Qualification recognition
What it takes to have your qualification recognised and work in another country.
Law in 9 countries Tap a country to see how to qualify there
3 United Kingdom Exams or bridging Some demand
SA-admitted lawyers use the SQE qualified lawyer route: no UK work experience needed, but SQE1 must be passed.
- Recognition
- 3/5 Licensing exams, an adaptation period or a conversion course. Typically 6 to 24 months.
- Time to practise
- 12-24 months alongside work
What it takes: exams, language test, cost, regulator
- Exams
- SQE1 is required for qualified lawyers; SQE2 is required unless the SRA grants an exemption.
- Language test
- English; the SRA's requirements for qualified lawyers (degree, SQE1, SQE2 or exemption, suitability) include no separate English test
- Rough cost
- Several thousand GBP for SQE1 and SQE2 sittings plus preparation courses; exact fees change annually
Worth knowing: An LLB graduate who is not yet admitted in SA must use the standard SQE route including two years of qualifying work experience.
Confidence: medium. We could not fully confirm every detail here from official sources. Check before relying on it.
Step by step 5 steps
- If you are already an admitted SA attorney or advocate, apply under the SRA qualified lawyer route with evidence of your right to practise.
- Pass SQE1 (functioning legal knowledge). Qualified lawyers must sit it; there is no blanket exemption for South Africa.
- Pass SQE2 (practical skills) or apply to the SRA for an exemption based on your qualification and experience.
- Qualified lawyers are exempt from the two years of qualifying work experience that other SQE candidates must complete.
- Meet the SRA character and suitability requirements, then apply for admission to the roll.
Evidence and sources (1)
Demand evidence: Solicitors and barristers (2412) are visa-eligible but not on the Immigration Salary List; only legal associate professionals (3520) are on the TSL. (source)
3 Ireland Major requalification Some demand
South Africa is not on the Law Society's transfer-test list, so SA lawyers take the standard FE-1 route.
- Recognition
- 2/5 Substantial re-study, long supervised practice, scarce posts or a hard language barrier.
- Time to practise
- 3-4 years on the standard traineeship route
What it takes: exams, language test, cost, regulator
- Exams
- Preliminary Examination unless exempted, then the FE-1 entrance examinations (8 subjects); the QLTT is not open to South African-qualified lawyers.
- Language test
- English; the Law Society's steps for non-EEA graduates include no English test
- Rough cost
- FE-1 EUR 128 per subject; Professional Practice Course fees not checked here
- Regulator
- Law Society of Ireland
Worth knowing: The QLTT list of relevant jurisdictions does not include South Africa; check the Law Society page in case it changes.
Confidence: medium. We could not fully confirm every detail here from official sources. Check before relying on it.
Step by step 5 steps
- Note that South Africa is not a relevant jurisdiction for the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test; the list covers EU and EFTA states, some US states, Australian states, New Zealand and Scotland.
- Take the standard route for non-EEA graduates: apply for exemption from the Preliminary Examination (or pass it), then sit the Law Society's FE-1 entrance examinations.
- Enter a training contract with an Irish solicitor, complete the Professional Practice Course and then two years of in-office training.
- Apply for admission as a solicitor of the Irish courts.
- Alternative: the Honorable Society of King's Inns route for barristers, which has its own entrance and degree requirements.
Evidence and sources (4)
Demand evidence: Solicitors are not on the Critical Skills List (only IP professionals, 2419) but are not ineligible, so a General Employment Permit is possible. (source)
2 Netherlands Starts over Some demand
Practising as an advocaat effectively means a Dutch law degree and working Dutch: near total requalification.
- Recognition
- 1/5 The qualification gives little or no credit.
- Time to practise
- 5+ years for full Bar admission
What it takes: exams, language test, regulator
- Exams
- Dutch Bar professional training examinations after a Dutch law qualification.
- Language test
- Dutch required for the Bar; English-only roles exist in international arbitration and in-house teams
Worth knowing: Detailed non-EU recognition rules were not retrievable from the Bar's site. Confirm directly with the Nederlandse orde van advocaten.
Confidence: low. We could not fully confirm every detail here from official sources. Check before relying on it.
Step by step 5 steps
- Understand that Dutch law is civil law, not common law, so an SA LLB gives very little direct credit.
- Expect to complete a Dutch law degree (Nederlands recht) or a substantial conversion before you can enter the Bar traineeship.
- Complete the three-year beroepsopleiding advocaten traineeship under a Dutch patron.
- Reach professional Dutch: court work, contracts and the traineeship are conducted in Dutch.
- Alternative: international arbitration, compliance or in-house roles at multinationals in Amsterdam, which are often English-speaking.
Evidence and sources (1)
Demand evidence: No Dutch shortage list; foreign lawyers mostly work in international practice on the IND highly skilled migrant permit. No current UWV data reachable. (limited evidence for this country) (source)
2 Germany Starts over Some demand
Germany requires two state law exams and a Referendariat in German: SA law training gives almost no credit.
