Recognition of university diplomas

Recognition is a procedure leading to the determination of the Polish equivalent of a foreign diploma. A foreign diploma that cannot be recognised as equivalent to a corresponding Polish diploma and professional title on the basis of an international agreement determining the equivalence is subject to recognition.

  • The recognition procedure is conducted by a university with an academic category of A+, A or B+ in the discipline to which the application relates. 
  • An applicant for recognition submits an application to the selected recognising university
  • The recognising university compares the programme of study, the learning outcomes and professional entitlements obtained, the professional traineeships completed and the duration of studies with the programme of study, the learning outcomes and professional entitlements obtained, the professional traineeships completed and the duration of similar studies conducted at that very university. 
  • A fee is charged for the procedure. The maximum fee is 50% of a professor’s salary (PLN 3,205). The university determines the conditions and procedure for an exemption from payment of a fee. If it is determined that there is no jurisdiction to conduct the recognition procedure, the fee is not charged.
  • The recognising university either recognises or refuses to recognise a foreign university diploma as equivalent to the corresponding Polish diploma and professional title within 90 days from the date of submission of an application meeting the formal requirements.

More information regarding diploma recognition can be found here:

Confirmation of professional qualifications

The decision to recognise foreign qualifications of a Ukrainian citizen wishing to pursue a profession that is not a regulated profession in Poland is made directly by the employer.

When applying for work in regulated professions, a citizen of Ukraine is, as a rule, subject to the same requirements as a Polish citizen. The decision to facilitate access to a regulated profession for persons who have obtained their qualifications in non-EU countries is primarily the responsibility of the minister in charge of the relevant government administration department responsible for entering into or pursuing a profession belonging to that department.

Summing up: If you have diplomas proving your qualifications in a particular area, you need to consult the information provided by individual ministries.

Recognition of qualifications of physicians and dentists from Ukraine in Poland

The basic condition for a physician from Ukraine to take up employment in Poland is to have a medical licence. It is a document confirming the required qualifications to practice as a physician, dentist or nurse in Poland. The document is always issued in connection with the possibility of starting work at a specific health facility in Poland.

For this purpose, a candidate submits a relevant application together with the required documents (duplicates of diplomas certified by a notary or a consul) to the Minister of Health. The consent to start work in Poland is granted by an administrative decision of the Minister of Health (within 14 days, free service) and is valid for 5 years. After the issuance of the decision by the Ministry of Health, a physician may start work at a health facility in Poland. Full and permanent medical licence for a physician or dentist and recognition of medical specialty can only be obtained through the procedure of medical diploma recognition.

Both of these procedures can be used independently by a physician. This means that a physician who is in the process of recognising his/her diploma (passing, among other things, a medical exam and the Polish language exam) can at the same time apply to the Minister of Health for a conditional consent to work as a physician in Poland. A physician who already has a conditional medical licence can start the procedure for his/her diploma recognition at any time.

For more information, please visit:

Obtain the right to practice as a physicians/dentist for a specific range of professional activities, time and place of employment in the territory of the Republic of Poland (information applies to physicians/dentists who have a diploma confirming that they have received a specialist title issued outside the EU – Ministry of Health – Gov.pl Portal (www.gov.pl)

Recognition of qualifications of nurses and midwives from Ukraine in Poland

You can obtain the right to practice as a nurse and midwife in Poland when you meet the following conditions:

  1. Diploma of a nurse or midwife – documents translated into Polish by a sworn translator and originals or copies certified by a notary or a consul.
  2. Full capacity to perform acts in law – representation.
  3. Health status allowing to practice as a nurse or midwife – confirmed by a medical examination in Poland or Ukraine. 
  4. Impeccable ethical conduct – representation.

The application, together with the documents, shall be sent by registered mail to the Ministry of Health. The service is free of charge. After receiving a positive decision, you need to visit a district chamber of nurses and midwives having jurisdiction over the place of intended employment. There, within 7 days, you will receive a document confirming the right to practice as a nurse or the right to practice as a midwife, which is valid for 5 years. The profession can be pursued (the place of work must be declared to the Ministry of Health) at any medical facility in Poland, under the supervision of a nurse or midwife of your choice.

For more information, please visit:

Obtain a conditional right to practice as a nurse or midwife in the territory of the Republic of Poland – Ministry of Health – Portal Gov.pl (www.gov.pl)

Recognition of qualifications of paramedics from Ukraine in Poland

In order to become a paramedic at a Polish health facility, you must:

  1. Have a diploma confirming the title of professional paramedic or documents proving at least one year of professional experience in the performance of professional tasks;
  2. Have full capacity to perform acts in law – representation;
  3. Have a health status allowing to practice as a paramedic – confirmed by a medical examination in Poland or Ukraine;

The application shall be sent by registered mail to the Ministry of Health. The service is free of charge. The application is accompanied by translations of documents (sworn translator) as well as originals (copies certified by a notary or a consul are acceptable). Once you have been approved to practice as a paramedic (for up to 5 years), you can apply for a job at any health facility in Poland. Tasks are performed under the supervision of either a paramedic or a physician designated by the head of the treatment facility.

For more information, please visit:

Obtain permission to practice as a paramedic in the territory of the Republic of Poland (information applies to paramedics who obtained their diploma outside the EU) – Ministry of Health – Portal Gov.pl (www.gov.pl)

Recognition of qualifications of teachers from Ukraine in Poland

Teachers wishing to work in Polish educational institutions can apply for confirmation of their qualifications depending on the date they received their diplomas.

  1. Diplomas obtained before 20 June 2006 – recognised as equivalent to Polish diplomas

    Diplomas obtained in Ukraine before 20 June 2006 are recognised as equivalent to Polish ones, but recognition of the foreign diploma must be performed. To this end, you should apply to the National Agency for Academic Exchange for a personal certificate or a general opinion on the diploma.
    Applications must be filled out in Polish or English, but are also available in Ukrainian Issuing information on foreign diplomas – NAWA
    Applications, together with certified (either by a Polish notary public or by a consul of the Republic of Poland in the country of issuance) copies of documents, shall be sent by registered mail. 
    Waiting time – 60 days
    The service is free of charge. The cost of translating documents remains with the applicant. 

    It is possible to independently generate information about the diploma from selected educational institutions in Ukraine as well as concerning the rights obtained from a given form of education and the regulations governing its recognition in Poland.

    Qualifier – NAWA 

  2. Diplomas issued after 20 June 2006 – recognition necessary 
  3. Recognition, or confirmation of the equivalence of diplomas from Ukraine with the Polish ones, is carried out by authorised universities. Here a list of universities: polon.nauka.gov.pl/opi/aa/ck/stnauk/upr?execution=e1s1;

The university has 90 days to recognise the diploma. The deadline does not include the submission of translations of documents, any exams or internships.

Fee: PLN 3,205, but the university may exempt an applicant from the payment of fees.

Ukrainian citizens may also be employed at schools under Article 15 of the Education Law. In this case, a person employed is not required to meet the qualification requirements, but only to have adequate skills to be assessed by a headmaster. The headmaster may consider the skills appropriate even in the absence of diploma recognition.

 

Contact IOM if you need support or advice on diploma recognition or recognition of qualifications.