Foreign Diploma Recognition in Poland 2026

For most jobs in Poland, no formal recognition procedure is required. Polish employers are accustomed to international employees and typically evaluate foreign qualifications themselves or request a NAWA ENIC-NARIC advisory opinion. A certified Polish translation of your diploma and transcript is usually sufficient for most private sector jobs. Formal nostryfikacja is only required for: regulated professions (medicine, law, architecture, nursing), certain civil service and public administration positions, and academic positions at Polish universities. If an employer asks for nostryfikacja for a non-regulated private sector role, they are going beyond what is legally required and you may wish to clarify whether an ENIC-NARIC opinion would satisfy their needs instead.

A certified translation (tłumaczenie przysięgłe) must be produced by a sworn translator (tłumacz przysięgły) registered with the Polish Ministry of Justice. You can find a registered sworn translator for your language pair on the Ministry of Justice website (ms.gov.pl) using their translator search tool. Provide the original diploma and any relevant transcripts or supplements. The translator will produce a certified translation with their seal and signature. Cost: approximately 40–100 PLN per page, depending on the language pair and complexity. Always obtain certified translations of all original-language documents before submitting them to Polish authorities or employers.

Ukrainian higher education qualifications may be recognised in Poland through several routes. If Poland and Ukraine have a bilateral recognition agreement covering the relevant qualification level (check NAWA's list), recognition is automatic. For most Ukrainian university degrees, university-level evaluation by a Polish university is now the standard route for admission to further education — no full nostryfikacja is required. For employment in regulated professions, Ukraine-specific recognition procedures apply. For general employment, most Polish employers accept Ukrainian degrees with a certified translation and ENIC-NARIC advisory opinion as sufficient evidence of academic level. NAWA has specific guidance for Ukrainian qualifications at nawa.gov.pl.

Academic recognition establishes that your foreign qualification corresponds to a specific level of Polish education (e.g., that your foreign bachelor's degree is equivalent to a Polish licencjat). It is used for university admission, scholarship applications and general employment purposes. Professional recognition goes further — it authorises you to practise a specific regulated profession in Poland. A foreign medical degree may be academically recognised as equivalent to a Polish medical degree (lekarskie), but you still need separate recognition from the Medical Chamber (Izba Lekarska) to actually work as a doctor in Poland. These are separate procedures with different authorities and requirements. You may need both for a medical career, or only academic recognition for most non-regulated professions.

Timelines vary by authority and workload. Kuratorium Oświaty nostryfikacja of secondary school qualifications: typically 1–3 months if documentation is complete. University-based higher education evaluation (for admission): typically 2–8 weeks during active admission periods. ENIC-NARIC advisory opinion: currently 4–8 weeks. Professional recognition (medical): 3–9 months including language and aptitude testing. Professional recognition (architecture, engineering): 3–6 months. These are typical ranges — your specific case may be faster or slower depending on the complexity and the authority's current workload. Applications submitted with complete, correctly prepared documentation are processed faster than those requiring follow-up for missing documents.

For academic recognition purposes (university admission), you need Polish language proficiency for Polish-language programmes — typically B2 level demonstrated by a certificate or language test arranged by the university. Polish language proficiency is not generally required just to obtain diploma recognition or a NAWA advisory opinion. For professional recognition, however, some regulated professions require demonstrated Polish language skills as a condition of authorisation to practise. Medical doctors, for example, must demonstrate Polish language proficiency adequate for safe medical practice. The specific language requirement varies by profession and is set by the relevant professional body.

Yes, under the EU Professional Qualifications Directive (implemented in Poland as national legislation), EU citizens with qualifications in a regulated profession obtained in another EU member state are entitled to have their qualification recognised in Poland through the structured mutual recognition procedure. The process involves submitting your qualification to the relevant Polish professional body, which evaluates it against Polish standards. In most cases, the professional body must issue a decision within 3 months. In some cases, a compensation measure (adaptation period or aptitude test) may be required. The key advantage for EU professionals is that recognition cannot simply be refused — there is a right to a decision and to appeal.

An apostille is an official stamp affixed by an authority in the diploma's issuing country that certifies the authenticity of the document for use in another country that is a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention. Poland is a party to this convention, so documents with an apostille from another signatory country are accepted as authentic without further legalisation. If your country is a Hague Convention signatory, you need an apostille on your original diploma before submitting it for recognition in Poland. Countries not party to the convention require full diplomatic legalisation (through consulates), which is more complex and expensive. Check whether your country uses the apostille system at the HCCH (Hague Conference) website.

Some employers in Poland — particularly large multinational companies that regularly hire international employees — have HR processes that assist with qualification evaluation and recognition. They may cover the cost of certified translations, ENIC-NARIC opinions, or even professional recognition fees as part of relocation assistance. Ask your employer's HR department about relocation and recognition support when negotiating your contract or during onboarding. For regulated professions, some healthcare employers (hospitals, clinics) actively facilitate the professional recognition process for foreign doctors and nurses they wish to hire, as it is in their interest to complete the process efficiently.

Start with NAWA's ENIC-NARIC service at nawa.gov.pl/uznawanie-wyksztalcenia — they provide free information and advisory opinions. For university admission, contact the international admissions office (Biuro Rekrutacji Międzynarodowej) at the Polish university you wish to attend. For regulated professions, contact the relevant professional body directly (links available on Ministry of Science and Ministry of Health websites). For secondary qualifications, contact the Kuratorium Oświaty in the province where you live. NAWA also operates Welcome Points at major Polish universities that provide in-person guidance to international students and newcomers — find your nearest one at nawa.gov.pl.