The certificates (school leaving certificates) that are issued abroad may be recognised a document, in the Republic of Poland, of primary education, junior high education, basic vocational education or industry education, education of secondary industry and secondary education, or, they may entitle ones to continue their education, including entitlement to apply for higher studies (e.g. the University), taking into account the range of competencies within the country where the certificate was issued.

The Małopolska Education Superintendent considers applications for recognition of certificates issued abroad, provided that:

• the applicant is an inhabitant in the province of Małopolska region,
• the applicant is not an inhabitant in the province of Małopolska region, therefore, the address of the institution’s headquarters is decisive (e.g. address of the university, OKE), that the applicant is to submit the certificate.

In what cases there is no need to submit an application for recognition of the certificate?

I. REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

The documents referred to in points 3 to 5 must be original. They (the documents) must be issued or confirmed by the school or educational institution that issued the certificate (e.g. the head teacher), or the state educational authorities in the country where the certificate was issued (e.g. Minister of Education).

 

1. Application form for recognition of a certificate issued abroad (form No. 1).

2. School leaving certificate with apostille or legalization:

a) the original of the certificate with apostille placed on, or, attached to the document/ copy of the certificate with apostille placed on, or, attached to the document/ the notarised copy of the certificate with apostille placed on, or, attached to the document;
LIST OF COUNTRIES – PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION

b) legalised original of the certificate or a duplicate of the certificate – if the certificate was issued by a state which is not a part of the Hague Convention;
WHO DOES THE LEGALIZATION?

3. If the certificate does not contain the following information (information about the course of education), the following must be added:

a) the list of marks obtained in the school living exam or required for graduation from an educational institution or the completion of a given stage of educationb)  

b) the list of subjects and other classes (or activities) completed within the given stage  of education along with the grades obtained.

4. The certificate containing:

a) educational content – the issues implemented within each of the subjects listed in point 3b (you can use an example below – form No. 2),
b) grading scale indicating the worst possible grade to get and the best possible grade to get,
c) the information on how long has the one spent at school.

5. The certificate of further (or more) competencies due to graduation, and that is an information about the certificate’s owner can apply, e.g., for higher studies at a university in his or her country (example – form No.3.  

6. The Polish translation of the certificate after its legalization/apostille and other documents prepared in a foreign language.
WHO DOES THE TRANSLATION?

7. The authorization (form No. 4) – if the applicant is not the person to whom the certificate was issued;

8. A photocopy of the identity document, veryfing the personal data of the certificate’owner.

9. If the certificate’s owner is a minor (underage), the application must be signed by a legal representative (usually a parent) or legal guardian. The legal representative (usually a parent) or legal guardian may submit a power of attorney another adult that undertakes  all activities related to the recognition of the minor’s certificate.

II. PLACE OF SUBMISSION OF DOCUMENTS:
Board of Education in Kraków ul. Szlak 73, 31-153 Kraków (The office – by the entrance, on the right side).

III. AN APPLICATION DEADLINE:
The applications together with required documentation may be filed for all year long.

IV. DEADLINE DATE:
one month time (more complicated matters- two months).

V. CONTACT PERSONS:
The Department of Professional Pragmatics, email address: : kurator@kuratorium.krakow.pl

Monika Broś – Senior specialist –  tel. (phone 12 448-11-13
Milena Wtorek –  Senior specialist – tel. 12 448-11-13
Ewa Piwowarczyk – Senior specialist – tel. 12 448-11-28
Marta Rogozińska-Owsiak- Director of the Department of Educational Strategy and Professional Pragmatics

VI. LEGAL BASIS:

1. Article 93, Article 93a-h of the Educational System Act of 7 September 1991 (“Dziennik Ustaw” [Journal of Laws] of 2022, item 2230);
2. the Act of 14 June 1960 – The Code of Administrative Procedure (“Dziennik Ustaw” [Journal of Laws] of 2023, item 775, as amended);
3. The regulation of the Minister of National Education of 25 March 2015 on Procedure for Recognition of Certificate or Other Document ,or, for Confirmation of Education or Qualifications for Further Education Obtained in a Foreign Educational System (“Dziennik Ustaw” [Journal of Laws], item 447, as amended).

           
VII. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

1. The certificate that entitles one just to study at particular (selected) branches of studies in a particular country, entitles the one for applying for admission to higher studies in Poland too, to the same, or, similar branches of studies, (due to the educational programme of branches of studies) – Article 93(4) of the Educational System Act.
2. The procedure for recognition of the certificate is not conducted in respect of certificates documenting credit for completion of school year or completion of school if the certificate’s owner intends to continue in Poland education at the primary school, first degree vocational school, technical secondary school or general high school.
3. If the submitted documentation is not completed (there are no documents listed in points 2 – 5), the applicant is asked to complete the formal deficiencies within a specific period of time. Incomplete documentation results in the application not being considered.
4. The application is filed to The Education Superintendent competent due to the applicant’s place of residence, and if the applicant is not an inhabitant on the territory of the Republic of Poland – to the Education Superintendent competent due to the institution’s headquarters, where the applicant intends to submit the certificate.

Attachments:

1. GDPR-compliant privacy notice
2. Appendix 1 – Application for recognition of the certificate issued abroad.
3. Appendix 2 – Sample of the certificate regarding the content of education.
4. Appendix 3 – Sample of the certificate regarding entitlement to continue education.
5. Appendix 4 – Authorisation.