The Recognition of Overseas Qualifications (Charges) (England and Wales and Northern Ireland) Regulations 2025
Source: legislation.gov.uk (2025-03-28)

These Regulations set out the charges payable in connection with services regarding the recognition of qualifications provided in pursuance of international obligations.

This Statutory Instrument has been made in consequence of defects in S.I. 2024/942 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2024/942\") and is being issued free of charge to all known recipients of that Statutory Instrument.

Statutory Instruments

2025 No. 256

EDUCATION, ENGLAND AND WALES

EDUCATION, NORTHERN IRELAND

The Recognition of Overseas Qualifications (Charges) (England and Wales and Northern Ireland) Regulations 2025

Made

4th March 2025

Laid before Parliament

5th March 2025

Coming into force

28th March 2025

The Secretary of State makes these Regulations, with the consent of the Treasury, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 56(1) and (2) of the Finance Act 1973(1 (\"#f00001\")).

Citation, commencement and extent

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Recognition of Overseas Qualifications (Charges) (England and Wales and Northern Ireland) Regulations 2025.

(2) These Regulations come into force on 28th March 2025.

(3) These Regulations extend to England and Wales and Northern Ireland.

Interpretation

2.—(1) In these Regulations—

“database” means a collection of information including the comparison of UK qualifications with overseas qualifications;

“overseas qualification” means a qualification issued by a body that is based outside the United Kingdom;

“qualification” means any record, issued by a body whose ordinary activities include the issuing of such records, of having attained a particular standard following a course of study or training;

“qualification reference statement” means a statement providing information about an individual’s UK qualification;

“qualification reference statement bundle service” means services including, but not limited to, the provision of a specified number of qualification reference statements;

“refugee” has the meaning given by the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees done at Geneva on 28 July 1951 and its Protocol;

“refugee bundle service” means services intended for refugee organisations, including, but not limited to, the provision of a specified number of statements of comparability, with each statement processed on an expedited basis;

“refugee organisation” means an organisation, including any body corporate or unincorporated association and any combination of persons, that, as part of or all of its service, provides help or information to refugees or those seeking refugee status;

“standard bundle service” means services including, but not limited to, the provision of a specified number of statements of comparability, with each statement processed on an expedited basis;

“statement of comparability” means a statement comparing an individual’s overseas qualification to a UK qualification or level of UK qualification;

“subscriber” means a person who receives a subscription package under an agreement between the person and the provider of the subscription package;

“subscription package” means the provision of a range of services for a period of 12 months including, but not limited to, access to a database;

“UK qualification” means a qualification issued by a body that is based in the United Kingdom;

“working day” means any day except a Saturday or Sunday, Christmas Day, Good Friday or a bank holiday under section 1 of the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971(2 (\"#f00002\")).

(2) For the purposes of these Regulations, a body is based—

(a)where its registered office is,

(b)if it does not have a registered office, where its head office is, or

(c)if it does not have a registered office or a head office, where its principal place of operation is.

Charges relating to applications for statements

3. Schedule 1 specifies the charges relating to applications for—

(a)a statement of comparability;

(b)a qualification reference statement.

Charges relating to applications for bundle services

4. Schedule 2 specifies the charges relating to applications for—

(a)a standard bundle service;

(b)a refugee bundle service;

(c)a qualification reference statement bundle service.

Charges relating to applications for subscription packages

5. Schedule 3 specifies the charges relating to applications for subscription packages.

Charges relating to applications for ancillary services

6. Schedule 4 specifies the charges relating to applications for ancillary services.

Payment of charges

7.—(1) Any charge in relation to an application for a statement, service or package payable under these Regulations is payable to—

(a)the Secretary of State, or

(b)an organisation providing a statement, service or package pursuant to arrangements between that organisation and the Secretary of State, and

at the time that the application is submitted.

(2) In paragraph (1), “statement, service or package” means—

(a)a statement of comparability or a qualification reference statement;

(b)a standard bundle service, a refugee bundle service or a qualification reference statement bundle service;

(c)a subscription package;

(d)an ancillary service as set out in Schedule 4 to these Regulations.

Refunds

8.—(1) Any charge, or any part of a charge, in relation to an application for a statement, service or package paid under these Regulations may be refunded by—

(a)the Secretary of State, or

(b)an organisation providing a statement, service or package pursuant to arrangements between that organisation and the Secretary of State.

