For Ukrainians who have changed their place of residence and moved to another country because of the war, the question of employment immediately arises. In order to get a job in your speciality abroad, you need to confirm your Ukrainian diploma. Find out more about where Ukrainian diplomas are recognised, how to confirm the document and how to nostrificate a foreign diploma in Ukraine

Legal advice on education for Ukrainians abroad and foreigners in Ukraine

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In order to work abroad in a speciality that was obtained in a Ukrainian educational institution, it is necessary to confirm and legalise the diploma. Similar rules are established for foreigners who plan to be employed in Ukraine.

The procedure for legalising a diploma involves verifying the document on education in accordance with the country's legislation. Where Ukrainian diplomas are recognised, how to legalise a document abroad, and the nuances of nostrification of a foreign diploma in Ukraine are described in the article below.

Where Ukrainian diplomas are recognised: a list of countries

Ukrainian diplomas are valid abroad thanks to the Lisbon and Hague Conventions. These agreements mean that Ukrainian educational documents are recognised and allow Ukrainians to work abroad in the field of study obtained at a state educational institution in their homeland.

List of countries that have signed the Lisbon Convention
Photo: Ukrainian Association of Polygraph Examiners

The European Network of Academic Recognition Centres (ENIC - NARIC Network) is a network formed as a result of the Lisbon Convention, currently operating in 55 countries and helping to understand the nuances of the diploma legalisation process.

For more informationon the procedure for confirming a Ukrainian diploma in Poland, please follow the link.

The address of ENIC - NARIC Network in Ukraine is 25 Chornovola Street, Kyiv.

Another agreement that simplifies the process of legalisation of educational documents in countries around the world is the Hague Convention.

This convention allows for the use of foreign documents, including educational diplomas. The agreement is currently in force in 124 countries.

However, it should be borne in mind that foreign documents can only be validated if they have an apostille.

An apostille is a special stamp that is affixed to official documents issued in one country in order to make them valid in another country. This is a kind of international certificate that confirms the authenticity of a person's signature, the authenticity of a seal or stamp, and the official status of the official who certified the document. In Ukraine, an apostille can be obtained at the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

An apostille on a Ukrainian diploma allows employment in the speciality in the member states of the Hague Convention and does not require additional permits. However, it is worth noting that in order to legalise a diploma in some countries, a double apostille is required - on the original document and on the translation.

Currently, 89 countries require an apostille, but there are also those in which Ukrainians do not need it to be employed. These include Poland, Moldova, the Czech Republic, Serbia, Romania, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Macedonia, Bulgaria and Estonia.

It is also worth noting that Ukraine and Moldova are currently working on an agreement on mutual recognition of educational documents and academic degrees. This should greatly simplify employment and eliminate the need for additional documentary evidence.

Additional legalisation of Ukrainian diplomas abroad

If the goal is to get a job in a country that is not a member of the Lisbon and Hague Conventions, you need to undergo consular legalisation.

To do this, you need to contact the Department of Consular Services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, namely the Department of Apostille, Legalisation and Reclamation of Documents. All the nuances should be agreed upon in advance, as some countries have their own requirements for the legalisation of educational documents, namely notarisation with an apostille of the Ministry of Education.

It is important to know that the process of verification and recognition of diplomas differs from country to country, as, for example, in Germany, this procedure takes 6 to 8 months.

For more informationon the procedure of legalisation of a Ukrainian medical diploma in Germany, please follow the link.

For additional information on the recognition and confirmation of Ukrainian diplomas abroad, please call:

● 044 484 64 25, 050 957 45 75 - National Information Centre for Academic Mobility;
● 044 279 79 61 - Department of Consular Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

What documents are required for the recognition of Ukrainian diplomas abroad?

The list of documents may vary depending on the country, but the main ones are:

● passport;
● proof of residence permit;
● diploma of language proficiency at the required level;
● an application for confirmation of a Ukrainian educational document;
● diploma and supplement;
● a translated and notarised apostille of the diploma and supplement.

Nostrification of a diploma in Ukraine: information for foreign citizens

Nostrification is a procedure for the recognition of a foreign educational document in Ukraine. In other words, it is a process that allows you to officially confirm that your diploma obtained abroad meets Ukrainian educational standards and can be used for further education and employment.

Ukrainian universities are annually included in the rankings of the most prestigious universities in the world. To learn moreabout the best universities in Ukraine for international students, please follow the link.

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How to nostrificate a diploma in Ukraine?

For persons who have received diplomas in the member states of the Hague Convention, it is necessary to obtain an apostille, while the Lisbon Convention does not require additional legalisation. If a person has obtained a degree in a country that is not a member of such agreements, consular legalisation is required.

Important! A mandatory condition for the recognition of a foreign diploma in Ukraine is a translation of the educational document and notarisation.

What documents are required for the recognition of a foreign diploma in Ukraine?

● A copy of the foreign diploma and its translation into Ukrainian, certified by a notary;
● а copy of the diploma supplement and a notarised translation of the supplement into Ukrainian;
● copies of documents on education (secondary, vocational, etc.);
● certificate or certificate of academic or professional rights issued by an authorised institution;
● copies of identity documents.

What is the procedure for nostrification of a diploma in Ukraine?

The Ministry of Education and Science is responsible for the recognition of foreign diplomas in Ukraine. Before nostrification, the document is reviewed in accordance with the following requirements:

● confirmation of the validity of the diploma;
● verification of the status of the educational institution that issued the document;
● verification of the educational programme under which the training was conducted;
● assessment of qualifications in accordance with the requirements of Ukraine.

Taking into account the results of the verification, the Ministry will issue a decision: full nostrification in case of confirmation of education and its full compliance with the requirements of Ukraine, or partial nostrification in case of discrepancies in education. It is noted that if a diploma is recognised as partially nostrified, it is necessary to make academic differences to fill in the gaps in education.

After the diploma is recognised, a certificate is issued that allows employment or further education in Ukraine.

The process of legalising educational documents can have many nuances. That is why, in order to better understand these processes, Visit Ukraine advises you to contact a qualified education lawyer. Experienced attorneys are ready to provide full legal support in educational matters to both Ukrainians and foreign citizens.

Just to remind you! Admission to Ukrainian higher education institutions is open to foreign citizens. To learn what documents are required to obtain higher education in Ukraine and how foreigners can enter Ukrainian universities, please follow the link.

Photo: Freepik

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