HOW TO OBTAIN A “STATEMENT OF VALUE” (DICHIARAZIONE DI VALORE) OF CANADIAN QUALIFICATIONS
A Dichiarazione di Valore (Statement of Value, DV) is a document released by the Italian Consular Authority in the foreign country where one studied, required to verify the authenticity of the academic credentials obtained in Canada and their correspondence into the Italian educational system. A DV also provides information about the validity of the qualification concerned in the country where the applicant studied, confirms the legal status and nature of the awarding institution, and indicates the length and the study plan of the program attended.
Therefore, all students that wish to pursue their studies in Italy and those who need to have their credentials recognized in Italy for any other purpose must necessarily obtain a DV.
If the applicant needs to move to Italy during their studies before obtaining a diploma, the Consulate will release, upon request, a Dichiarazione Consolare (Consular Declaration, DC) that certifies either the attendance and the academic credentials obtained, or the simple legalization of the school report.
HOW TO OBTAIN A DV:
- Find the Italian Consulate under whose territorial jurisdiction your school/university is located. The Consulate General of Italy in Montréal manages only the qualifications issued in the following provinces: Québec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland, Labrador and Nunavut.
- If your school/university is located under the jurisdiction of the Italian Consulate General in Montreal, please download the appropriate form here.
- For studies concerning school/college/university you need to ask for the original transcripts and final qualification. The final qualification and transcript must be legalized (in particular the signature of the registrar/principal) by the Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa. More info is available here.
- Check with the Italian school/university to find out if they require the translation of the diploma and transcript. If that is the case, please contact one of the certified translators whose specimen of signature is filed at this Consulate. Click here to find the list.
- It is required to attach a copy of all documents at the request of DV/DC and a copy of your valid passport.
- Once you have gathered all the above documents please contact the Consulate General of Italy. The complete documentation may be submitted in person, by delegating a third party to act on your behalf with written permission (form available here) or by courier (DHL, FedEx or UPS) at the following address: Consulate General of Italy in Montreal – ufficio dichiarazioni di valore – 3489 Rue Drummond, H3G 1X6 Montreal (Quebec) CANADA.
- You, or the authorized third party, will be contacted by email when the DV/DC is ready to be picked up, usually within 30 days from the presentation of the application. You will then be able to use the DV/CD for the appropriate purposes. All original documentation will be returned to the applicant.
- The procedure is free of charge if the DV/CD requested is to be used for study purposes (please attach documentation to prove the purpose). For any other use (i.e. recognition of academic credentials or working purposes), a consular fee will be applied.
Terms of payment: in cash, by money order, bank draft or certified cheque, issued by a Canadian bank in Canadian dollars, and made out to the Consulate General of Italy in Montreal.
- Should you opt to send all the documents by mail, please make sure that everything is included and provide a self-addressed, pre-paid envelope for the return of the documentation. If you reside outside of Canada, we recommend you use a courier service such as DHL, FEDEX or UPS. The Consulate will not return the documents unless a pre-paid and self-addressed envelope is provided.
PLEASE NOTE:
The DV/DC provides a concise description of the academic or professional degree released by a foreign Authority located in a country which adopts an educational system that differs from the Italian one.
As such, the DV/DC does not constitute in itself a proof of the person’s competences and/or the professional skills acquired through the degree. Consequently, though the DV/DC is for the Italian legislation a reliable record regarding the authenticity of the academic credentials achieved abroad, the mere DV/DC does not pre-empt the right by the receiving institution/office/school to carry out further independent verifications, through for instance a detailed examination of the official transcript.
If the applicant moves to Italy to continue their studies without having obtained diploma prior, upon request, the Consulate can issue a Consular Declaration (CD) that states both his/her attendance and any credits earned or, depending on the circumstances, the legalization of the school document.
For further information, please send an e-mail to the following address: kinda.kalpakjian@esteri.it