NAWA – RECOGNITION

Recognition and Nostrification

The recognition or nostrification of a foreign secondary school certificate or diploma is, in certain cases, required in order to apply for admission to first-cycle (Bachelor’s) studies or long-cycle Master’s studies in Poland.

If certificates, diplomas, or other documents obtained abroad require recognition in Poland by an individual information document issued by the Director of NAWA (or decision of the Education Superintendent (Kurator Oświaty) if issued before 01 July 2025), or through nostrification by the relevant university body, the applicant is obliged to present the appropriate decision / individual information / certificate confirming equivalence with a Polish secondary school certificate, higher education diploma, or doctoral diploma no later than the end of the application deadline.

Recognition of a Foreign Certificate

Recognition of a foreign certificate as equivalent to the appropriate Polish certificate may occur:

  1. By operation of law – without confirmation by any institution or authority in Poland;
  2. On the basis of an individual information about the certificate issued by the Director of NAWA (or decision by the Education Superintendent (Kurator Oświaty) if issued before 01 July 2025))
  3. On the basis of international agreements.

Certificates Automatically Recognized in Poland by Operation of Law:

  • Secondary school leaving certificates issued in the education systems of countries belonging to the European Union (EU), the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), or the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), provided they entitle the holder to apply for higher education in the country of issue and were issued by a recognized school or educational institution.

This applies to certificates obtained in the following OECD member states:
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Spain, Ireland, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Canada, Colombia, South Korea, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Germany, Norway, New Zealand, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Sweden, Turkey, USA, Hungary, United Kingdom, Italy.

  • International Baccalaureate (IB) Diplomas, issued by the International Baccalaureate Organization in Geneva.
  • European Baccalaureate Diplomas (EB) issued by the European Schools, in accordance with the Convention defining the Statute of the European Schools, signed in Luxembourg on 21 June 1994.

Any certificates not listed above must be recognized as equivalent to the corresponding Polish certificate on the basis of individual information issued by NAWA (or decision issued by Education Superintendent (Kurator Oświaty issued before 01 July 2025)

Where to Apply for Recognition?

From 1 July 2025, applications should be submitted online to NAWA (Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange).
Details regarding the procedure for obtaining individual information on secondary school leaving certificates are available here .

Make sure to bring all required documents with you.