪 Germany

• Post-Bologna Bachelor/Master system — easier to homologate than old structures (Diplom, Magister).
• Apostille by regional Land authority.

LATAM countries

• Apostille by Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Peru) or by state (Mexico, Brazil).
• Credit system usually matches European (4-5 years, ~300 credits).

Strategy: start early

Civil service exam calls are typically published 3-6 months in advance of the exam. If your homologation is in process or hasn't started yet, plan at least 12 months ahead.

• Start apostille 1-3 months ahead (varies by country).
• Commission sworn translation 1-2 weeks after having apostille.
• Submit homologation or equivalence application: 4-18 months by procedure.
• Stay alert for call publication to submit in time.

Common mistakes

1. Confusing homologation with equivalence. To compete for MIR or high school teacher you need full homologation; generic equivalence doesn't suffice.
2. Requesting homologation without all apostilled documents. The Ministry will request amendment; you lose 2-3 months.
3. Not translating syllabi. The most laborious part but indispensable for regulated profession homologation — without syllabi, the Ministry cannot assess formative content.
4. Starting the procedure with expired qualification. Some countries issue "provisional" qualifications with expiration or that must be accompanied by definitive degree. Verify what your university issues.
5. Assuming Directive 2005/36/EC applies if you're not EU. It only applies to EU/EEA/Switzerland nationals with degrees from EU/EEA/Switzerland countries.
6. Forgetting the professional college certificate (for healthcare and architects). It's mandatory.

Related pages

• Sworn translation of university degree
• Sworn translation of academic transcript
• Homologating university degrees in Spain — broader view of the process
• Complete catalogue of documents

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