(2) Any charge, or any part of a charge, which was paid for by a person under the Recognition of Overseas Qualifications (Charges) Regulations 2024(3 (\"#f00003\")) before 28th March 2025 may be refunded by—

(a)the Secretary of State, or

(b)an organisation providing a statement, service or package pursuant to arrangements between that organisation and the Secretary of State.

(3) In this regulation, “statement, service or package” has the same meaning as in regulation 7(2).

Revocation

9. The Recognition of Overseas Qualifications (Charges) Regulations 2024 are revoked so far as they extend to England and Wales and Northern Ireland.

Smith of Malvern

Minister of State (Minister for Skills)

Department for Education

4th March 2025

We consent

Nicholas Dakin

Vicky Foxcroft

Two of the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty’s Treasury

27th February 2025

Schedules

Regulation 3

Schedule 1Charges relating to applications for statements

1.

Table

Charges relating to applications for statements

Number of chargeType of statementAmount of charge (£)1.1A statement of comparability581.2A statement of comparability provided under a priority service1861.3A statement of comparability provided under a super priority service2371.4A qualification reference statement58

2. In this Schedule—

“priority service” means an optional service including but not limited to the processing of an application within the period of 48 hours beginning with the relevant time and disregarding any day which is not a working day;

“super priority service” means an optional service including but not limited to the processing of an application within the period of 24 hours beginning with the relevant time and disregarding any day which is not a working day.

3.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), for the purposes of the definitions of “priority service” and “super priority service”, the relevant time is—

(a)when the application is received by the processor of the application; or

(b)when any additional documents, information or evidence necessary to process the application have been received or compiled by the processor of the application,

whichever is the later.

(2) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)—

(a)where the event mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) occurs on a working day but before 9am on that day, the event is to be treated as occurring at 9am on that working day;

(b)where the event mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) occurs on a working day but after 5pm on that day, or on a day which is not a working day, the event is to be treated as occurring at 9am on the next following working day.

Regulation 4

Schedule 2Charges relating to applications for bundle services

Table 1

Charges relating to an application for a standard bundle service

Number of chargeNumber of statements of comparability providedAmount of charge (£)2.1.154122.1.2107732.1.3201,4422.1.4302,0092.1.5402,4722.1.6503,091

Table 2

Charges relating to an application for a refugee bundle service

Number of chargeNumber of statements of comparability providedAmount of charge (£)2.2.151282.2.2102562.2.3153842.2.4205132.2.5256412.2.6307692.2.7401,xx-xxxx-xxxx,2812.2.9601,538

Table 3

Charges relating to an application for a qualification reference statement bundle service

Number of chargeNumber of qualification reference statements providedAmount of charge (£)2.3.154102.3.2107692.3.3201,4352.3.4301,9992.3.5402,4602.3.6503,075

Regulation 5

Schedule 3Charges relating to applications for subscription packages

1.

Table

Charges relating to applications for subscription packages

Number of chargeDescription of serviceAmount of charge (£)3.1Maximum of 5 individuals, each of whom is given access to 1 database.9533.2Maximum of 5 individuals, each of whom is given access to 5 databases.1,3393.3Maximum of 10 individuals, each of whom is given access to 5 databases, and support to the subscriber from the provider of the subscription package (within five working days) in relation to any queries (not exceeding 300 in number).2,2153.4Maximum of 30 individuals, each of whom is given access to 5 databases, and support to the subscriber from the provider of the subscription package (within two working days) in relation to any queries (not exceeding 300 in number).3,2963.5Unlimited number of individuals, each of whom is given access to 5 databases, and support to the subscriber from the provider of the subscription package (within two working days) in relation to any queries (not exceeding 300 in number).4,944

2. In this Schedule—

“within five working days” in relation to the provision of support to a subscriber means within a period of 120 hours beginning with the relevant time and disregarding any day which is not a working day;

“within two working days” in relation to the provision of support to a subscriber means within a period of 48 hours beginning with the relevant time and disregarding any day which is not a working day.

3. For the purposes of the definitions of “within five working days” and “within two working days”, where the request for support is received—

(a)during the hours of 9am to 5pm on a working day, the relevant time is the time that the request for support is received on that day;

(b)on a working day but before 9am on that day, the relevant time is 9am on that working day;

(c)on a working day but after 5pm on that day, or on a day which is not a working day, the relevant time is 9am on the next following working day.

