Research & Funding

Recognition of qualifications

Recognition of education

Slovakia is bound by the European Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the recognition of professional qualifications, as amended. The recognition of documents on previous education can be done for:

  • academic purposes (i.e. recognition of previous education in order to continue to study in Slovakia) or for pursuing the so-called non-regulated professions;
  • pursuing the so-called regulated professions in Slovakia (e.g. teacher, university professor, barrister, dentist, physician, psychologist etc.). Centre for Recognition of Diplomas:
  • recognises documents on education obtained abroad for pursuing studies or working in Slovakia
  • recognises professional qualification obtained abroad of university teachers, pedagogic, sport and health workers
  • automatically recognises documents on education obtained in another EU/EEA Member state, Switzerland or country with which Slovakia concluded a bilateral agreement on the mutual recognition of documents on education
  • assesses education obtained abroad for relevant authorities and institutions in Slovakia 

Centre for Recognition of Diplomas (CRD) is a part of the ENIC-NARIC (European Network of Information Centres, National Academic Recognition Information Centre) Networks. CRD is a part of the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic.

From 2024, recognition of primary and secondary education is handled by Regional Offices of School Administration (ROSA) based on the applicant’s residence or institution location, not by the CRD.

Contact:
Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic
Centre for Recognition of Diplomas
Černyševského 50, 813 30 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
E-mail: sudv@minedu.sk
Telephone number: +421 2 593 74 923
Office hours: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00 to 11:30 and from 12:30 to 14:00.
More information.

Academic recognition or recognition for the continuation of studies means the recognition of previously attained education for the purpose of further studies, or any other purpose with the exception of the practice of regulated professions. The process of recognition for the continuation of studies differs by the level of education and the country of origin. For countries with an international bilateral or multilateral agreement, the process is governed by this agreement.

The competences in the area of academic recognition are as follows (as of 1 June 2022):
  • recognition of the study periods at primary and secondary schools is the competence of the school director
  • recognition of completed studies of primary and secondary school is the competence of the Regional Office of School Administration (former District Office, Dept. of Education)
  • recognition of higher education study periods (subjects, credits) is the competence of the higher education institution (university) in Slovakia
  • recognition of the level of higher education (without comparison of the field of study) is the competence of the
    • Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic
  • higher education diploma is recognized by
    • higher education institution (university) offering study programmes the same or similar study field in Slovakia
    • Ministry of Defense of the Slovak Republic for foreign military higher education
    • Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic for foreign police force higher education

If you need guidance on the recognition and assessment of education obtained abroad, use the Recognition Navigator, which will help you determine the appropriate recognition procedure: https://uznavanie.minedu.sk/en/navigator/

Recognition of previous education for academic purposes or for pursuing a so-called non‑regulated profession

In case of the recognition of previous education for academic purposes or for pursuing a so‑called non‑regulated profession, there are two different approaches, depending on the field of study, in which the diploma shall be recognised.

Recognition by a Slovak higher education institution

If the applicant wants to have his/her previous higher education recognised and a study programme in question (or related) is offered by one of the higher education institutions in Slovakia, the decision on recognition for academic purposes lies upon such a higher education institution.

Applicants are advised to first check the website of, or contact, the higher education institution (HEI), where the applicant wants to pursue his/her further studies, to find out whether it is offering studies in the same or related field at the level that needs to be recognised. If so, the HEI is able to recognise the diploma on the previous university education. If this is not the case, the applicant can find another HEI in Slovakia offering that particular field of study and apply for the recognition. On the website “Portal of HEIs”, a list of higher education institutions by study fields can be found.

For the recognition procedures, the applicants shall officially apply (usually the institutions have prescribed application forms) and attach the following documents to their application for recognising the education certificate:

  • copy of ID card
  • certified copy of a document on education obtained abroad (with an apostille or superlegalisation, where required, and an official translation into Slovak)
  • transcript of completed courses and exams
  • certified copy of a diploma supplement (with an apostille or superlegalisation, where required, and an official translation into Slovak)
  • information on the education preceding the education which is a subject to recognition

The decision of the higher education institution shall be issued within two months of the submission of a complete application.

