1. Legalisation of foreign documents of education
Legalisation is the certification of a document’s formal conformity with the law binding in the place of its issue or of the authenticity of the seals and signatures placed on the document. Legalisation of a document by the relevant authorities in the country in which it was issued increases its credibility.
- A. Legalisation with Apostille
If a country in which a given document was issued is a party to the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents, concluded in The Hague, the document’s legalisation is replaced by an Apostille certificate attached to it. The list of countries – parties to the Convention and the institutions authorised to issue the Apostille is available here. - B. Normal Legalisation
If a country in which a given document was issued is not a party to the aforementioned Convention, the document’s legalisation remains the responsibility of a Polish consular office in that country. Depending on the type of a document, Polish consular offices will use one of the three categories of legalisation clauses: full legalisation, standard legalisation, authentication. - More information about legalization or apostille is available here.
- The list of Poland’s missions abroad is available here.
2. Translation by a sworn translator
All official documents issued abroad should be translated into Polish by:
- a Polish sworn translator registered on the list of translators published by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Poland. The list of Polish sworn translators may be found here.
- the consul of the Republic of Poland in the country in which documents were issued
- a person registered as a sworn translator in an EU member state, an EFTA member state, an EOG member state, or an OECD member state.
- an accredited diplomatic representative to Poland, or the consular office of the country in whose territory, or within whose educational system the documents in question were issued.
3. Recognition of secondary-school certificate
Enrollment for the 1st degree studies is carried out on the basis of graduation certificate of secondary education (foreign certificates can be recognized by law or on the basis of a proper international agreement or the decision of recognition issued by the Board of Education in Poland). Secondary education and entitlement for enrollment for studies in Poland are confirmed by:
- Certificates and other documents issued by school or educational institution functioning in the education system of European Union member countries, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries, European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member countries – parties of the agreement of European Economic Area (EEA), which enable enrollment for studies in this countries. It applies for certificate of secondary education in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Great Britain, Hungry, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Turkey, USA.
- Certificates IB (International Baccalaureate) issued by the International Baccalaureate Organization in Geneva.
- Certificates EB (European Baccalaureate) issued by the European Schools, according to the Convention defining the Statute of the European Schools, issued in Luxemburg on 21st of June 1994 (Journal of Laws from 2005, No 3, item 10).
- Certificates included in the international agreements: https://www.gov.pl/web/nauka/umowy-dwustronne-dotyczace-uznawalnosci-wyksztalcenia
The Candidate who does not possess any of the above mentioned documents is obliged to make an official recognition (“nostryfikacja”) of his/her secondary-school certificate.
The “nostryfikacja” is done by the Board of Education, more information you will find at: https://kuratorium.krakow.pl/recognition-of-certificate-issued-abroad-2/
4. Procedure of recognition of the document
Recognition certificates were issued by the Board of Education to 30th of March 2015, now the Board of Education issues the decisions of recognition of the document issued abroad. More information about the Recognition of Academic Qualifications may be found:
5. Health insurance
All foreign students should have an insurance policy for sickness and accident in Poland. Such a policy should cover at least the first year of studies, amounting to 30,000 EUR for medical treatment throughout the insured period.
In the case of the holders of the Card of the Pole or a permanent residence permit or the decision confirming Polish descent, an NFZ premium can be paid by the university. For this purpose, they should contact Office for Scholarships and Medical Insurance (Biuro Stypendiów i Ubezpieczeń Zdrowotnych), Main Building, room 215 (second floor).
An insurance policy can be confirmed in the following way:
- an insurance policy with Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia NFZ, ul. Wadowicka 8W Kraków (the National Health Fund)
Persons who are not holders of the Card of the Pole may sign a contract with Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia and make premium payments on their own. A copy of a contract along with payment confirmations should be submitted to Unit for Teaching Administration (Dział Nauczania).
NOTE! To sign a contract with NFZ (the National Health Fund), a student needs the following documents: a certificate confirming admission to studies, PESEL number, a document confirming a student’s residence (e.g. a residence hall).
Prior to a visit to Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia, please check what documents are required for applying for an insurance policy. The necessity to check required documents applies, in particular, to persons under age! http://www.nfz.gov.pl/dla-pacjenta/zalatw-sprawe-krok-po-kroku/jak-ubezpieczyc-sie-dobrowolnie/ - An insurance policy covering the costs of medical treatment in Poland in the amount of 30,000 EUR. An insurance policy issued abroad must be translated into the Polish language.
- A certificate issued by an employer, confirming the payment of a premium.
- European Health Insurance Card (in respect of EU citizens).
6. Legalization of stay
All foreign students who wish to study in Poland are required to legalize their stay.
- The citizens of the EU and Switzerland are only required to register their stay.
- Non-EU foreigners must hold an entry visa or a temporary stay permit.