If you plan to start your studies at a university in Poland, the nostrification of your diploma is a necessary step. It confirms that your educational documents meet Polish standards and can be recognized in Poland.
Legal basis: Article 93 and Article 93 a-h of Polish Education Act of 7th September 1991 (t.j. Dz.U. z 2020 r., poz. 1327) and a Decree of the Minister of National Education (rozporządzenie Ministra Edukacji Narodowej z dnia 27 marca 2015 roku w sprawie postępowania w celu uznania albo potwierdzenia wykształcenia lub uprawnień do kontynuacji nauki uzyskanych w zagranicznym systemie oświaty (Dz. U. z 2015 poz. 447 ze zm.).
Documents that must be submitted for recognition of a certificate:
1. Application for recognition of a certificate or other document (appendix 1)
2. Original certificate legalised by:
1) Polish consul in the country where certificate was issued or in the country in which educational system a school operates;
2) educational authorities in the country where a certificate was issued or in the country in which educational system a school operates;
3) an embassy or consulate of the country where certificate was issued or in the country in which educational system a school operates located in Poland or in other EU, EFTA or OECD country;
4) if a certificate was issued by a country – party to the Hague Convention of 5th October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement for Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents, an original certificate, its duplicate or a notarial copy with an Apostille placed on it or attached to any of those documents must be submitted.
3. If on the certificate there is no information about the course/process of education the following documents must be attached:
1) transcript of grades obtained during the final exam which enables completing school or a certain level of education;
2) a list of subjects taught with grades;
3) information about the completed curriculum program, number of years studied, grading scale (sample of Form of curriculum content is available in appendixes at the bottom of this website);
4) information concerning the right to continue education at the next level in the country in which educational system a school operates, including the right to apply to higher education institution and the scope of rights appertaining.
The aforementioned documents should be issued or certified by the school or educational institution which issued the certificate or they should be certified by educational authorities of the country which issued the certificate or in which system of education the school operates.
4. Translation into Polish of all documents presented in a foreign language done by:
1) a Polish sworn translator(The list of sworn translators), or
2) a sworn translator registered in any of EU, EFTA or OECD country, or
3) a Polish consul in the country where the certificate was issued, or
4) an embassy or consulate of the country which issued the certificate or in which educational system the school operates located on the territory of Poland;
If it is impossible to have the documents translated by any of the above mentioned persons, the School Superintendent may accept translation done by other reliable entity.
5. A copy of an ID document (ID card, passport, residence card).
6. A letter of authorisation from the certificate holder if an applicant is not the owner of the certificate (appendix 2)