Declaration of Value: What It Is, What It’s For, and How to Get It from the Italian Consulate

25 May Declaration of Value: What It Is, What It’s For, and How to Get It from the Italian Consulate

Did you study in the UK and are now looking to work, study or move to Italy? At some point you will be asked for a document you may never have heard of before: the Dichiarazione di Valore, or Declaration of Value. In this article we explain what it is, what it’s for, who issues it and how to get one.

What Is a Declaration of Value?

A Declaration of Value (often abbreviated as DV) is an official document that certifies the value of a qualification obtained abroad — in this case in the UK — with reference to the Italian education system. In other words, it ‘translates’ the value of your British qualification into the Italian educational context.

As stated by the Italian Ministry of Education, the DV is written in Italian and issued by Italian diplomatic representations abroad — in the UK, by the Academic Qualifications Office at the Italian Consulate General in London (for qualifications obtained within its jurisdiction) or by the Consulate in Edinburgh (for Scotland and Northern Ireland).

What Is a Declaration of Value Used For?

A DV is required in many contexts, including:

• Enrolment at universities or postgraduate programmes in Italy
• Participation in Italian public sector competitions (concorsi pubblici)
• Recognition of professional qualifications in Italy (doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc.)
• Requests for qualification equivalency
• Immigration procedures (visas, residence permits)
• Job applications requiring verification of a foreign qualification

IMPORTANT: A Declaration of Value does NOT constitute recognition of the qualification in Italy. It is a descriptive and informational document, not an automatic licence to practise a profession. Professional recognition requires additional specific procedures that vary by field.

Which Qualifications Does It Cover?

The Consulate in London can issue DVs for qualifications obtained within its jurisdiction (England, Wales, Gibraltar and other territories). The most common include:

• Secondary school qualifications: GCSE, A-Level, Advanced Subsidiary, Cambridge Pre-U
• Undergraduate degrees: Bachelor’s Degree (with or without Honours), Foundation Degree, HND, Graduate Certificate/Diploma, PGCE
• Postgraduate degrees: Master’s Degree, Postgraduate Diploma/Certificate
• Doctoral qualifications: PhD, DPhil
• Recognised professional qualifications

The Edinburgh Consulate issues DVs for qualifications obtained in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Documents Required to Apply for a DV at the London Consulate

The documentation required by the London Consulate includes:

• Completed application form + valid identity document
• Authenticated copy of the qualification, duly legalised (see below)
• Depending on the qualification: a school/college attendance certificate, or the original Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) or full exam transcript, or an original letter from the university
• Certified translation of the qualification (required by the London Consulate, not required by Edinburgh)

IMPORTANT: The Edinburgh Consulate does not require a translation of the qualification, unlike London. Always check the up-to-date instructions from your competent consulate before proceeding.

How to Legalise the Qualification

Before submitting documentation to the Consulate, the original qualification must be authenticated by a British notary (who creates a certified copy) and then legalised with a paper apostille from the FCDO. Some universities issue official copies that can be apostilled directly.

Payment and Document Return

Payment for the DV is handled directly by the Consulate, which will contact the applicant with instructions.

Documents are returned by:

• Special Delivery for those in the UK
• International courier at the applicant’s expense for those outside the UK

How We Can Help

Words at Hand offers a complete service for requesting a Declaration of Value:

• Authentication and legalisation of the qualification (with our trusted notary and FCDO apostille)
• Certified translation of the qualification and transcript (required for the London Consulate)
• Collection and verification of all required documentation
• Submission of complete documentation to the Consulate by Special Delivery — saving you a postal step
• Return of the original by tracked international post or courier

Contact us for a quote: cristina@wordsathand.com | WhatsApp: +44 7824 347667 | wordsathand.com/contact