Statement of Comparability Spain and Declaración de Equivalencia for UK Degrees

If you need a Statement of Comparability in Spain for a UK university degree, confirm whether your application is for declaración de equivalencia through the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. This guide covers that academic and administrative recognition route, including preparing documents for competitive civil service examinations.

Ginkgo Advisory provides UK degree verification, solicitor certification and an express two-working-day paper apostille service to help you prepare the academic documents supporting your application. DHL Express delivery to Spain is available.

Statement of Comparability and the Spanish equivalencia procedure

For the application discussed here, the formal Spanish procedure is declaración de equivalencia de títulos extranjeros de educación superior. If your adviser uses “Statement of Comparability” or “Reconocimiento/Declaración de Equivalencia”, confirm that this is the procedure they require.

The Ministry’s declaration recognises a foreign qualification at Spanish bachelor’s or master’s level for academic and administrative purposes. It can support participation in public employment selection processes. It does not confer the right to practise a regulated profession. See the Ministry’s official equivalencia guidance.

Ginkgo Advisory prepares the UK documents for this process. The Spanish authority makes the recognition decision.

UK degree equivalencia for Spanish civil service examination points

If you want your UK qualification to receive points in upcoming competitive civil service examinations in Spain, check the requirements of the specific recruitment process before ordering certification or an apostille.

An equivalencia decision does not automatically guarantee additional points. Spanish public employment rules distinguish examination-based selection from processes combining examinations and assessed merits. Whether your qualification is relevant to eligibility, merit scoring or both depends on the particular recruitment notice. See Article 61 of Spain’s Public Employment Statute.

Ask the recruiting body or your Spanish adviser:

Is the qualification needed to meet an entry requirement, to claim additional merit points, or both?

Does the competition require a completed declaración de equivalencia, and which qualification level must it confirm?

Which supporting documents must you provide, and in what format?

By what date must the qualification, recognition decision and supporting evidence be available?

For oposiciones involving a merit stage, ask how overseas academic qualifications are assessed under the recruitment notice and its scoring criteria, known as the convocatoria and baremo de méritos. Give your adviser the relevant notice so they can check your circumstances against its requirements.

Documents for a declaración de equivalencia application

The Ministry’s application guidance lists identification, the degree or confirmation of its issue, academic records or a European Diploma Supplement, and evidence of payment. Academic records must contain the required study details, including programme duration, subjects and hours or ECTS credits. See the official application requirements.

For the UK document preparation stage, send Ginkgo Advisory your degree certificate, academic transcript and your adviser’s instructions. We can then assess the verification method, certification wording and apostille format required.

Check that your transcript provides the information requested before paying for legalisation. An apostille cannot supply study details missing from the underlying document.

UK solicitor verification and certification for Spanish equivalencia

The Ministry’s UK-specific guidance permits certification by a UK solicitor or notary public, provided they explicitly confirm verification of authenticity with the issuing university.

Its recommended wording is:

“I have verified the authenticity of this document with the issuing institution.”

A routine true-copy stamp alone is insufficient. See the Spanish Ministry’s guidance for UK academic documents.

Our UK degree verification and apostille service includes reviewing the available university verification route, checking authenticity and preparing solicitor certification before arranging the apostille.

If your lawyer has requested a notary, ask whether solicitor certification meeting this guidance is acceptable for your application. Confirm the agreed route before commissioning the documents.

UK university degree verification for declaración de equivalencia

Ginkgo Advisory assists graduates of UK universities with degree and transcript verification for Spanish equivalencia applications. We assess each institution’s verification arrangements, which may include direct confirmation from the university, an official digital credential platform or a recognised degree verification service. See our UK degree verification and apostille service.

Email copies of your degree certificate and academic transcript, your university’s name and your Spanish adviser’s requirements to info@ginkgoadvisory.com. We will confirm the appropriate verification route, any consent required and how to share official records before preparing solicitor certification.

You may be able to keep your original documents in Spain. This depends on successful university verification and confirmation that the proposed certified documents meet the recipient’s requirements. Ask us to assess this option before posting valuable originals or ordering additional paper documents.

Express apostille service in two working days

Ginkgo Advisory offers an express two-working-day paper apostille service for eligible UK documents after university verification and solicitor certification are complete and the documents have been submitted.

This timeframe covers the apostille stage. University checks, certification, translation and delivery require additional time, and further FCDO checks can extend processing. It does not represent the time needed for the Spanish Ministry to decide your equivalencia application.

The FCDO issues the apostille to authenticate the relevant signature, seal or stamp. See the official UK legalisation guidance. Ginkgo Advisory coordinates document preparation and submission through our UK apostille service.

Tell us the civil service application deadline when requesting a quotation so we can assess the document preparation schedule.

Paper documents and electronic apostilles

The Ministry’s legalisation guidance expressly covers equivalencia and accepts electronic apostilles with a functioning QR or secure verification code. See the official Spanish legalisation guidance.

Confirm whether your adviser needs paper documents or accepts an electronic route. Ginkgo Advisory offers paper apostilles with delivery to Spain and a UK e-Apostille service for suitable documents.

Also confirm whether the degree certificate and transcript need separate apostilles or can be certified together under one apostille. GOV.UK advises checking this with the recipient. See the UK document requirements.

Official Spanish translations

English academic documents for the Ministry application require official Spanish translations. The Ministry states that translations must be complete and include the legalisation. A Spanish sworn translator is one accepted option. See the official translation guidance.

Agree the document format first, then coordinate translation of the complete certified and apostilled pack with your Spanish adviser.

Frequently asked questions

Does Ginkgo Advisory issue the Statement of Comparability

Ginkgo Advisory provides university verification, solicitor certification and apostille arrangements for the supporting UK documents. The Spanish authority issues the relevant equivalencia decision.

Is this the same as recognition to practise a regulated profession

No. This article covers academic and administrative equivalencia. If your objective includes permission to practise a regulated profession, check the appropriate recognition procedure with your Spanish adviser.

Will my UK degree automatically receive civil service examination points

No. Check the qualification criteria, evidence requirements and scoring rules for the specific competition. Preparing legalised documents does not guarantee points or a successful application.

Can I start document preparation while living in Spain

Yes. Send your documents and requirements for an initial remote assessment. We will confirm whether university verification allows us to proceed without your paper originals and explain the delivery options.

Prepare your UK documents for Spanish equivalencia

Email info@ginkgoadvisory.com with your university name, degree certificate and transcript copies, your Spanish adviser’s requirements and your deadline. If the purpose is to claim points in a civil service competition, include the relevant document instructions from that competition.

For paper documents, provide your delivery city and postcode in Spain. We will review the requirements and quote for UK university verification, solicitor certification, express apostille and DHL Express delivery, as applicable.

Contact Ginkgo Advisory to prepare your UK academic documents for a declaración de equivalencia application.