CIMEA Statement of Comparability: The Complete Guide for Students in Italy
La CIMEA: Because Visiting the Embassy is So 1995
Still waiting for a reply from the Italian Embassy? In a world of Italian bureaucracy where paper is king and lines are long, CIMEA is the digital alternative.
CIMEA (Information Centre on Academic Mobility and Equivalence) carries out the recognition of foreign study qualifications by proving the authenticity and legal recognition of them in Italy through “Equivalency”, which is just a fancy word for ‘Equal’. Think of it as a translator that tells Italian universities, ‘Yes, this diploma is the real deal, and it’s a direct match for your system’. The purpose of it is to prove your grades and years of schooling are equal to those of the Italian Educational System. It is also required for the Scholarship Verification by the Regional Agencies.
This blog covers all you need to know about CIMEA.
CIMEA: When to Choose CIMEA?
DoV (Declaration of Value) is a paper-based standard for academic recognition in Italy, administered by the Italian Embassy, while CIMEA is a digital, modern system. Choose CIMEA for a hassle-free, 100% online route rather than the traditional embassy route. But generally, here are some compelling reasons why CIMEA is a smart choice:
- When your local Italian Embassy requires a physical presence you can’t provide. It usually takes 30-60 days to get the CIMEA “Statement of Comparability” or a “Statement of Verification”.
- When your university is CIMEA-friendly, which they usually are, as most of them prefer this document due to direct degree mapping to EQF (European Qualifications Framework).
- When “Equivalence” is the main goal. If you graduated from one of the 55 countries listed in the Lisbon Recognition Convention, CIMEA can issue ARDI (Automatic Recognition Database Italia), which is even faster.
Disclaimer: A quick distinction. The Statement of Comparability proves the level of your degree, while the Statement of Verification proves the authenticity of the document itself. Most universities and scholarship agencies require both to finalise your ‘Academic Privilege’ status.
Requirements: What to Upload
It is usually required to upload the following documents:
Disclaimer: Applying and requesting a “Statement of Comparability” or “Statement of Verification” can be a bit confusing, but before you jump into it, make sure to check the required documents on the CIMEA website, as they vary from country to country. Scroll to the “RequiredDocs Navigator” at the bottom here: https://cimea-diplome.it/page-require-documents
The Application Roadmap (Step-by-Step)
Can’t figure out how to apply? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Follow these easy steps:
Create an Account
Start your application by registering on the official CIMEA portal.
Create Your CIMEA AccountFill in “My Study Path”
Before purchasing a service, make sure to enter your education and diploma details in the “My Study Path” section.
Complete the Consent Form
Then, go to the “Consent Form” section, fill in and sign the form. Don’t just sign the form and forget it; download it and save it, as you will need to upload it later.
Trust the Navigator — Don’t Guess
Use the “RequiredDocs Navigator” to see exactly what CIMEA requires for your specific country, then choose the service. Choose your country’s education system, not your nationality. If you went to a British school in Dubai, select ‘United Kingdom’.
Upload Your Documents
Enter your details when purchasing the service. You have to upload your Passport/ID, Consent form, High school diploma (front and back), Transcripts (front and back), etc. In the section of “Additional Document”, select “Others” and upload “Apostille/Legalisation” if it is required by CIMEA based upon your country of education. Upload the “Translation” in case your diploma/degree is in a language other than English or Italian.
Pay the Price of Privilege
After uploading all the necessary documents, you’ll have to pay the price of privilege.
Choose Your Procedure
You can also choose whether to have the “urgent” procedure, which costs extra, or the “standard” procedure at the regular cost. Once it’s ready, you will receive an email and can download it from the portal.
Review Before Confirming
Before confirming the payment, review all your details and documents.
Disclaimer: Do not upload blurry scans or pictures. Make sure everything in the scan/picture is readable.
Costs and Timelines
Start: CIMEA usually starts taking requests from January.
Standard Procedure
60 working days
The investment typically ranges from €150 to €300, depending on the service requested.
- Comparability Service: €150
- Verification Service: €150
- Comparability & Verification: €300
Urgent Procedure
30 working days
It has an additional damaging cost of about €100.
Disclaimer — 2026 Portal Blackout. CIMEA takes breaks! The portal will be closed to new requests from July 19–26 and August 23–30, 2026. If you don’t submit by June, the 60-day clock pauses while the experts are on vacation.
Watch out for the “Limited number of requests per day” trap. Once the daily limit is reached, the portal locks and only reopens for new applications at 3:00 PM CET (Italian Time) the next day. So, prepare and save your request details beforehand to make a payment asap in case of a “Portal lock”.
The CIMEA Hall of Shame: Costly Sins to Avoid
Poor Scan Quality
Blurry photos are an instant rejection as CIMEA uses digital verification. If they can’t read the stamps, your 60-day timer won’t even start.
Missing the Back Page
If there’s ink on the back, scan it. They need the official stamps and grading scales, often hidden on the reverse side, to finalise your “Equivalence”.
The “Level” Error
Medicine is a Single Cycle Master’s Degree in Italy. Even though it’s a Master’s level program, the entry requirement is still High School graduation, not a Bachelor’s degree. Validating your Bachelor’s is like bringing a Ferrari to a Go-Kart race: impressive, but they won’t let you on the track.
Last Minute Requests
Waiting for your admission letter is a trap. During the summer, the portal closes.
FAQs
No. You can only select the urgent procedure at the very beginning when you submit the request.
This means CIMEA cannot currently verify degrees from that educational system due to geopolitical circumstances. In this case, you must use the traditional DoV (Dichiarazione di Valore) through the Embassy.
Yes! Whether you’re applying for a 3-year Bachelor’s or a 6-year Single Cycle degree, CIMEA verifies your Secondary School Diploma. Since the entry requirements for both levels are the same, your statement remains a valid “Academic Passport” for any undergraduate-level course, provided the university recognises CIMEA statements.
Absolutely not. Save your money. A CIMEA statement verifies the legal value of your qualification, not your destination. Once you have the PDF, you can upload it to as many university portals as you like. Keeping in mind “as long as the university accepts CIMEA statements”.
Generally, no. CIMEA is 100% digital. Do not mail your original documents unless a CIMEA expert explicitly requests them during the review process.
When applying, you must select the country of the education system your degree belongs to, not where you physically sat in a classroom. Example: If you studied at a British school in Dubai, you must select the United Kingdom, not the UAE.
You should contact the CIMEA through the portal within 7 days of receiving your statement.
Generally, no. CIMEA requires the final, official document. A “provisional” certificate may be rejected unless your specific country’s guidelines allow it. It is better to wait for the final paper than to have your request denied.
No. Since your degree’s value doesn’t change, the Statement of Comparability is valid forever.
As long as you are using the same diploma to enter university, you are fine. CIMEA proves that you can study in Italy; it doesn’t dictate what you study. Just ensure your “Statement of Comparability” covers the High School level required for both subjects.
Pick your “top choice” university for the portal data. This is mostly for CIMEA’s records. As long as your final document (the Statement of Comparability) accurately reflects your diploma, other universities will accept it as long as they recognise CIMEA as a valid method of evaluation.