Validation

Validation of leaving certificate from secondary school

Validation of foreign diplomas

This validation takes place at the school and education department of the regional government authorities. Every regional government authority employs a person responsible for diploma validation. In the case of Southern Moravia regional government authority, this person is Ing. Bc. Dagmar Kostrhůnová (see contact information below).

Validation of foreign diplomas is a very complicated process and is run under the system of administrative governance. Validation process of foreign educational outcomes is not subordinate only to the Czech legislation but especially to international agreements that deal with document validation.

There are different regulations in respect to different countries in mutual diploma validation. Every request is reviewed individually and for this reason it is very difficult to generalize about this process.

Basic rules that apply for most countries

All applicants for diploma validation must present a checked (authorized by an official authority) copy of a completed secondary school diploma translated into the Czech language by an authorized translator. Then, a list of all passed subjects (transcripts) from all school years (semesters) called a ‘subject plan’ must be presented. This plan must contain all subjects and numbers of lessons assigned to each subject. It has to be authorized by an official authority and translated, as well.

Differences among countries:

• applicants from countries that signed the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty do not need any additional verifications (except the basic rules mentioned above) e.g. Belarus, Belgium, France, Italy, Croatia, Cyprus, Russia, Greece, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, among others.

• applicants from countries that did not sign the above mentioned mutual agreement with the Czech Rep. but joined the Haag Convention must get an additional stamp called an ‘apostille’. The stamp is issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or at a special office assigned by the applicant’s country (most other European countries including the UK, the USA, Israel, Japan, Australia, Sweden, and India).

• applicants from all other countries must get a so-called ‘super-legalization’ of their diploma. It means that they have to obtain a stamp from their Ministry of Foreign Affairs and, from the Czech Embassy in their country (Pakistan, Bangladesh, China). 

Validation of a foreign diploma is not an easy process. Therefore, we advise you to contact the person responsible for diploma validation at the regional authority (Krajsky urad). It is highly recommended to start the validation process at least 6 weeks prior to the term of submitting the validated diploma to your college. There needs to be enough time to fulfil all the requirements.

A) Portugal, Botswana, England, Norway, Finland, Sweden, India

• Students must have an APOSTILLE stamp on their diploma documentation from the Ministry of Education in the country where the the diploma was issued.
• (In Portugal the office is „Procuradoria-Geral- Distrial“, in the UK The Legalization Office Foreign and Com.office, London)
• Students also must have a translated version of their transcript or study plan with their courses listed (including the number of semesters and hours of each course)
• In cases where students only have three years of high school or sixth form, a comprehensive list of of exams taken or mandated by the ministry (for example, Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Physics, etc.) - In Brno, exams are held every month except July and December in four selected secondary schools.
• In cases where students have 3 years of high school or sixth form, and more than 4,000 hours of study – in most cases a nostrification exam is not needed
• All documents (diploma and study transcripts) must be translated into Czech by a court-appointed translator and must be notarised
• In cases where the student attended a private educational institution, additional documentation regarding accreditation of the school (in other words the school must be accredited by the Ministry of Education in that country)
• A nostrification transaction fee of 1,000 CZK (is paid to the office either in cash or by credit card)

B) Cyprus, Greece

• Students do not need their documents stamped with an APOSTILLE
• Students who come from EU Member countries - if the student brings confirmation or documentation on their diploma that they have successfully completed their studies and are able to continue their studies at the university-level, a nostrification exam of validation will not be required by that student.
• Students must have their diploma and student trasncripts translated
• All points in section A must be addressed

C) Nigeria, Taiwan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, China

• Students must demonstrate the super legalisation of their diploma and study documents with 2 stamps (one from the Ministry of Education and Foreign Affairs where the diploma was issued AND one from the Czech Embassy in that country – Nigeria, Taiwan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, China)
• All points in section A must be addressed

D) Post-Soviet Republics

• Ukraine, Russian Federation, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kyrgystan – no legalisation stamps needed
• Republic of Kazakhstan, Armenia, Azerbaijan – Apostille needed
• Tajikistan, Turkmenistan – super legalisation with 2 stamps required (see above)
• In cases where the diploma and student transcripts with more than 4001 hours of study are translated – the student‘s course of study will be recognised without the need of a nostrification exam (12 years of study including primary education)
• In cases where the total number of hours of study for the 10th, 11th and 12th year (3001-4000 hours will require a nostrification exam in one subject, from 2301 to 3000 hours a notrification exam required in 2 subjects and from 2001 to 2300 hours a nostrification exam required in 3 subjects)
• In cases where the student submits a translated attested legal document plus any additional documentation of study in their 10th or 11th year of study (11 years of study including primary education) the nostrification exam will be for 3-5 subjects depending on the number of hours studied (2301 and higher an exam in 3 subjects will be required, 2101 – 2300 hours, an exam in 4 subjects required, 1900 – 2100, an exam in 5 subjects will be required)

List of documents necessary for nostrification and validation:

1. Application request
2. 1,000 CZK - administrative fee
3. A copy of passport (uncertified copies of your passport)
4. Proof of residence in the South Moravian Region (copy of a lease or similar document)
5. Certificate/Diploma (certified copy of a diploma translated into the Czech language by a court-appointed translator in the CR)
6. A study plan or school transcript (certified copy of transcripts translated into the Czech language by a court-appointed translator in the CR)

A comprehensive list of translators can be found by following below:
www.seznam.cz translator Brno - translations and interpreting in the Czech Republic - South Moravian Region - Brno - translation and interpreting

Contact for handling and recognition of education studied abroad:

Ing. Bc. Dagmar Kostrhůnová, MBA
Department of Education
Education Officer – Nostrification/Validation
South Moravian Regional Authority
Žerotínovo nám. 3, 601 82 Brno
Office address Cejl 73
Tel: 541 653 527
e-mail: kostrhunova.dagmar@kr-jihomoravsky.cz
web: www.kr-jihomoravsky.cz
office hours: Monday 8-12, Wed 8-16, or as agreed