Nostrification of a Doctor's Diploma in Poland in 2026

In 2026 Poland substantially changed the rules of access to the medical profession for doctors from outside the EU. The simplified (temporary) path through the Minister of Health's consent is still available, but the final deadline for applications is 31 December 2026; from 1 January 2027 a doctor can only start practising through the full procedure — nostrification or the LEW exam plus a language exam. At the same time, 2026 brought mass suspensions of practice permits due to the lack of a Polish-language certificate. Headline costs: university nostrification — about 4,685 zł, the LEW verification exam — 700 zł, the language exam — 500 zł.

Three legal paths to recognition of qualifications

For a doctor with a Ukrainian diploma to work legally in Poland, their qualification must first be recognised. In 2026 there are three separate paths to do this:

• Nostrification of the diploma through a Polish medical university — comparison of the curriculum and passing exams at the university.
• The LEW exam (Lekarski Egzamin Weryfikacyjny) — a verification exam for holders of a diploma from outside the EU.
• The Minister of Health's consent — a simplified temporary path with a final application deadline of 31 December 2026; available primarily to specialists with at least 3 years of experience in their specialty over the last 5 years (no fee is charged for filing the application with the Ministry).

The simplified (temporary) procedure and its deadlines

The simplified path through the Minister of Health's consent is closing: the final deadline for applications is 31 December 2026, and from 1 January 2027 doctors from outside the EU will be able to start working only through the full procedure (nostrification or LEW plus a language exam). Conditional (simplified) permits previously issued to Ukrainians will remain valid no later than autumn 2029 — by then the doctor must nostrify the diploma or pass the LEW. A separate language requirement also applies: doctors who were granted the right to practise (PWZ) before 24 October 2024 had to submit a document proving knowledge of Polish (at least B1) to the district medical council by 1 May 2026. From 1 May 2026 the Supreme Medical Council began suspending conditional permits due to the lack of a language certificate — as of mid-June 2026, 441 doctors from outside the EU had lost their right to practise (the first wave covered 146).

Nostrification through a medical university step by step

Nostrification is carried out through a Polish medical university: the university compares the Ukrainian curriculum with the Polish one and determines which exams must be passed to close the gaps. All documents are first translated into Polish by a sworn translator, and the diploma itself must be apostilled. Applications are accepted in rounds: for example, at the Medical University of Warsaw (WUM) for 2025/2026 the summer round ran from 1 to 31 March 2026, and the winter round from 15 August to 15 September 2026. The exact list of exams and the deadlines depend on the university, so it is best to submit documents in advance.

LEW and LEK — what is the difference

LEW and LEK are easy to confuse, but they are different exams at different stages. LEW (Lekarski Egzamin Weryfikacyjny) is a verification exam taken instead of nostrification to have a non-EU diploma recognised; it comes before obtaining the full right to practise and requires at least 5 years of study. LEK (Lekarski Egzamin Końcowy) is the final exam, which a doctor takes only after the qualification has been recognised and a 12-month staż podyplomowy (postgraduate internship) has been completed. In other words, LEW opens the path to practice and LEK completes it.

• LEW — 200 test questions (one correct answer), in Polish, pass mark 60%, fee 700 zł.
• LEK — the final exam after a 12-month staż podyplomowy (postgraduate internship), 200 questions.
• The language exam for foreign doctors is organised by the Naczelna Izba Lekarska (NIL): fee 500 zł, at least 55% required in each part; level B1 is formally recognised, although the Naczelna Rada Lekarska believes B2 should be required.

The Polish-language requirement

Knowledge of Polish is one of the key conditions in 2026. The Ministry of Health formally recognises level B1, but the Naczelna Rada Lekarska (NRL) believes B2 should be required. Doctors who were granted the right to practise before 24 October 2024 had to submit a document proving knowledge of the language (at least B1) by 1 May 2026. It was precisely the failure to meet this requirement that became the basis for mass suspensions: from 1 May 2026 the Supreme Medical Council began suspending conditional permits due to the lack of a language certificate, and by mid-June 2026, 441 doctors from outside the EU had lost their right to practise.

How much it costs (2026)

The approximate official fees for the recognition procedures in 2026 are as follows:

• Nostrification of a doctor's diploma at a Polish university — about 4,685 zł (varies between universities; an example of the lower limit is about 3,205 zł).
• The LEW exam — 700 zł; re-registration for the LEK — from 250 zł (in Polish) or up to 400 zł (in a foreign language).
• The language exam organised by the Naczelna Izba Lekarska — 500 zł.
• A sworn translation of documents into Polish and an apostille of the diploma at the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (a fee of UAH 670 for individuals in 2026) are paid separately.

Documents and sworn translation

All documents for nostrification or LEW — the diploma, the transcript of grades and other certificates — must be translated into Polish by a sworn translator from the list of the Minister of Justice of Poland; an ordinary or self-made translation is not accepted. You also need to confirm knowledge of Polish at the required level, so it is best to plan the translation of documents and preparation for the language exam in advance.

Apostille of a Ukrainian diploma for Poland

Before applying for nostrification, the Ukrainian doctor's diploma must be apostilled: the apostille on a doctor's diploma is affixed by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, and from 1 January 2026 the fee for this service for individuals is UAH 670. Only after the apostille is the diploma handed over to a sworn translator for translation into Polish.

Frequently asked questions

Do Ukrainian doctors need nostrification in 2026?

Not yet, if the doctor works under a conditional (simplified) permit. However, the simplified path through the Minister of Health's consent closes on 31 December 2026, and previously issued conditional permits will remain valid no later than autumn 2029. By then the doctor must nostrify the diploma or pass the LEW exam, so it is best to prepare in advance.

How much does nostrification of a doctor's diploma cost?

Nostrification itself at a Polish university costs about 4,685 zł (from ~3,205 zł depending on the university). In addition: the LEW exam — 700 zł, the language exam — 500 zł, plus a sworn translation of documents into Polish and an apostille of the diploma. These fees are paid separately.

What is the difference between LEW and LEK?

LEW (Lekarski Egzamin Weryfikacyjny) is a verification exam for recognising a non-EU diploma, taken instead of nostrification before obtaining the right to practise. LEK (Lekarski Egzamin Końcowy) is the final exam, taken only after the qualification has been recognised and a 12-month staż podyplomowy completed. Both contain 200 questions, but they come at different stages of the path.

What level of Polish does a doctor need?

The Ministry of Health formally recognises level B1, although the Naczelna Rada Lekarska believes B2 should be required. Doctors with the right to practise granted before 24 October 2024 had to submit a document proving knowledge of the language by 1 May 2026. The language exam is organised by the Naczelna Izba Lekarska, with a pass threshold of at least 55% in each part.

Can I translate my medical diploma myself for nostrification?

No. All documents must be translated into Polish by a sworn translator (tłumacz przysięgły) from the list of the Minister of Justice of Poland. An ordinary or self-made translation is not accepted for nostrification or the LEW.

What happened to Ukrainian doctors in Poland in 2026?

From 1 May 2026 the Supreme Medical Council began suspending conditional practice permits due to the lack of a Polish-language certificate (at least B1). As of mid-June 2026, 441 doctors from outside the EU had lost their right to practise, with the first wave covering 146 people. This is exactly why the language requirement should not be postponed.

The rules of access to the medical profession in Poland became stricter in 2026: the simplified path closes on 31 December 2026, and the language requirement has started to be enforced en masse. That is why the full procedure — nostrification or LEW together with the language exam — should be planned now. The Etalon translation bureau will help with the apostille of a doctor's diploma and a sworn Polish translation of medical documents remotely, with no in-person visit.