Diploma recognition in Montenegro 2026: recognising a foreign qualification through the ENIC centre, documents, fees and equivalence of qualifications

In Montenegro a foreign diploma is recognised for employment by the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation through the ENIC centre, and since 2026 the application is filed online on the eservisi.edu.me portal. For further study you apply directly to the school or faculty where you want to continue. The administrative fee for recognising a diploma of completed higher education is 100 euros, for secondary school 50 euros and for primary school 30 euros. For diplomas from countries other than Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, a translation certified by a court interpreter is required. Both Montenegrin citizens and foreigners are entitled to recognition.

This guide explains who recognises a diploma and where, which documents you need, what the fee is, which diplomas need no recognition, and what equivalence of qualifications means.

Who recognises a diploma and where do you apply?

• Recognition of primary, secondary, higher vocational and higher education documents for employment is carried out by the Ministry through the ENIC centre, a separate unit of the Ministry.
• This application is filed online on the eservisi.edu.me portal: you register, fill in the application, attach scanned documents in pdf format and collect the decision in person.
• Recognition for further study is requested directly from the school or higher education institution where you want to continue.
• The application can be filed by the diploma holder, a parent, guardian, adoptive parent, foster parent or a person authorised by the holder.
• Recognition is available to Montenegrin citizens, citizens of other countries, stateless persons, asylees, foreigners under subsidiary protection and foreigners seeking international protection.

Which documents do you need?

• For diplomas from Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina: the original or a certified copy of the diploma, for a university diploma also the diploma supplement or a record of passed exams, and proof that the fee has been paid.
• For diplomas from other countries you also need translations of the diploma and of the diploma supplement, certified by an authorised court interpreter.
• If you attended school in Montenegro before going abroad, for primary and secondary education you also attach a copy of the Montenegrin document.
• When collecting a decision on recognition for employment, you hand in the printed and signed application and certified copies: three copies for a diploma from the region, and for others one copy and three certified translations, plus a translation of the diploma supplement for a university diploma.
• For further higher education you give the faculty a certified copy of the diploma in A4 format and a copy of the diploma supplement, with translations if the diploma comes from outside the region.

How much is the fee?

Translation and certification of copies are paid separately.

What does the Ministry check?

• Whether the institution that issued the diploma is recognised, that is accredited, in the issuing country.
• The education system of that country, the duration and level of education, and the authenticity of the diploma.
• A diploma obtained without attending classes and without any assessment of knowledge is not recognised.
• The Ministry may ask the National Council for Education or the Agency for Control and Quality Assurance of Higher Education for an opinion on the study programme, admission requirements and practical training.
• The Government may temporarily suspend recognition of diplomas from an institution facing criminal proceedings or banned from operating, or where the number of applications for the same qualification is disproportionately higher than the number of such diplomas issued in Montenegro.
• You can challenge the decision in an administrative dispute before the court.

When is recognition not needed?

• Educational documents issued in the republics of the former Yugoslavia (SFRY) are not subject to recognition if they were obtained before the international recognition of those republics.
• Documents obtained in Serbia up to 25 January 2008 are also not subject to recognition.

What is equivalence of a qualification?

• Equivalence is carried out by a school or institution offering a comparable programme or, if there is none, by a professional association or a commission set up by the Ministry.
• If a substantial difference is found between the foreign and the Montenegrin programme, the decision sets supplementary or bridging exams, with deadlines and the way to take them.
• The deadline for a decision on equivalence is 30 days from the application.

Jobs and salaries are covered in our guide to working in Montenegro, and enrolling children in school in our guide to schools for foreign children. University admission is explained in our guide to studying in Montenegro, and certifying documents from abroad in our guide to power of attorney and apostille.

Frequently asked questions

Where is diploma recognition done in Montenegro? For employment, the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation recognises diplomas through the ENIC centre, and the application is filed online on the eservisi.edu.me portal.

How much does it cost to recognise a university diploma? The administrative fee for a diploma of completed higher education is 100 euros, and translation and certification of copies are paid separately.

Do I need a translation of my diploma? Diplomas from Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina need no translation, while diplomas from other countries need a translation certified by an authorised court interpreter.

Can a foreigner have a diploma recognised? Yes, citizens of other countries, stateless persons, asylees and foreigners under subsidiary protection are also entitled to recognition.

Does a diploma from Serbia need recognition? Documents obtained in Serbia up to 25 January 2008 are not subject to recognition, and more recent diplomas from Serbia are recognised without a translation.

What if recognition is refused? You can challenge the decision in an administrative dispute, and if the difference in the programme is substantial, equivalence may require supplementary exams.

Sources

The competence of the ENIC centre, the rights of foreigners, the criteria and equivalence are set by the Law amending the Law on Recognition of Foreign Educational Documents and Equivalence of Qualifications (Official Gazette 60/2025), and the documents and online filing by the Rulebook on the manner of submitting applications (Official Gazette 8/2026). The fees are set by tariff number 9 of the Law on Administrative Fees (Official Gazette 18/2019), and the rule for documents from the former SFRY and Serbia is stated by the Government of Montenegro. The information was checked on 27 September 2026. Fijaka is a classifieds platform; this text is not legal advice.