Frequently Asked Questions on the europass
A list of frequently asked questions on the europass transparency instruments is provided here. Simply click on the question in which you are interested to be taken directly to the answer.
General questions on the europass
What is the europass?
How much do the europass documents cost?
May I fill out europass documents as a trial?
May I add photos to the europass documents?
How do I find the National Europass Centres (NEC) in other EU countries?
europass Curriculum Vitae
How do I draw up my europass Curriculum Vitae?
Can I design my europass Curriculum Vitae in such a way so as to lend it an individual touch?
Where is the europass Curriculum Vitae stored?
europass Language Passport
Why do I need a europass Language Passport?
Who certifies the europass Language Passport?
Where is the europass Language Passport stored?
europass Mobility
Who may apply for the europass Mobility?
In which countries may the periods of learning take place?
May I enter periods spent as an au-pair or language courses in the europass Mobility?
May measures which have been undertaken in the past be entered into the europass Mobility?
May an application for the europass Mobility be made for activities which take place within the applicant's own country?
Does the europass Mobility need to be approved by the National Europass Centre (NEC) once it has been filled in?
May I enter more than one stay abroad into the europass Mobility?
europass Diploma Supplement
How and where can I obtain the europass Diploma Supplement?
europass Certificate Supplement
What are europass Certificate Supplements?
General questions on the europass
What is the europass?
The europass has its basis in the EU Council Resolution of 15 December 2004 which passed the europass Framework Concept. The aim is for the five documents which constitute the europass to assist the citizens of Europe in portraying their qualifications and competences in a transparent manner so as to enable them to present themselves better on their national labour market and on the European labour market.
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How much do the europass documents cost?
europass documents are free of charge.
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May I fill out europass documents as a trial?
It is possible to fill out the europass Mobility on a trial basis.
Both the europass Curriculum Vitae and the europass Language Passport are drawn up directly online. Once they have been completed, these documents can be saved on your own PC and edited and supplemented in any way you wish and at any time.
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May I add photos to the europass documents?
You have the opportunity to add a photo to the europass Curriculum Vitae. Photos which you have saved on your own PC may also be added to the document.
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How do I find the National Europass Centres (NEC) in other EU countries?
Contact information for the Europass Centres in all EU countries is available on the CEDEFOP website.
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europass Curriculum Vitae
How do I draw up my europass Curriculum Vitae?
The europass Curriculum Vitae is drawn up online. The link on the europass homepage will take you to the CEDEFOP EU Portal. CEDEFOP is responsible for the process in its capacity as the lead management institution. You will be taken through the procedure for drawing up the europassCurriculum Vitae step by step and will receive the document ready for download at the conclusion of the process. It is important always to save the europass Curriculum Vitae in XML or PDF-XML format on your own PC so as to make it possible to upload and supplement the CV online at a later stage.
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Can I design my europass Curriculum Vitae in such a way so as to lend it an individual touch?
The europass Curriculum Vitae may be downloaded in PDF-XML format or as a Word Document. The PDF version may not be edited. The Word version can, however, be reformatted as required.
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Where is the europass Curriculum Vitae stored?
The Curriculum Vitae is stored locally on your own computer. You may download the document in various formats once it has been completed. We suggest saving the document in a format which enables it to be re-edited online, such as XML or PDF-XML. Your personal data cannot be viewed by third parties. Data is not saved on the CEDEFOP servers.
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europass Language Passport
Why do I need a europass Language Passport?
The europass Language Passport provides a standardised template for the presentation of your knowledge of foreign languages, using the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages passed by the Council of Europe. The Language Passport requires you to evaluate your own knowledge of foreign languages.
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Who certifies the europass Language Passport?
The europass Language Passport constitutes self-evaluation of knowledge of foreign languages only. For this reason, the Language Passport does not require certification.
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Where is the completed europass Language Passport stored?
The completed europass Language Passport is stored locally on your own computer. Once you have drawn up your Language Passport, you download the completed document in XML or PDF-XML format, enabling you to update or supplement it at any time. Data cannot be viewed by third parties. Data is not saved on the CEDEFOP servers.
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europass Mobility
Who may apply for the europass Mobility?
The home organisation (institution sending people abroad) applies for the europass Mobility. This home organisation may, for example, be a school applying for europassES for its pupils or may equally be a company which is sending staff abroad. europass Mobility applications from individual persons are not currently possible.
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In which countries may the periods of learning take place?
A europass Mobility application can be made for stays abroad in all EU countries, in the EEA countries (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) and in Turkey, Croatia and Switzerland. A europass Mobility application can currently be made for the following countries:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Rumania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom.
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May I enter periods spent as an au-pair or language courses in the europass Mobility?
The europass Mobility certifies periods of learning spent abroad in Europe. europass Mobility applications are usually made by such organisations as schools, vocational schools, vocational training centres, international offices at academic institutions, human resources departments at companies and universities.
The decisive factor is that the quality criteria stated in the Council of Europe Resolution need to be fulfilled in respect of the period to be spent abroad. These criteria are as follows:
• a written agreement between the home institution and host organisation on the content, aims and duration of the period of learning;
• appropriate linguistic preparation of participants;
• a mentor abroad to provide support and act as a contact partner;
• compliance with the geographical scope of application: i.e. Europe (not USA, Australia, ….)
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May measures which have been undertaken in the past be entered into the europass Mobility?
Yes. The europass Mobility may be issued retrospectively to cover activities from 1 January 2005 onwards. Activities which took place before this date cannot, unfortunately, be considered.
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May an application for the europass Mobility be made for activities which take place within the applicant's own country?
No. The europass Mobility documents qualifications and activities which have taken place in connection with periods of time spent abroad. It cannot be used to record continuing training which takes place inside the applicant’s own country.
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Does the europass Mobility need to be approved by the National Europass Centre (NEC) once it has been filled in?
No. The europass Mobility is signed and stamped by the issuing or home organisation, by the host organisation and by the participant’s mentor abroad. Separate approval on the part of the NEC is not required for the purpose of verification of the europass Mobility.
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May I enter more than one stay abroad into the europass Mobility?
The europass Mobility documents one period spent abroad at a time. It does not provide a facility for the ongoing listing of more than one period spent abroad. This means that you will be issued with a separate europass Mobility for each stay abroad.
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europass Diploma Supplement
How and where can I obtain the europass Diploma Supplement?
The europass Diploma Supplement is issued by the institute of higher education or university awarding the degree.
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europass Certificate Supplements
What are europass Certificate Supplements?
europass Certificate Supplements are a description of training occupations within the respective member states, providing clarity in respect of the nature of the training for the occupation in question in each country.
The europass Certificate contains a brief description of occupational proficiency and of fields of occupational activity, thus providing a picture of the knowledge, skills and competences acquired within the respective occupation. The Certificate Supplement also provides supplementary information on the duration, nature and level of the training and on the content of the course. The Certificate Supplement does not replace the original certificate, but by presenting the nature of the qualification has been achieved may help facilitate recognition on the part of competent authorities.
The europass Certificate Supplement presents the contents and qualifications of a training occupation in a way which is standardised across Europe, thus rendering it particularly suited to making an application abroad.
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