Nostrification of Educational Documents

The recognition of the equivalence of educational documents issued by schools abroad is governed by a number of legal provisions.

A further piece of legislation governing the process is Act No. 71/1967 Coll. on administrative proceedings (the Administrative Procedure Code), as amended. Account must also be taken of Act No. 245/2008, the Education Act, and of international agreements that have been concluded and are in force.

Act of the National Council of the Slovak Republic No. 422/2015 on the recognition of educational documents and the recognition of professional qualifications, amending certain acts.

The recognition of the equivalence of educational documents issued by foreign primary and secondary schools is governed by Act of the National Council of the Slovak Republic No. 422/2015 on the recognition of educational documents and the recognition of professional qualifications, amending certain acts.

Nostrification concerns only the certificate confirming that a course of education has been completed. It is not proof of professional qualification and may be used solely for academic purposes, such as going on to further study.

Education completed abroad at first- or second-cycle higher education level is recognised by a university in the Slovak Republic that offers a study programme in the same or a related field. Decisions on the equivalence of the relevant educational documents are governed by Act No. 131/2002 on universities, as amended, and Decree No. 238/2005 on the procedure for recognising educational documents.

The education must be verified by the authority of the country of origin responsible for doing so, unless an international agreement provides otherwise.

The application must state the applicant’s first name and surname, permanent or equivalent residential address, the subject of the application, the name and address of the recognised primary or secondary school that issued the certificate, and the year of graduation, and it must be signed by the applicant. It must be accompanied by an identity document (with the original brought along as well), a certified copy of the document confirming completed education, a transcript of the subjects studied and examinations passed, confirmation from a recognised secondary school of the amount of practical training in the case of secondary vocational or full secondary vocational education, verification of the authenticity of the signatures and the school seal on the school-leaving certificate, and proof that the administrative fee has been paid.

Depending on where they live, a graduate of a foreign school submits the documents to the relevant District Office under §36 or §39 of Act No. 422/2015 on the recognition of educational documents and the recognition of professional qualifications, amending certain acts. The recognition procedure starts when the application is filed.