In short: Foreign vocational diploma recognition in Spain is handled by the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports. A non-university diploma (for example, from a Ukrainian medical college) can be recognised as a Técnico or Técnico Superior title. The outcome depends on how closely your curriculum matches the Spanish one and the Ministry decides case by case.
In person or by representative? You file through the Ministry's electronic office or on paper at any public registry office (art. 16.4 of Law 39/2015). An accredited representative may act for you under the general rules of art. 5 of Law 39/2015.
Which route is yours
A college or technical-school diploma (nurse, technician, college pharmacist) is not a university degree. It goes through Education, not the Ministry of Science. For a university degree, see university degree recognition. For doctors and health specialists, see the health sector. If you live in Catalonia, Galicia or the Basque Country, your regional government handles it, not the Ministry.
What it can give you
- For non-EU countries, if the curriculum matches the Spanish one by at least 75 %, the title is recognised (art. 136 of RD 659/2023).
- If full recognition is not granted, the Ministry may offer partial credit for modules (art. 129).
- The Ministry compares your curriculum with the titles in the FP Catalogue. For college nursing, the closest intermediate title is Técnico en Cuidados Auxiliares de Enfermería (TCAE), but there is no official table and it may not be granted.
- A Técnico title gives access to higher vocational training (Grado Superior) (art. 41.3.b of the Education Act, LO 2/2006).
What it does NOT give: the university enfermera/o or pharmacist title, or authorisation to work beyond the duties of the title you are granted.
Legal basis and validity: the procedure is still governed by RD 104/1988; the eighth transitional provision of RD 659/2023 keeps it in force until a new regulation is made (checked 2026-10-14).
Documents (per the Ministry's official page)
- Proof of payment of the fee (form 790, code 079)
- Copy of your identity document (NIE, passport)
- The specific Spanish vocational title you are applying for (from the TodoFP catalogue)
- Copy of the official title or diploma
- Official document from the country's education authorities: that the title is official, its level, what studies it requires to start and what further studies it gives access to
- Official transcript: length of the programme, subjects, years and total hours
- Recommended, no legalisation needed: certificates of internships, complementary training and related work experience (with duration and duties)
Legalisation: documents from Hague Convention countries, Ukraine included, need the apostille; EU documents need no legalisation; other countries, through diplomatic channels. In June 2022 the Ucrania Urgente page indicated legalisation of Ukrainian documents at the Embassy of Ukraine in Madrid and the MAEUEC; the Ministry's current page requires the apostille for Hague countries.
Official translation into Spanish: by a sworn translator in Spain, a Spanish consulate, the consulate in Spain of the document's country, or an official foreign translator with a legalised signature.
Temporary protection (Ukraine): people under temporary protection may start the procedure with a sworn statement (declaración responsable) instead of the art. 7 documents (second transitional provision of RD 104/1988, added by Royal Decree-law 6/2022, in force). This normally gets you the conditional enrolment slip; the documents are filed later, before the decision.
Cost
Fee on form 790, code 079: about €50 (€49.76 in 2026) for Técnico and Técnico Superior titles; recognition as Basic Vocational Training is free. You pay before filing and attach the receipt; if it is missing, the Ministry asks you to fix it. For those starting under temporary protection, the Ucrania Urgente page (2022) said it is required before the decision.
Deadlines
RD 104/1988 sets 3 months from a complete file (art. 11); in practice it can take longer. If there is no decision in time, it counts as refused (negative silence): that lets you appeal, but the Ministry must still decide. The decision arrives as an electronic credential.
Steps
- Gather the documents on the list (including the official level document) and choose in TodoFP the Spanish title you are applying for.
- Unless under temporary protection (step 4): pay the fee (form 790, code 079) at a collaborating bank or, from abroad, by transfer to the Treasury account.
- File the application with the receipt through the Ministry's electronic office or at any registry and keep the conditional enrolment slip.
- Under temporary protection: you can start with the sworn statement; legalised documents with official translation, and the fee when requested, follow before the decision.
- With the slip, enrol at the school or in the exams you need (art. 15.2 of RD 104/1988).
Official source: RD 104/1988.
Informational only; check the official source and a professional for your specific case.