Automatic recognition

Certificates and other documents confirming education in foreign educational systems which do not require any additional formalities in Polish institutions

Certificates, diplomas or other educational documents that confirm the completion of secondary education in the European Union, European Economic Area (EEA) or OECD member states as well as the right to apply for higher education programs in the country of issue shall be recognized in Poland by operation of law (i.e. automatically). The recognition by operation of law (automatic recognition) means that the owners of certificates, diplomas or other documents that are recognized in Poland by operation of law may be filed directly with a university, HE institution or employer without being asked by a Polish authority for an additional recognition confirmation or proceedings.

Education superintendents do not conduct recognition procedures for documents which are already recognized by operation of law and do not offer any additional certificates in this area.

Types of certificates that are recognized in Poland by operation of law(Article 93, paragraphs 1-2 of the Act of 7 September 1991 on the Educational System (Dz.U.2024.750 t.j.) [Polish Journal of Laws of 2024, item 750]:

1. documents obtained in the educational systems of the countries of the European Union, the European Free Trade Association – European Economic Area and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD): Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, USA, United Kingdom;
2. IB (International Baccalaureate) diplomas, issued by the International Baccalaureate Organization in Geneva;
3. EB (European Baccalaureate) diplomas awarded by the European Schools in accordance with the Convention defining the Statute of the European Schools, drawn up in Luxembourg, on 21 June 1994 (Dz. U. z 2005 r. Nr 3, poz. 10) [Polish Journal of Laws of 2005, No. 3, item 10].
4. Certificates covered by international agreements:
   – bilateral agreements,
   – multilateral agreements.
   The contents of the agreements are also available on the following websites:
   – Ministry of Science and Higher Education https://www.gov.pl/web/nauka/umowy-dwustronne-dotyczace-uznawalnosci-wyksztalcenia
   oraz
   – Ministry of Foreign Affairs https://traktaty.msz.gov.pl/english-version
   
   

ATTENTION! If a given certificate or other document provides the right to apply for admission to specific higher education courses in the country of its issue, that certificate or document shall confirm in the Republic of Poland the right to apply for admission to the same or similar fields of study in terms of curriculum or may be recognised as a document confirming in the Republic of Poland the right to apply for admission to the same or similar, in terms of the curriculum, fields of study in higher education. Article 93, paragraph 4 of the Act of 7 September 1991 on the Educational System (Dz.U.2024.750 t.j.) [Polish Journal of Laws of 2024, item 750]