One of the most important stages when moving to the Czech Republic for work or study is preparing the documents. In most cases, foreigners need to have their diploma or certificate recognized—a procedure for acknowledging education according to the requirements of the Czech Republic. Understanding all the nuances and specifics of recognition will help avoid unnecessary mistakes and complete the required procedure successfully on the first attempt without losing time and money. In this article, we will explain who and how to have their education recognized in the Czech Republic, how much it costs, how long it takes, where to submit the documents, and much more.
What is diploma nostrification
Nostrification- this is the official recognition of a foreign diploma or certificate in the Czech Republic. This document is needed to confirm that your education and knowledge meet Czech standards. In simple terms, it is a procedure during which a Czech university compares the subjects and the number of study hours from your diploma or certificate with the local program and decides whether your documents can be recognized as valid according to European standards.
Diploma recognition in the Czech Republic is necessary in order for you to officially work in your specialty, continue your studies at a Czech higher education institution, or enroll in education. Without diploma recognition, your education documents are considered invalid. In that case, you will not be able to obtain a qualified job in the Czech Republic or continue further education.
Nostrification is mandatory if you plan to work in your specialty, enroll in a Czech university (in particular after school - for bachelor's, master's, or doctoral studies), or if your employer requires official confirmation of your education. It is also necessary for regulated professions - such as medicine, pedagogy, law, and other specialties where verification of knowledge and compliance with Czech requirements are important.
Who needs diploma nostrification
Nostification is necessary for everyone who seeks to obtain education or a decent, highly qualified job that requires a specialist's diploma. In particular, the procedure is needed for:
- Applicants after school. When preparing documents for university admission immediately after school, it is necessary to have the school certificate nostrified in the Czech Republic. In this case, it is checked whether the school curriculum meets the Czech requirements for admission.
- College graduates. To enter a Czech university or for employment, confirmation of a college diploma is required. The correspondence of the specialty, studied subjects, and the number of study hours with the Czech program is checked.
- Students for university admission. If you are studying at a university in another country and want to transfer to a Czech higher education institution for a master's program, you need nostrification for admission in the Czech Republic.
- Doctors and other specialists. To work in the profession, diploma recognition is required and, in most cases, passing additional exams. Knowledge of professional terminology and subjects in the Czech language is also necessary.
- For work in the Czech Republic. Nostrifikatsiya is required if the position requires qualification confirmation. The employer or government authorities check whether your education is officially recognized in the Czech Republic.
IMPORTANT!Humanities and exact sciences, such as mathematics and physics, are easier to nostrify. These subjects are studied in a similar way in many countries and usually do not require additional exams. Medical specialties are considered more complex: the number of subjects and study hours may differ. The most difficult are law, political science, history, and accounting. In these fields, additional study of Czech legislation, history, and the state system is necessary. In cases of significant discrepancies, the university may require additional courses, exams, or deny nostrification. Therefore, it is recommended to assess in advance the compliance of your specialty with Czech requirements or seek help from specialists.
How nostrification differs from diploma recognition and approbation
Nostrification, recognition of education, and approbation are different stages and procedures. Nostrification is the confirmation that a foreign diploma or certificate in terms of subjects and number of hours corresponds to the Czech educational program. This is handled by Czech educational institutions.
Recognition of education is a more general concept that means the official acceptance of a foreign diploma for study or work.
Testing- this is a test of the professional knowledge and practical skills of a specialist. For example, a doctor can successfully pass diploma nostrification, but this is not enough. To work in the Czech Republic, it is necessary to pass specialized medical exams and confirm knowledge of the Czech language. Only after confirming their qualifications does a doctor receive the right to work in their profession.
What documents are needed
The following documents are required for nostrification:
- Diploma or certificate of education (depending on the level: school, college, university);
- Supplement to the diploma or certificate with a list of subjects, grades, and the number of study hours;
- Official translation of documents into Czech if they are not issued in English or Czech;
- Certified copies of documents (sending originals is not recommended);
- A document confirming a change of surname (for example, a marriage certificate), if necessary;
- Receipt for payment of the administrative fee for document review;
- Application for nostrification, submitted to the chosen Czech university or competent authority.
In some cases, the university may request additional documents.
Where to submit the documents
After collecting the complete set of documents, their translation, and certification, it is necessary to submit them to the competent authority. In the Czech Republic, this can be the regional magistrate.(Regional Authority)or a Czech university - the choice depends on the level and purpose of nostrification.
Documents for the nostrification of school certificates and college diplomas are submitted to the regional magistrate, as well as in cases when nostrification is required for the general recognition of education.
Documents are submitted to the university if nostrification is necessary for admission to a higher education institution or for the recognition of higher education. The application is submitted specifically to the university whose program most closely corresponds to your specialty. The document review period usually ranges from 30 to 60 days, but in certain cases, if additional checks are needed, it may be extended.
