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DECLARATION OF VALUE
The School Office of the Consulate General of Italy in Johannesburg only issues “Dichiarazione di Valore” (Declaration of Value, DOV) of South African qualifications – issued by recognised educational institutions (schools, colleges and universities) – that fall under the South African education/university system.
The Consulate General of Italy in Johannesburg is competent for those qualifications obtained in its consular jurisdiction: Free State; Gauteng – excluding Pretoria; KwaZulu Natal; Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West.
The “Dichiarazione di Valore” (DOV) is a declaration whereby the Consulate confirms the value of the qualifications obtained in South Africa, with reference to the local educational system. The “DOV” is neither an equivalent of an Italian qualification nor a comparability certificate. It will be up to the relevant Italian institutions (Ministry of Education, Uffici Scolastici Provinciali, Universities, etc.) to subsequently declare if a foreign qualification has a similar Italian equivalent: this is called “equipollenza” (equivalence/certificate of comparability).
It is possible to ask CIMEA (Information Centre on Academic Mobility and Equivalence) for a Statement of Comparability and a Statement of Verification for your academic and non-academic qualifications.
The above mentioned Statements from CIMEA are accepted by Universities and by numerous Institutions (recognition procedure for public competition, Pension related reasons etc).
WHO CAN APPLY FOR A DECLARATION OF VALUE?
Foreign citizens and Italian citizens residing in the consular jurisdiction of this Consulate General.
HOW TO APPLY FOR A DECLARATION OF VALUE:
The Declaration of Local Value is issued free of charge only if it is aimed at continuing studies.
The necessary mandatory documents must be scanned and sent in advance by e-mail to the School Office (scuola.johannesburg@esteri.it). Once the compliance with the necessary requirements has been verified, the original documents can be delivered, by hand or via prepaid courier, to the Consulate General, from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 13:00. No appointment is needed to deliver the documents.
You will be notified via email once the DOV is ready. The turnaround time is 7-10 working days.
The original documents will be returned at the time of collection, which must take place by personally appearing at the Consulate General, by appointment, or by prepaid courier. Alternatively, it is possible to delegate a person to collect them, specifying their personal details at the time of booking. This person must present himself with an identification document.
COMPULSORY DOCUMENTS:
- Application form duly completed and signed and a copy of a valid identity document (passport or ID);
- “Letter of Authentication of studies” relating to secondary studies, issued by UMALUSI (you’ll need to provide the original National Senior Certificate plus a photocopy). National Certificates obtained before November 1992 must be verified by the Basic Education Department.
- If you have a Degree (or more than one) from a South African University, please approach SAQA – the South African Qualifications Authority (it used to be done at the Department of Higher Education) with the original Degree(s) or Diploma(s) and ask them to legalise a copy of your Degree (s) PLUS give them a copy of the Transcript of studies (i.e.: list of exams and results that the University gives to you). They should also give you a letter of “Verification of Studies” regarding the legality of the University where you studied;
- Once you have the Verification letter(s), you can courier the documents (originals and copies certified by the Higher Ed Dept.) to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs/ Department of International Relations and Co-Operation (DIRCO) – (Consular or Legalisations Section) and ask for an “Apostille of the Hague” – one Apostille per qualification with its accompanying verification letter.
Please note we accept Apostille issued by DIRCO only. Apostille issued by other institutions (i.e.: Notary Public, High Court etc.) will be rejected.
PLEASE DO NOT CUT THE RIBBON or tamper with the Apostille once it is done or you will invalidate it. - Go to a Sworn Translator that is accredited with this Consulate General (see attached) and get a sworn translation of the academic qualifications (there is no need to translate the Letter of Status or the Apostille);
- IF you have ANY foreign academic qualifications from other countries that are not under the territorial jurisdiction of this Consulate General of Italy any relevant Declaration of Value from the Consulate/ Embassy/ Institute of Culture in the country where it was obtained (foreign qualifications need to be done in the country where they were obtained – i.e.: Declaration of Value etc). Please contact the Embassy or Consulate of Italy in the relevant country. They must issue the Declaration of Value that you bring to us;
- Non-Italian citizens must provide proof of pre-enrolment to the Italian University, done through the Universitaly Portal.
- In the event of a request for work purposes, where applicable, please present proof of registration with the South African professional body (i.e.: HPSA, SACE, etc.).
Please contact the School Office should you need further information.
School Office
Tel 27 11 728 1392/3 ext. 2080
E-mail: scuola.johannesburg@esteri.it