In general a final secondary school qualification obtained abroad at the end of a school programme of at least 4 years is recognised as corresponding to the Italian secondary school diploma (school-leaving certificate). The Schools Office will verify the essential correspondence of the programme and content of the foreign study programme with the Italian programme and may also verify the cultural and technical-vocational knowledge of the applicant through an additional examination on subjects relevant to the Italian qualification requested.

The application for equivalence should be presented on unstamped paper, following the model given on page 10, to the Schools Office in the province where the person resides (in the province of Trento to the Schools Superintendent).

The following documents must be enclosed with the application:

• the original copy of the educational qualification issued by the foreign school. The signature of the Head of the school which issued the educational qualification must be authenticated by the diplomatic authorities or consulate in the country where the qualification was obtained;
• translation of the foreign educational qualification into Italian. The translation must be certified as conforming with the foreign document by the Italian diplomatic authorities or consulate or by a sworn translator or by the diplomatic representatives or consulate in Italy of the country in which the qualification is recognised. The translation may also be declared to be accurate through asseveration, namely through sworn declaration at the civil courts by the person who did the translation;
• declaration of value issued by the Italian diplomatic authorities or Consulate, indicating:
• the legal status of the school (state or legally recognised), indicating clearly who the school is managed by;
• the nature and level of the studies to which the qualification refers;
• the total number of years schooling;
• effects in terms of continuation of studies (whether the qualification allows access to University or not) or in terms of access to employment;
• the evaluation scale used in the country in which the educational qualification was awarded.
• certification or documents capable of proving knowledge of the Italian language (for example certificates of attendance of Italian language courses; certification of work experience in Italian companies). In the absence of such documentation, the person concerned must take an additional examination on the Italian language and culture.
• curriculum of the studies followed, signed by the applicant, divided into school years, if possible with indication of the subjects studied each year. The curriculum may also include any work experience;
• programme of the subjects studied issued by the school or by the foreign schools authorities, accompanied by an Italian translation certifying correspondence with the original;
• documentation capable of proving previous foreign citizenship (in the case of an Italian citizen by marriage);
• decree of naturalisation (in the case of an Italian citizen by naturalisation).