The cost of diploma nostrification
Diploma recognition in the Czech Republic is a paid procedure. The exact cost depends on the volume and number of documents that need to be translated and certified. You can find out how much nostrification costs from this table.
| Expense item | Estimated cost | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| State fee for nostrification of higher education (university) | 3,000 CZK | Mandatory payment. The funds are non-refundable even in case of refusal. |
| State fee for the nostrification of a certificate (through the regional magistrate) | 1,000 CZK | The main mandatory payment for school education and colleges. |
| Certification of copies at Czech POINT (at the post office) | ~30–35 CZK per page | Certification of copies of diplomas and supplements, mandatory for submission. |
| Document translation | from ~30 CZK per page | Translation of the diploma and attachments into Czech with notarization. |
| Additional expenses | from ~100 CZK and above | Postal expenses, sending registered letters, possible legal services, and assistance. |
| Exams / additional checks | Depends on the university | If the program does not fully match, additional exams may be required. |
Review periods
According to the law, the period for reviewing documents for nostrification in the Czech Republic is up to 60 days from the date of application submission. In practice, the terms may be longer and depend on the specific university, the completeness of the submitted documents, and the need for additional checks. For example, if the educational program significantly differs, an expert assessment or the scheduling of exams may be required. Delays are also possible due to the high workload of universities, errors in the documents, lack of translations, their quality, or the need for supplementation. Therefore, the speed of review directly depends on how correctly all documents were collected and prepared at the time of submission.
So that you do not worry about the completeness and correctness of translations, necessary documents, and correctly filled out applications, we recommend contacting MedStudy. The company's specialists will help properly prepare the documents and will accompany you at all stages of nostrification.
Possible exams and tests
Examinations and tests during nostrification are scheduled in cases where the curriculum of the certificate or diploma differs significantly from the Czech one in terms of the list of subjects or number of hours. Often, for humanities or technical education (for example, mathematics, physics, engineering specialties), exams are not required, as programs in many countries almost coincide.
Exams are most often scheduled in medical specialties. This is due to the fact that the main difference lies not so much in the content of the disciplines as in the differences in medical standards, terminology, and practical approaches.
In fields such as accounting, law, political science, and history, the differences can be much greater, as knowledge of Czech legislation, the economic system, the country's history, and its governmental structure is required. Exams are usually conducted in written or oral form at the university and cover exactly those subjects where discrepancies have been identified. Preparation for them includes studying the missing subjects and deepening proficiency in the Czech language.
Step-by-step algorithm of nostrification
To correctly go through the entire process of education recognition in the Czech Republic, it is necessary to follow the following course of action:
- Prepare the documents. Gather all the necessary documents according to the list above.
- Make translations. Translate the documents into Czech and notarize the copies with a notary or inCzech Point.
- Submit an application. Prepare and submit an application for the nostrification of documents to the competent authority.
- Pay the fee. Pay the state fee for nostrification and send the documents for review along with proof of payment.
- Wait for the decision. Within the established period (up to 60 days) you will receive a decision regarding nostrification.
- If necessary, take exams. If the university identifies differences in educational programs, additional exams will need to be taken or supplementary training completed. Preparation for academic differences is carried out in the Czech language.
Common mistakes of applicants
Although at first glance the nostrification procedure seems simple, in practice many applicants make mistakes. Therefore, when submitting documents, we advise paying attention to the most common ones, which can cost time and money.
- Incomplete set of documents. Applicants often do not submit all documents. For example, they may forget to include a certified translation of the marriage certificate in case of a name change or may not submit the appendix to the certificate or diploma with the list of subjects.
- Incorrect translations. Sometimes, when dealing with unreliable translation agencies, the translation turns out to be inaccurate or contains errors. This leads to refusal or delays in the procedure.
- Submitting documents to the wrong body. Confusion often arises regarding the place of application submission. For example, documents are sent to the regional magistrate instead of the university. It also happens that a medical education diploma is submitted to a technical university, due to which the documents are not accepted for consideration.
- Deadline omissions. Failure to meet the established submission deadlines may lead to delays in the procedure or rejection.
Tips on how to pass on the first try
To successfully complete the nostrification procedure on the first try, we advise carefully checking the set of documents, their translations, and the accuracy of the application form before submission. It is also important to submit documents in advance: if the process is delayed due to checks, requests, or additional exams, you will have a buffer of time without the risk of missing admission or employment deadlines.
If you want to go through the procedure without unnecessary worries, to be confident in the correctness of the documents, deadlines, and proper completion of the application, we recommend contacting specialists, for example, MedStudy.
Assistance with diploma nostrification
MedStudy specializes in assisting with the nostrification of diplomas and certificates in the Czech Republic. We help with the preparation and submission of documents for nostrification. We also support applicants during admission to Czech universities: we prepare them for entrance exams and exams on academic differences during nostrification.
A separate direction of our work is teaching the Czech language, in particular for medical specialists, taking into account professional terminology and exam requirements. Training is possible both online and offline, with an individual approach to each client.
MedStudy has been helping high school, college, and university graduates for several years now with preparing documents and completing various procedures - from nostrification and recognition of EU diplomas to admission and adaptation to studying in the Czech Republic.
FAQ
- Is it necessary to do nostrification?Yes, nostrification is mandatory if you plan to work in your specialty, enter a Czech university, or if an employer requires proof of education. Without nostrification, documents are considered invalid.
- How long is the decision valid?The decision on nostrification does not have a term of validity and is indefinite.
- Is it possible to apply online?The application is submitted personally or by mail to the regional magistrate or university. Online submission is generally not practiced.
- What to do in case of refusal of document nostrification in the Czech Republic?In case of refusal, the university may assign additional training, additional exams, or suggest resubmitting the documents after resolving the discrepancies.
- Is nostrification required for medicine?Yes, for medical specialties, nostrification is mandatory, and most often additional exams and certification are also required to work in the profession.
