Nostrification in Slovakia: Diploma Recognition Step by Step

Nostrification – now officially recognition of an education document – is the procedure by which Slovakia confirms that your foreign education corresponds to Slovak education. Without it you usually cannot enrol at a university or start a regulated profession. The key is to distinguish at the outset what you need recognition for: further study, or practising a profession – because each purpose has a different authority and a different procedure. This guide covers both, says which documents you need and why a sworn translation is almost always required, and flags a 2025 change that speeds the process up.

Two kinds of recognition: for study vs for a profession

Recognition "for academic purposes" (for study) and recognition "for practising a profession" (professional) are two different processes with different authorities. Before you file anything, be clear about your goal – otherwise you risk filing in the wrong place and losing weeks.

If you want to study in Slovakia, you need academic recognition. If you want to practise a specific (regulated) profession – teacher, healthcare worker, lawyer and so on – you need professional recognition of the qualification.

Recognition for study

Secondary-school documents (the maturita certificate) for further study are recognised by the regional school administration office (regionálny úrad školskej správy) by location. University diplomas are recognised by the receiving university or by the Centre for the Recognition of Education Documents (SUDV) at the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the SR.

News: from 1 March 2025 the ministry introduced a "clause on recognition of the level of foreign education" (doložka), intended to speed up and simplify the process for a number of countries. Before filing, we therefore recommend checking whether it applies to your country and document.

Recognition for practising a profession

If you want to practise a regulated profession (for example teaching, healthcare or sport), you need recognition of the professional qualification. It is handled by SUDV or the competent recognition authority for the profession. The statutory decision deadline for these professions is usually 3 months from a complete application.

For non-regulated professions, recognition is often not needed – a translation of the document is enough for the employer. Check whether your profession is regulated before filing; it saves time and fees.

Source: Recognition of education documents (SUDV) – Slovak Ministry of Education · as of 2026

Documents and translations: what to prepare

With the application you usually enclose the diploma (or maturita certificate) and a transcript of completed subjects and hours. Foreign documents must be submitted with a sworn translation into Slovak, produced by a sworn translator from the Slovak Ministry of Justice register.

Ukrainian documents also usually need an apostille from a Ukrainian ministry – which you cannot obtain in Slovakia. We can: we arrange the apostille directly in Ukraine through our own offices and then translate the document officially in a single order. The exact requirements vary by authority and purpose, so we check them together before you file.

Step by step

1. Clarify the purpose: study or practising a profession – it determines the authority and the procedure.
2. Identify the authority: the regional school administration office (maturita), the university, or SUDV (diplomas, professions).
3. Prepare the documents: diploma/certificate and subject transcript, the apostille (for Ukrainian documents) and a sworn translation into Slovak.
4. File the application and pay the fee; watch the deadline (usually 3 months for regulated professions).
5. Collect the recognition decision (or the clause) and use it to enrol or with your employer.

What we help with

We do not run the authority procedure for you, but we take care of what most often stalls the process: the apostille of Ukrainian documents and their sworn translation into Slovak. We arrange the apostille directly in Ukraine, a sworn translator produces the translation, and we align the name spelling with your passport. Details and prices are on the education-document recognition in Bratislava page; for documents to live and work in Slovakia see also documents for Slovakia.

Frequently asked questions about recognising education in Slovakia

What is the difference between recognition for study and for a profession?

You need recognition for study if you want to enrol; recognition for practising a profession if you want to work in a specific regulated profession. They are two different processes with different authorities – decide the goal before filing.

Who recognises secondary and who recognises university documents?

The maturita certificate for further study is recognised by the regional school administration office; university diplomas by the receiving university or the Centre for the Recognition of Education Documents (SUDV).

Does my Ukrainian diploma need an apostille?

Usually yes – the Ukrainian document typically needs to be apostilled by a Ukrainian ministry. We arrange the apostille directly in Ukraine and then translate the document officially; we confirm the exact requirements before filing.

Does the diploma translation have to be sworn?

Yes – the authorities require a sworn translation into Slovak by a translator from the Slovak Ministry of Justice register, not an ordinary translation.

How long does recognition take?

For regulated professions the statutory deadline is usually 3 months from a complete application. For study the time varies by authority; since 2025 the education-level recognition clause may speed the process up for some countries.