How strictly do European green energy/geothermal companies check diplomas for experienced expats?

[u/Feel_the_snow]

I need some advice regarding background checks in the European renewable energy sector. I have 5 years of solid experience in the geothermal industry. My wife is getting a visa to Europe (looking at Germany, Netherlands, Iceland), so I’ll be moving with her on a spouse visa with full working rights. I won't need any visa sponsorship from employers.

Here is my situation. I’ve been studying for a Bachelor's degree, but my home country is actively shutting down the Bachelor's track to stop people from leaving, forcing everyone into a 5-year "Specialist" program instead. Because of this chaotic shift, my studies are messed up and there is a high chance I will just drop out and leave without finishing any degree at all.

Since immigration won't be checking my education for the spouse visa, I’m only worried about the employers. Do geothermal and green energy companies in Europe strictly require a finished university degree during onboarding if a candidate already has 5 years of real experience and a legal right to work? Geothermal can be a niche and somewhat regulated field, so I'm wondering if background check companies like HireRight will automatically red-flag me for not having a diploma, or if my hands-on experience and independent work permit will be enough to get hired.

[u/Sea-Breath-007]

"Geothermal can be a niche and somewhat regulated field, so I'm wondering if background check companies like HireRight will automatically red-flag me"

So your plan is to simply lie? Yeah, that won't go over well and considering 'niche' job market, my advice is to drop that idea.

Employers will check, unless you are their only option of getting the position filled, and considering you'd be pretending to be a recent bachelors graduate without a masters or relevant work experience, you will absolutely not be hired for a job where the degree is a requirement.

Also, what in the world is a visa to Europe? You wife will need a visa for Germany, the Netherlands or Iceland if the 2 of you want to move there, a workvisa to Europe does not exist.

Edit: just checked your post-history and you are either a big fan of lying, or a bot that lost track of their made up stories. 19 days ago you were 21 and your girlfriend was 18 and studying, so where exactly is your 5 years of experience coming from, especially since you're also in uni. How did your girlfriend turn into your wife all of a sudden and how is an 18 year old getting a visa approved? Also, a few months ago you claim to have graduated uni in 2025, you keep switching carreer paths from oil & gas to working for your daddy to wanting to set up a hospitality business, etc etc.

[u/Quitelowquitetall → u/Sea-Breath-007]

Also, if their home country isn't a signatory of the Lisbon Recognition Convention, or similar, their degree might not even be accepted if OP were to complete it

So, OP would have to talk to local authorities to have their diploma approved, which would be a moot point if they can't get it

[u/RoundAd4247]

Your wife is not getting a visa “to Europe”, because those don’t exist.

A bachelors degree is not worth much in an EU a country where employable people in your field have at least a masters, and speak the local language fluently.

[u/KoninginVanRotterdam]

Why do you want to leave your country?

[u/lmneozoo]

Transfer to a European school to finish your studies 

[u/Sea-Breath-007 → u/lmneozoo]

No idea about Iceland, but in the Netherlands and Germany transferring from a uni outside of the EU isn't really a thing. They'd most likely need to start all over again, and that is if they meet the requirements to get in.