European Qualifications Passport for Refugees

Project based on the Council of Europe Lisbon Recognition Convention
Partners include the Greek Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs, the Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research, the Conference of University Rectors of Italy, the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research, the Government of Flanders - Belgium and qualification recognition centres in Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and the UK.
The UNHCR Representation in Greece and the UNHCR Representation in Strasbourg also support the project.
What is the European Qualifications Passport for Refugees?
The European Qualifications Passport for Refugees is a document providing an assessment of the higher education qualifications based on available documentation and a structured interview. It also presents information on the applicant’s work experience and language proficiency. The document provides reliable information for integration and progression towards employment and admission to further studies.
It is a specially developed assessment scheme for refugees, even for those who cannot fully document their qualifications.
Download the European Qualifications Passport for Refugees presentation leaflet
The Process:
How long will this process take?
The questionnaire is normally sent to candidates three weeks before the evaluation, with two weeks to fill it in, allowing the evaluators one week to review them. The interviews themselves take between 45 minutes to one hour, after which a decision on whether or not to issue the document is made. If the decision is positive, the European Qualifications Passport for Refugees is issued and valid for five years from the date of issue.
When does this process start?
The project was launched in 2017 as a pilot initiative. During the pilot phase, three assessment sessions were held in Greece: 92 refugees were interviewed by credentials evaluators and 73 EQPRs were issued.
Starting from January 2018, a new phase of the project that will last three years (2018-2020) is being implemented. In 2018, five assessment sessions will be held in Greece, Italy and the Netherlands.

France Education international hosted one of the evaluation sessions of the European Qualifications Passport for Refugees (EQPR) in November 2019. The French ENIC-NARIC Centre is a partner of the EQPR project, along with members from Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania and the UK.

On the occasion of World Refugee Day 2020, the Council of Europe in co-operation with the UNHCR and the City of Strasbourg has launched a video "Everyone can make a difference - Every action counts" featuring the European Qualifications Passport for Refugees (EQPR).

The Facebook Live debate entitled “Education and Refugees’ Integration: the European Qualifications Passport for Refugees (EQPR)” was organised by the Council of Europe in co-operation with the UNHCR on 20 June 2019 on the occasion of World Refugee Day.

The video presents the EQPR as a tool supporting refugees’ integration into their host societies and it features interviews with representatives of the Council of Europe and UNHCR, the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees, representatives of local authorities, NGOs working with refugees and universities. Three refugees, EQPR holders, share their experiences and expectations for the future in the video.

This video incorporates a video message by Tomáš Boček, Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees. It also features the stories of two refugees, Mahmoud Alkoko and Anwar Horani, who recount the impact the European Qualifications Passport for Refugees had on their lives.


The European Qualifications Passport for Refugees moves forward
"Everyone can make a difference - Every action counts": a new video featuring the EQPR
Bosnia and Herzegovina joins the European Qualifications Passport for Refugees
New voluntary contribution from Monaco for the European Qualifications Passport for Refugees
European Qualifications Passport for Refugees presented in Oslo
Council of Europe involved in discussions of a global qualifications passport for refugees
Upcoming: Facebook Live Debate on the European Qualifications Passport for Refugees
Norway increases support for the European Qualifications Passport for Refugees (EQPR)
The role of education in supporting refugees’ integration - joint event in Strasbourg
EQPR: Evaluation session in Greece saw increased use of video interviews
Launch of new phase of Project “European Qualifications Passport for Refugees”
New Recommendation on Recognition of Qualifications held by Refugees

Media releases
Related articles - First Phase (2017)
"European Qualifications Passport for Refugees" - Fruitfame (in English)
“We don’t like the label refugee, HEIs are told” - The Pie News (in English)
"På første forelesning med helt nytt flyktningepass" - Khrono (in Norwegian)
"European partners to recognise refugees’ qualifications" - University World News (in English)
Related articles - Second Phase (2018-2021)
"Un passeport européen de qualifications pour les réfugiés" - La Croix (in French)
"Grèce : un "passeport européen" de qualifications pour les réfugiés" - AFP (in French)
"Europe Montly Report" - UNHCR
"Un pasaporte para refugiados con formación" - El País (in Spanish)
"Lancement du Passeport européen des qualifications des réfugiés en France" - article by Yacoob Kaddory, EQPR holder (in Arabic) (in French)
“Credit Where Credit Is Due” – Inside Higher Ed (in English)
"Recognising refugee qualifications – A virtuous circle" - University World News (in English)
"As coronavirus spreads, refugee doctors want to join the fight" - UNHCR website (in English, French and Spanish)
"Borse di studio, in Italia accesso più facile per rifugiati" - ANSA (in Italian)

- Capacity building
- Current Projects
- Democratic and Inclusive School Culture in Operation (DISCO)
- European Qualifications Passport for Refugees
- Quality Education for All - Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Quality Education for All - Montenegro
- Quality education for all – Serbia
- Strengthening Democratic Citizenship Education in Albania
- INCLUDE - Building Capacity for Inclusion in Education
- Strengthening Democratic Culture in Basic Education
- Education for Democracy in the Republic of Moldova
- EEA/Norway Grants
- Previous Projects
- Current Projects
