A Declaration of Value (‘Dichiarazione di Valore in loco’) of a degree or of a professional qualification awarded abroad is a document issued by the Italian diplomatic and consular representations describing its value in the issuing country. A Declaration of Value does not constitute a recognition of the degree, but it is an informative document that can be used by the Italian educational institutions and administrations responsible for the recognition of degrees, for the purpose of the continuation of studies, professional recognition, and so forth.
Information regarding the recognition of foreign qualifications in Italy is provided by the Italian Information Centre on Academic Mobility and Equivalence (CIMEA).
The Declaration of Value provides information about: the nature and level of the foreign institution that issued the degree; the course duration and entry requirements; any grade obtained, with reference to the local evaluation system; value of the degree in the issuing country, for the purpose of the continuation of studies or professional recognition in addition to any other information considered useful for the foreign degree evaluation process in Italy.
The Embassy of Italy in Baghdad provides information and issues Declarations of Value of qualifications issued by Institutions legally recognized in Iraq and based in this consular district, constituted by the entire Iraqi territory, except for those issued in the region of Iraqi Kurdistan (Governorates of Erbil, Duhok and Suleymanyia), for which the Italian Consulate in Erbil is competent.
The application process for a Declaration of Value involves the following steps:
1.Preliminary step
Firstly, applicant should email baghdad.consolare@esteri.it to identify themselves and send scanned copies of the qualification(s) for which the Declaration of Value is requested, in order to verify in advance the validity of the documentation presented, as well as its translation and legalization by the MOFA.
The following scanned documents (front/back and in color) must be attached:
- valid ID/passport
- documents in their possession regarding the title(s) or qualification(s) for which the Declaration of Value is requested:
– degree(s) or professional certificate(s);
– exam transcript;
– translation in Italian of the documents above, unless they have been issued in English.
All qualifications and any translation into Italian must be legalized by the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
2.Transmission of the original documents
Once the documentation sent via e-mail has been reviewed, the relevant Office gives instructions on what original documents need to be sent for the Declaration of Value application.
Normally, these documents are:
- original degree(s) or professional certificate(s);
- original exam transcript;
- translation in Italian of the above documents, unless they have been issued in English;
- legalization of titles, exam transcript and translations by MOFA;
- double-sided copy of the applicant’s ID/passport or, where appropriate, a signed delegation letter, accompanied by a copy of the applicant’s and the delegate’s identity document.
The Declaration of Value cannot be issued by email. The applicant or their delegate must present the documentation at the Embassy. To take an appointment, or for any further information in this regard, please contact baghdad.consolare@esteri.it
Consular fees shall be required: 45 USD for the Declaration of Value and 30 USD for each MOFA legalization, to be paid in currency and in cash. The Declaration of Value is issued free of charge, only if the applicant request it for study purposes; therefore, a copy of the enrolment certification to an Italian University must be submitted.