What is the Declaration of Value?
The Declaration of Value (DoV) is a document issued by the Embassy of Italy certifying the legal validity of an academic qualification obtained in one of the countries within its consular jurisdiction (Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Niger and Sierra Leone). It is required for the recognition of the qualification in Italy and is normally requested by Italian universities in order to finalize enrolment. It is therefore an essential prerequisite for obtaining a study visa for university enrolment, even when not formally required by the university to complete the enrolment procedure.
The Declaration of Value is issued free of charge when requested for study purposes, provided that such purposes are duly documented (e.g. by presenting the pre‑enrolment form issued by Universitaly).
Required documentation
To request the Declaration of Value, applicants must submit:
- Original academic qualification;
- Original Examination Bulletin / Transcript of Records / Relevé de notes (required only for holders of a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree);
- Copy of a valid passport.
Please note: All documents must have been previously legalized by the competent authorities of the country where the qualification was issued, and must be accompanied by an Italian translation certified as conforming to the original by this Embassy. Completeness and accuracy of the documentation are essential for the processing of the request.
How and where to request the Declaration of Value
Appointments for submitting a Declaration of Value request must be arranged by sending an email to consolare.abidjan@esteri.it, attaching the relevant application form, duly completed and signed by the applicant.
Once the documents have been received, the Embassy verifies the authenticity of the qualification with the competent national authorities that issued it. After the verification is completed, the Declaration of Value is issued and can be used for enrolment in universities, AFAM institutions (Higher Artistic and Musical Education), or other Italian institutions.
Please note: Any interference by applicants in the authenticity‑verification process negatively affects the handling of the application.
DoV and the CIMEA procedure
The Declaration of Value is an alternative to the recognition procedure offered by CIMEA – the Information Centre on Academic Mobility and Equivalence. Students may freely choose either option. For more information on the CIMEA procedure, please consult the official website: https://www.cimea.it
Important for students
Please note that the Declaration of Value (or, alternatively, CIMEA certification) is mandatory in order to request a study visa for university enrolment, even when not formally required by the university to finalize enrolment. Applicants are therefore strongly advised to begin the procedure well in advance.