- Recognition
- 1/5 The qualification gives little or no credit.
- Time to practise
- 6+ years
What it takes: exams, language test, regulator
- Exams
- German First and Second State Examinations in law.
- Language test
- German at a professional/legal level is unavoidable for practice
Worth knowing: Some international firms in Frankfurt hire foreign-qualified lawyers for cross-border work without German admission, but these roles are few.
Confidence: medium. We could not fully confirm every detail here from official sources. Check before relying on it.
Step by step 5 steps
- Accept that German legal practice requires Volljurist status: a German law degree, the First State Examination, a two-year Referendariat and the Second State Examination.
- There is no recognition route from a South African LLB to German Bar admission; it is a full requalification.
- Reach German at a professional level, which is essential for both state examinations.
- Alternative: an LLM in Germany plus in-house, compliance or international arbitration work, which does not require Bar admission.
- EU-qualified lawyers have a recognition route under EU rules; South African qualifications do not.
Evidence and sources (1)
Demand evidence: Law is not named among Make it in Germany's professions in demand; practising as a Rechtsanwalt requires German state examinations. (source)
3 United States Exams or bridging Some demand
New York may let an SA LLB holder sit the bar exam without an LLM if it judges the degree equivalent; California is broader still.
- Recognition
- 3/5 Licensing exams, an adaptation period or a conversion course. Typically 6 to 24 months.
- Time to practise
- 1-2 years, longer if an LLM is needed
What it takes: exams, language test, cost, regulator
- Exams
- State bar examination (NextGen or UBE depending on jurisdiction) plus the MPRE in most states.
- Language test
- English; neither the NY Board of Law Examiners nor the State Bar of California lists an English test for foreign-educated applicants
- Rough cost
- USD 1,000-2,000 in evaluation and exam fees; an LLM adds USD 50,000-80,000
Worth knowing: A New York licence does not let you practise in other states. Visa sponsorship is the practical constraint, not the exam.
Confidence: medium. We could not fully confirm every detail here from official sources. Check before relying on it.
Step by step 5 steps
- Pick a state: bar admission is state by state and most states do not admit foreign-educated applicants at all.
- For New York, request the Board of Law Examiners' advance evaluation under Rule 520.6: an LLB qualifies without an LLM only if the Board accepts that the country's jurisprudence is based on the principles of English common law (it decides how that applies to South Africa's mixed system) and that the degree is durationally and substantially equivalent to an ABA-approved law degree; distance and online courses earn no credit.
- If it falls short, cure it with a qualifying LLM of at least 24 credits at an ABA-approved US law school, taught on a US campus, not by distance learning.
- For California, a lawyer already admitted in another country may sit the bar exam directly; unadmitted foreign graduates must add one year of US law study.
- Pass the bar exam, the MPRE where required, and the character and fitness review.
Evidence and sources (2)
Demand evidence: BLS OOH: lawyers projected to grow faster than average; law is not on DOL Schedule A. (source)
3 Canada Exams or bridging Some demand
The NCA assesses your LLB and assigns Canadian law exams, then you article and join a provincial bar.
- Recognition
- 3/5 Licensing exams, an adaptation period or a conversion course. Typically 6 to 24 months.
- Time to practise
- 2-3 years including articling
What it takes: exams, language test, cost, regulator
- Exams
- NCA subject examinations, then provincial bar admission (barrister and solicitor) examinations.
- Language test
- English; French required for Quebec, which has its own civil-law route
- Rough cost
- Not published. NCA charges per application and per examination.
Worth knowing: Articling positions are competitive and are the usual bottleneck for internationally trained lawyers, not the NCA exams.
Confidence: medium. We could not fully confirm every detail here from official sources. Check before relying on it.
Step by step 5 steps
- Complete the NCA self-assessment, then apply for an evaluation of your legal education and professional experience.
- The NCA assigns required subject exams, typically core Canadian subjects such as constitutional law, criminal law, administrative law, and foundations of Canadian law.
- Sit the NCA exams, written online from anywhere in monthly sessions from January to November (11 sessions in 2026; not every subject is offered in every session), or satisfy requirements through a Canadian LLM.
- Receive the Certificate of Qualification, then apply to a law society in any province or territory outside Quebec.
- Complete that province's bar admission course, licensing examinations and articling period before call to the bar.
Evidence and sources (2)
Demand evidence: Lawyers are in no current Express Entry category; the occupation remains skilled-visa eligible. (source)
4 Australia Exams or bridging High demand
State admission boards assess your LLB against the Priestley 11 and usually set bridging subjects plus PLT.
- Recognition
- 3/5 Licensing exams, an adaptation period or a conversion course. Typically 6 to 24 months.
- Time to practise
- 1-2 years
What it takes: exams, language test, regulator
- Exams
- No single bar exam; requirements are met by completing specified law subjects and PLT.
