An apostille / legalisation is a form of a certification which confirms the official status of a domestic document that needs to be used abroad.
One of those certification procedures may be useful if you wish to study, work or register your stay in another country. Documents legalised or certified through the apostille become valid.
Since February 1, 2018, the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange has been authenticating documents awarded by Polish higher education institutions acting under responsible ministries. The authentication of a document by NAWA is the first obligatory step before its legalisation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Since then, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also transferred to NAWA the responsibility for the apostille certification of Polish documents confirming completion of studies.
Legal framework for the authentication of documents confirming completion of studies:
- Act of 20 July 2018 – Law on Higher Education and Science
- Regulation of the Minister of Science and Higher Education of 27 September 2018 on studies
- Act of July 7, 2017 on the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange
- Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents of 5 October 1961 (Journal of Laws of 2005, no. 112, item 938)
- Documents certified by NAWA
- Apostille or legalization – which one do I need?
- How to apply?
- Frequently asked questions