EAHEA fees differ by country because all service costs follow the World Bank Country Income Classification: institutions and individuals in countries with lower national income pay a reduced fee, and those in higher-income countries pay more. The aim is to make accreditation and certification reachable for providers in different economic circumstances, without a separate price list for every country. Further discounts may apply according to the economic situation of the country concerned.
The idea is simple, but it raises practical questions: which country counts, who decides the class, what changes with the class and what does not. This article answers them using the published rules of the European Association for Higher Education Advancement (EAHEA). It does not quote amounts or percentages, which are shown on the Service Fees page after a country is chosen.
The World Bank Classification
The World Bank groups economies into four income categories each year, based on national income per person: low income, lower-middle income, upper-middle income and high income. The classification is public, is updated regularly and is used widely in international development and in the pricing of services. EAHEA adopts it as an objective and independent reference, and does not set its own country rankings.
Which Country Counts
| Applicant | Country Chosen |
|---|---|
| An institution or company | The country where it does most of its activity or is legally established |
| An individual | The country of residence |
The applicant selects the country on the Service Fees page or in the application. The choice should reflect where the institution really works or is established, because the rule refers to the country of main activity or legal establishment.
What the Class Changes
- The amount of the fee lines that depend on country: the Application Fee, the Accreditation Fee, the membership fees and the renewal fees.
- Possible further discounts, which EAHEA may grant according to the economic situation of the country of main activity or legal establishment.
The lower the income class, the lower the fee. After a country is chosen, the page shows the fees with the applicable discount. Where a country has no discount, the fee is shown at the full rate.
What Stays the Same
- The service, the standards, the review and the decision. A provider in a lower-income country is reviewed against the same standards as any other.
- The currency of the fee list, which is the euro.
- Card payments add 3 percent, and VAT of 24 percent applies to applicants in Estonia and EU applicants without a valid VAT number.
- The rules on refunds: fees are non-refundable, except an amount paid twice or by mistake.
- Free renewals for holders of institutional accreditation or Associate Membership, where the service provides them.
How to Find Your Fee
- Open the Service Fees page.
- Choose the country of the institution or, for an individual, the place of residence.
- Press the button to show the fees with the applicable discount.
- Find the service in the groups: accreditation, certification and validation, membership, renewal and additional.
- Check the total again at application, where the card commission and VAT are shown.
Why EAHEA Uses This System
Quality assurance matters in every country, and institutions in lower-income countries are often those most in need of a credible, affordable reference. A single price would exclude many, and individual negotiation would be unfair and slow. An objective classification is transparent: anyone can check the class of a country and see the logic. It also supports the association’s aims of widening access to quality assurance across regions. The system is not a promise of acceptance. It affects the price, not the standards. See how fees work for international accreditation.
Common Questions
What If the Classification of My Country Changes?
The World Bank updates its classification regularly, and the Service Fees page shows the fees that apply. If you are unsure which fee applies to a later renewal, ask the Secretariat.
What If My Institution Operates in Several Countries?
Choose the country where it does most of its activity, or where it is legally established. If it is unclear, ask the Secretariat before applying.
Do Individuals Pay by Their Nationality?
No. Individuals choose their country of residence.
Does a Lower Fee Mean a Lower Standard?
No. The review and the decision are the same for every applicant.
For further help, contact the Secretariat, or apply online.
Related reading: renewing accreditation and membership, choosing between Full, Online, Program and Course Accreditation.
Services This Guide Covers
Frequently Asked Questions
Because all service costs follow the World Bank Country Income Classification, so that fees reflect the economic situation of the country of the applicant.
For an institution or company, the country where it does most of its activity or is legally established. For an individual, the country of residence.
No. The service, standards, review and decision are the same for every applicant.
On the Service Fees page, after choosing the country. The total, with any card commission and VAT, is shown again at application.
No. Card payments add 3 percent, and VAT of 24 percent applies to applicants in Estonia and EU applicants without a valid VAT number.
Yes. Additional discounts may apply according to the economic situation of the country of main activity or legal establishment.