EU Plans Faster Recognition of Foreign Qualifications: What Non-EU Workers Need to Know

The European Union is considering a major change to the way qualifications from outside the EU are recognised.

On September 15, 2026, the European Commission proposed a new directive on the recognition of qualifications held by third-country nationals, meaning people who are not citizens of the EU or EEA. The proposal is part of the EU’s wider Fair Labour Mobility Package.

The aim is to create a clearer and more predictable framework for recognising foreign qualifications, particularly when someone wants to enter a regulated profession or needs recognition as part of a long-stay visa or residence-permit process.

However, one point is essential:

This is still a proposal, not a final law.

The legislative procedure is ongoing under file 2026/0275/COD, which means the European Parliament and the Council still need to examine and agree on the final text.

Why Is the EU Changing the System?

Today, foreign professionals can face different recognition procedures depending on the EU country where they want to work.

A qualification accepted in one country may need a separate assessment in another.

This can make the process difficult for skilled workers, employers and national administrations.

The European Commission says the proposed framework is intended to make recognition more clear, common and predictable, while also helping address labour shortages and improving access to regulated professions.

For applicants, that could eventually mean less uncertainty when preparing to work in Europe.

Who Could Be Affected?

The proposal is designed for third-country nationals whose qualifications were obtained either outside the EU or in another Member State.

It is particularly relevant when recognition is needed for:

• access to a regulated profession;

• a long-stay visa;

• a residence permit;

• professional recruitment;

• or employment where formal recognition is required.

The draft specifically links qualification recognition with both professional access and migration procedures.

This could be relevant to applicants from countries such as Morocco who are planning to work in Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Portugal or other EU Member States.

Does This Mean Foreign Diplomas Will Be Automatically Accepted?

No.

The proposed directive does not mean that every foreign diploma will automatically be recognised across Europe.

Authorities would still assess whether a qualification meets the requirements of the profession and the destination country.

This is especially important for regulated professions.

These are jobs where national law requires specific qualifications or professional authorisation before someone can legally work.

Examples often include professions such as:

• doctors;

• nurses;

• dentists;

• pharmacists;

• architects;

• veterinary professionals;

• and other regulated occupations.

The exact requirements can still differ between countries and professions.

What Could Become Easier?

The main objective is to reduce fragmentation.

Instead of relying entirely on separate national approaches, the proposal would introduce a more common EU framework for assessing qualifications held by non-EU nationals.

The Commission says the wider Fair Labour Mobility Package is intended to reduce slow and complex administrative procedures and help workers have their qualifications understood and formally recognised where required.

For applicants, that could eventually mean:

• clearer procedures;

• more predictable requirements;

• better coordination between authorities;

• and potentially faster recognition in some cases.

The exact practical effects will depend on the final law.

Qualification Recognition Could Be Linked More Closely to Immigration

One of the most important parts of the proposal is the connection between qualification recognition and immigration.

The draft directive says the framework would apply not only to access to regulated professions but also where recognition is relevant to obtaining a long-stay visa or residence permit.

That matters because for many foreign professionals, the process currently involves several separate steps:

Find a job → recognise the qualification → apply for a visa → obtain permission to work

A more coordinated system could make those steps easier to manage.

But applicants should not assume that qualification recognition automatically guarantees a visa.

Recognition and a Work Visa Are Not the Same Thing

This distinction is very important.

Professional recognition confirms whether your qualification is accepted for a particular profession.

A visa or residence permit determines whether you are legally allowed to enter, live and work in the country.

They can be connected, but they are not the same process.

You may still need:

• a job offer;

• proof of salary;

• language requirements;

• professional authorisation;

• immigration documents;

• and other country-specific conditions.

Why This Matters for Skilled Workers

Europe continues to face labour shortages in several sectors.

The Commission describes the proposal as part of an effort to improve labour-market efficiency, integration and competitiveness while making it easier to use the skills of qualified workers from outside the EU.

That could be especially relevant for professionals working in fields such as:

• healthcare;

• engineering;

• IT;

• construction;

• education;

• technical professions;

• and other areas where labour demand remains high.

Recognition is often one of the biggest obstacles for workers who already have qualifications but cannot immediately use them in the destination country.

What About the EU Talent Pool?

The proposal also sits within the EU’s broader strategy to attract international talent.

The EU Talent Pool has already been adopted as a separate instrument and is designed to help match non-EU job seekers with employers in the EU. EUR-Lex records show that the Talent Pool procedure has been completed and adopted as Regulation 2026/1047.

A clearer system for qualification recognition could complement that recruitment framework by helping employers understand whether a candidate’s professional credentials can be accepted.

What Should Applicants Do Right Now?

For now, the safest approach is to continue following the current rules of the country where you want to work.

The proposal has not yet replaced existing national recognition procedures.

Applicants should still check:

• whether their profession is regulated;

• which authority recognises the qualification;

• whether diploma equivalence is required;

• whether professional experience must be proven;

• language requirements;

• job-offer requirements;

• and the correct visa or residence route.

Do not assume the new EU proposal is already in force.

What Could This Mean for Moroccans?

For Moroccan applicants, the proposal could become important if it eventually creates a more consistent recognition process across the EU.

For example, a Moroccan nurse, engineer or other qualified professional may currently need to navigate a different procedure depending on whether they want to work in Germany, France, Spain or another Member State.

A common framework could reduce some of that complexity.

However, individual countries may still retain profession-specific requirements, and regulated professions can continue to require local authorisation, language skills or professional examinations.

Is This Already Law?

No.

The legislative file is still marked as ongoing in EUR-Lex. The proposal must pass through the EU’s ordinary legislative procedure before it can become law.

The final text may therefore change before adoption.

This is why applicants should treat the September 2026 announcement as a future regulatory development, not as an immediate change to current visa or qualification rules.

What Happens Next?

The European Parliament and the Council will examine the Commission proposal.

They may approve it, amend it or negotiate changes before a final text is adopted.

If the directive is eventually approved, Member States would then need to implement it according to the final legal framework.

For foreign professionals, the proposal is worth following because it could eventually affect how qualifications obtained outside Europe are assessed when applying for jobs, visas and regulated professions.

SMONE will continue tracking EU visa rules, qualification recognition and skilled-worker migration updates.