In case that the study at the foreign institution corresponds to the curricula of the respective HEI only partially, the HEI may require the applicant to take a supplementary examination. The supplementary examination is meant to verify the knowledge and skills of the applicant in subjects, or in their parts, which were not studied by the applicant in a foreign school and which have a direct relation to the applicant’s profile or the field of study pursued.

Recognition by the Ministry of Education

If the applicant wants to have his/her previous higher education recognised, but no higher education institution in Slovakia offers a study programme in a given field, the decision lies with the Ministry of Education.

The same application procedure applies as in a case when the decision is issued by the HEI.

However, in case the diploma was issued by a military HEI, the decision lies with the Ministry of Defence. In case of diplomas issued by a police HEI, the Ministry of Interior is competent to recognise the document.

The decision of the Ministry shall be issued within two months of the submission of a complete application.

Automatic recognition of diplomas

A diploma issued by an education institution from an EU/EEA Member State, Switzerland or a third country, which is a party to a mutual bilateral or multilateral recognition agreement binding on Slovakia, or issued by a HEI from a member country of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), may qualify for automatic recognition for academic purposes in accordance with the applicable legislation.

The higher education institution reviews the application within seven days. If the application does not meet all the requirements, the process is going to be interrupted and the applicant will be prompted to submit the missing documentation or to correct any deficiencies. The HEI decides within 15 days after the receipt of the complete application.

A list of countries covered by bilateral or multilateral agreements on the recognition of education is available on the Ministry's website.

Recognition of education and qualification for pursuing a so‑called regulated profession

A so‑called regulated profession is a profession, professional activity or a group of professional activities, in pursuit of which it is necessary to meet the qualifications prescribed by the relevant Slovak legislation. A list of regulated professions.

In case of selected regulated professions, EU Member States, EEA countries and Switzerland harmonised minimum requirements on education and training, therefore, the mutual recognition is automatic for these professions (dentists, doctors of medicine, midwives, nurses and pharmacists). The automatic system applies only to qualifications obtained in any Member State after its accession to the EU.

For recognition of qualifications for the pursuit of regulated professions without coordinated training and all qualifications obtained in third countries, a general system of recognition applies. It is based on the principle of comparability. During the recognition process, the content and scope of the applicant’s education are compared to the content and scope of education, which is required for the same profession in Slovakia. Not only the document on education but also the obtained qualification must be recognised.

The decision on recognition of professional qualification shall be issued by:

  1. the Centre for Recognition of Diplomas in case of pedagogic, sport and healthcare professions (the decision should be issued within three months since the application has been submitted);
  2. a competent authority in case of other professions (the decision should be issued within one month since the application has been submitted).

The application for the recognition of diploma (and professional qualification in case of pedagogic, sport and healthcare professionals) in pursuit of a regulated profession must be submitted to the Centre for Recognition of Diplomas. A complete application consists of the following documents:

  • application form
  • copy of ID or passport
  • certified copy of a document on education obtained abroad (officially translated into Slovak)
  • certified copy of a transcript of completed courses and exams, if required (officially translated into Slovak)
  • information or a regular copy of evidence of the education preceding the education which is a subject to recognition

In case of applications for the recognition of education obtained in third countries, the following documents are also required:

  • copy of a document confirming the accreditation of the educational institution and the study programme issued by a competent authority of the state of origin
  • a detailed description of the courses (including their syllabi)
  • additional verification or supporting documents may be required for certain qualifications obtained in third countries, depending on the country of origin and the field of study.

The documents on education obtained in third countries must be provided with an apostille or superlegalisation, where applicable.

Administrative fee: €7  (if your country has a bilateral agreement with Slovakia) or €40 for the recognition of diploma (if it does not have)

                             €70 or €140  for the recognition of formal and professional qualification for regulated profession