Diploma Nostrification in Slovakia: Full Document Preparation in Bratislava
Nostrification – recognition of a foreign education document – is required if you want to work in a regulated profession in Slovakia or continue your studies. Decisions are made by the Centre for Recognition of Diplomas (SUDV) of the Ministry of Education, or another body depending on the document type and purpose. Most applications stumble over paperwork: a missing certification where the authority requires one, the wrong order of steps, or a translation without a sworn translator’s clause.
Etalon prepares the whole package: the sworn translation of the diploma and its supplement, the application paperwork, and the apostille where the authority requires one (for Ukrainian documents – directly in Ukraine through our own offices). Office in Bratislava-Ružinov (Tomášikova 223/26); fully online across Slovakia.
- Complete package: sworn translation of the diploma and supplement + application paperwork + an apostille where the authority requires one
- Ukrainian diplomas are our specialty: if the authority requires an apostille, we arrange it directly in Ukraine, no travel
- Passport-consistent name spelling across all documents – the most common reason applications bounce
- Office in Ružinov (Tomášikova 223/26) + a fully online process across Slovakia
Our guarantees
- 100% acceptance by authorities and institutions in Slovakia and abroad
- Guaranteed delivery by the agreed deadline
- 2-year guarantee on translation quality
- We process requests at weekends too – we reply every day 9:00–18:00
- Free quote in 15 minutes
- Confidentiality of your documents
What nostrification is and when you need it
Nostrification (officially “recognition of a foreign education document”) is the procedure by which a Slovak authority confirms that your foreign diploma, school certificate or supplement corresponds to Slovak education. You need it above all for regulated professions (healthcare, education, technical professions), for continuing your studies, and employers often require it too.
The purpose determines the procedure: academic recognition and recognition of a professional qualification are different proceedings with different paperwork. We tell you which one fits your situation before you pay a cent too much.
Who decides on recognition
The central body for recognising foreign education documents is the Centre for Recognition of Diplomas (SUDV) – part of the Slovak Ministry of Education with nationwide competence. Depending on the document type and purpose, another authority may be competent.
We won’t send you from door to door: based on your document and goal (work, study, a specific employer) we verify where the application belongs and what exactly to attach – and prepare the paperwork right away.
What documents to prepare (and in what order)
The standard package: the diploma or certificate, the supplement listing subjects and a sworn Slovak translation by a registered translator. The law does not require an apostille for every recognition; but where the authority requires one for your document, the order is critical – apostille first, then translation, so the translation includes the apostille clause.
Mind the name spelling: your name must be written identically, per your passport, across all documents and translations. A transliteration mismatch is the most common reason an authority returns an application for completion, delaying the proceeding by weeks.
Ukrainian diplomas: an apostille only if the authority requires it
Slovak Act No. 422/2015 Coll. does not list an apostille on a Ukrainian diploma among the application attachments: for recognition to continue your studies it exempts the states of the European Higher Education Area, which Ukraine belongs to, and for recognition to work in a regulated profession it does not mention one at all. If an authority or employer still requires it, only the Ukrainian ministry can issue it – a Slovak authority cannot. With our own offices at both ends of the route, we file for the apostille directly in Ukraine through our own Kharkiv and Kyiv offices, and provide the sworn Slovak translation in Bratislava.
You assemble the entire nostrification package without a single trip to Ukraine and without mailing originals through third hands.
How we work
- 1Send scans and your purposeThe diploma, supplement or certificate + what you need recognition for: work, a regulated profession or study.
- 2We verify the procedure and quoteWe tell you which authority is competent, what paperwork is needed and in what order – with an exact price and deadline.
- 3Apostille (if required) and sworn translationIf the authority requires an apostille, we arrange it (Ukrainian documents directly in Ukraine), and a sworn translator translates the documents including the clauses.
- 4Receive the complete packageApplication-ready documents – in Ružinov, by post or electronically.
Prices
- Nostrification paperwork preparation by document count and proceeding type; authority fees includedindividual quote
- Apostille on a Ukrainian diploma if the authority requires it; arranged directly in Ukraine; state fee includedfrom €25
- Sworn translation of the diploma and supplement Ministry of Justice-registered translator, apostille clause included where the document has oneindividual quote
Prices are indicative. Administrative fees for the apostille and the recognition proceeding are already inside the quoted prices. We prepare an exact quote after reviewing your scans.
FAQ
What is nostrification and who handles it?
Recognition of a foreign education document by a Slovak authority. The central body is the Centre for Recognition of Diplomas (SUDV) of the Ministry of Education; depending on the document and purpose another authority may be competent – we verify it for you.
Do I need an apostille for nostrification?
Not always. Slovak Act No. 422/2015 Coll. requires the signatures and seal on the original to be verified (in practice by an apostille or consular legalisation) only for recognition to continue your studies, and even then not for documents from states of the European Higher Education Area – Ukraine is one of them. For recognition to work in a regulated profession, the law asks for a certified copy or a certified translation of a Ukrainian document, not an apostille. An authority may ask for more in practice, so we verify the requirement for your document before you file.
Will my Ukrainian diploma be recognised for professional work?
The Slovak authority decides, and we prepare the paperwork so the application passes the first time: sworn translation done, an apostille arranged directly in Ukraine where the authority requires one, and passport-consistent name spelling enforced throughout.
How long does nostrification take?
The proceeding length is set by the competent authority and depends on the document type and the completeness of the package. Our part – sworn translation and, if required, an apostille – is usually ready within a few business days; we confirm the date with the quote.
How much does nostrification cost?
It consists of the authorities’ administrative fees (already inside our price) and our paperwork preparation – sworn translation by length and, if the authority requires it, an apostille on a Ukrainian diploma from €25. We prepare an exact quote after reviewing your scans.
Can everything be done remotely?
Yes. You send scans online, we arrange any apostille your Ukrainian documents need in Ukraine through our own offices, and the finished package is delivered by post, electronically, or collected in Ružinov.
Updated: 2026-10-25