Regulation 6

Schedule 4Charges relating to applications for ancillary services

1.

Table

Charges relating to applications for ancillary services

Number of chargeType of serviceAmount of charge (£)Amount of charge (£) for a subscriber4.1The dispensation of any need for a certified translation into English of any documents that evidence an overseas qualification as part of an application for a statement of comparability.41414.2Provision of half a day of training regarding education, qualifications and the recognition of overseas qualifications.2632164.3Provision of a full day of training regarding education, qualifications and the recognition of overseas qualifications.3663194.4Booking for an individual to attend as a delegate at a two day conference regarding education or qualifications and further to obligations deriving from a relevant international agreement.558 per delegate507 per delegate4.5Booking for an individual to attend as a delegate at a one day conference regarding education or qualifications and further to obligations deriving from a relevant international agreement.355 per delegate310 per delegate4.6Support to the subscriber from the provider of the subscription package (within five working days) for up to 300 additional queries.Not applicable9004.7Support to the subscriber from the provider of the subscription package (within two working days) for up to 300 additional queries.Not applicable2,000

2. In this Schedule—

“certified translation” means a translation certified to be a correct translation;

“relevant international agreement” means—

(a)

the Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education, signed by the United Kingdom at Paris on 25 November 2019(4 (\"#f00004\")), or

(b)

the Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region, signed by the United Kingdom at Strasbourg on 7 November 1997(5 (\"#f00005\"));

“within five working days” in relation to the provision of support to a subscriber means within a period of 120 hours beginning with the relevant time and disregarding any day which is not a working day;

“within two working days” in relation to the provision of support to a subscriber means within a period of 48 hours beginning with the relevant time and disregarding any day which is not a working day.

3. For the purposes of the definitions of “within five working days” and “within two working days”, where the request for support is received—

(a)during the hours of 9am to 5pm on a working day, the relevant time is the time that the request for support is received on that day;

(b)on a working day but before 9am on that day, the relevant time is 9am on that working day;

(c)on a working day but after 5pm on that day, or on a day which is not a working day, the relevant time is 9am on the next following working day.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations set out the charges payable in connection with services regarding the recognition of qualifications provided in pursuance of international obligations.

Regulations 3 to 6 introduce the applications and services for which charges may be charged. Regulation 7 states the payment arrangements. Regulation 8 makes provision on refunds. Regulation 9 contains revocation provision. The Schedules summarise each application and service and state the corresponding charge.

The international obligations are principally set out in two international agreements, namely: the Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education, signed by the United Kingdom at Paris on 25 November 2019 (Cmnd. 497. United Nations Treaty Series, registration number 57727), and the Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region, signed by the United Kingdom at Strasbourg on 7 November 1997 (Cmnd. 5577. United Nations Treaty Series, vol. 2136, p. 3).

A copy of the two international agreements that were in force immediately before these Regulations come into force is published alongside these Regulations and copies can be obtained on request from the Department for Education, Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BT.

To note that provision on charges in this area was previously contained in the Recognition of Overseas Qualifications (Charges) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/942 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2024/942\")). Those regulations are being revoked and remade in so far as they extend to England and Wales and Northern Ireland following discussions with the devolved Governments in relation to matters of competence.

In re-making provision contained in S.I. 2024/942 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2024/942\"), this instrument also corrects previous drafting errors with respect to definitions relating to services intended for refugee organisations and priority services.

These Regulations accordingly are being issued free of charge to all known recipients of S.I. 2024/942 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2024/942\").

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private sector, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.

An Explanatory Memorandum has been prepared and is available alongside this instrument at www.legislation.gov.uk (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk\"), or from the Department for Education, Sanctuary Buildings, 20 Great Smith Street, London, SW1P 3BT.

(1)

1973 c. 51 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/1973/51\"); section 56(1) was amended by paragraph 17 of Schedule 8 to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (c. 16) (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2018/16\").

(2)

1971 c. 80 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/1971/80\"), to which there are amendments not relevant to this instrument.

(3)

S.I. 2024/942 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2024/942\").

(4)

Cmnd. 497. United Nations Treaty Series, registration number 57727.

(5)

Cmnd. 5577. United Nations Treaty Series, vol. 2136, p. 3.