- Language test
- English: no test if your schooling (all of it, or the final two years where English is not your primary language) and your law degree were completed in South Africa and taught and assessed solely in English; otherwise IELTS Academic or TOEFL iBT
Worth knowing: Admission is state-based, though mutual recognition between Australian states makes moving afterwards straightforward.
Confidence: medium. We could not fully confirm every detail here from official sources. Check before relying on it.
Step by step 5 steps
- Apply to the legal admissions board in the state where you want to practise for an assessment of your academic qualifications.
- The board compares your LLB against the eleven prescribed academic areas of knowledge (the Priestley 11) and specifies any missing subjects.
- Complete the specified Australian law subjects at an approved law school.
- Complete Practical Legal Training (PLT) unless your SA practical vocational training and practice experience is accepted in place of it.
- Apply for admission to the Supreme Court and then for a practising certificate from the state law society or bar association.
Evidence and sources (2)
Demand evidence: JSA Occupation Shortage List 2025: Solicitor (281331) in national shortage; Barrister (281131) rated No Shortage. (source)
3 New Zealand Exams or bridging Some demand
NZCLE assesses overseas law qualifications and sets NZ law papers before you can be admitted.
- Recognition
- 3/5 Licensing exams, an adaptation period or a conversion course. Typically 6 to 24 months.
- Time to practise
- 12-24 months
What it takes: exams, language test, cost, regulator
- Exams
- No separate bar exam; requirements are met by completing the specified NZ law papers and the professional course.
- Language test
- English: a law degree taught in English while living in an English-speaking country counts as evidence; otherwise IELTS Academic with 7.5 in each band
- Rough cost
- NZCLE assessment NZD 1,755 for an overseas law graduate or NZD 2,118 for an admitted practitioner (applications lodged outside NZ, fees from 1 July 2026), plus NZD 130 to the NZ Law Society for practitioners
Worth knowing: Applicants applying after 1 January 2027 may have to complete the new compulsory course on Tikanga Maori (Maori laws and philosophy).
Confidence: medium. We could not fully confirm every detail here from official sources. Check before relying on it.
Step by step 5 steps
- Submit your LLB and any admission details to NZCLE for assessment of overseas legal qualifications.
- Complete the New Zealand law papers NZCLE specifies, typically including New Zealand legal system, land law and other local subjects.
- Complete the Professional Legal Studies Course (Certificate in Professional Legal Skills), which overseas lawyers must do.
- Apply for admission as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand.
- Obtain a practising certificate from the New Zealand Law Society before working as a lawyer.
Evidence and sources (2)
Demand evidence: No lawyer or solicitor occupation appears on the Green List; entry is via an ordinary Accredited Employer Work Visa. (source)
3 United Arab Emirates Exams or bridging Some demand
Onshore courts are for UAE nationals; SA lawyers work as registered legal consultants or in the DIFC and ADGM.
- Recognition
- 3/5 Licensing exams, an adaptation period or a conversion course. Typically 6 to 24 months.
- Time to practise
- At least 3 years of legal experience after the degree, then registration (timing unknown)
What it takes: exams, language test, cost, regulator
- Exams
- None confirmed; Dubai's Legal Affairs Department may require its qualification programme. Onshore advocate exams are for UAE nationals.
- Language test
- English in DIFC, ADGM and international firms; onshore court work is largely in Arabic
- Rough cost
- Dubai legal consultant registration AED 2,020; DIFC Courts fees unknown
Worth knowing: Federal law lets a non-national plead onshore only after 15 years' practice, as a partner of a licensed foreign firm, in specified circuits. Visas are employer-tied.
Confidence: medium. We could not fully confirm every detail here from official sources. Check before relying on it.
Step by step 5 steps
- Get admitted in SA and gain experience: Dubai registers non-UAE legal consultants with a law degree plus three years' continuous legal experience.
- Join a licensed law firm, which sponsors your visa and applies to register you on Dubai's roll of legal consultants (advice and drafting, no court appearances).
- Other emirates license legal consultants separately, so check the rules of the emirate where your firm is based.
- To appear in DIFC Courts, register in Part II with 2-5 years' post-qualification advocacy experience, depending on your rights of audience at home, and pass a DIFC Courts interview.
- ADGM Courts have no lawyer registration system; rights of audience are governed by the ADGM Courts Regulations.
Evidence and sources (4)
Demand evidence: Not named as a Golden Visa priority profession; legal professionals are MOHRE level 2 on an ordinary employer visa. No official demand data found. (limited evidence for this country) (source)
- UAE Legislation - Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2022 (advocacy and legal consultancy), Article 10 p. 7 (read via Wayback copy of 26 September 2026; site blocks scripts)
- Dubai Legal Affairs Department - legal consultant registration
- DIFC Courts - guidelines for registration of practitioners
- ADGM Courts - FAQs
General information, not immigration or legal advice. Confirm the rules with the regulator before you rely on them. Law overview