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  2. Recognition of foreign diplomas
  3. Frequently Asked Questions
  4. FAQ: General

FAQ: General

Frequently Asked Questions
at the Centre for Recognition of Diplomas (CRD)
Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic (Ministry)
GENERAL

  1. How long does the recognition process take?
  2. Have you received my application? Is my application complete?
  3. What is the current status of my application? When will it be completed? Why cannot I reach you by phone? Will I receive an email notification about the application status, receiving, completing the application etc.?
  4. Do I have to submit certified (notarized) copies of diplomas and certificates or are my own copies and scans sufficient?
  5. Can the documents be notarized abroad or do they must be certified in Slovakia?
  6. Does the qualification and the supplement or transcript have to be translated even if it is within EU?
  7. Do I have to translate documents issued in Czech language?
  8. Where do I find the sworn translator in Slovakia?
  9. Does the application have to be printed or can I send it by email?
  10. How can I submit an application?
  11. Does coming to submit the application in person speed up its completion?
  12. Is there a paid express service?
  13. Can eKolok be purchased at the Ministry?
  14. I cannot find the service I need in the eKolok fee app / I have problems using the app from abroad
  15. What to do with an eKolok that was not used or expired?
  16. Where do I find the main building of the Ministry - the filing room and the Centre for Recognition of Diplomas?
  17. What are the ways to recognize a higher education qualification or to obtain a recognition decision? What to do to have my degree included in the data of my identification document?
  18. How are the decisions and other documents delivered?
  19. A legal validity allonge (doložka právoplatnosti) or authorization allonge (doložka o autorizácii) are required of me. What are these documents and how to obtain them?

 

  1. How long does the recognition process take?

The application deadlines depend on its type and the difficulty of the proceeding. The administrative codex stipulates 30 days deadline, for complicated cases up to 60 days. The deadlines are maximal and count with the option of a difficult process including other domestic and foreign authorities. Average handling time is significantly lower for all types of applications. However, applications are handled in the order they were delivered and the duration of the process is influenced by the total workload and current volume of applications. It is not possible to give priority to an individual application delaying the earlier submissions.

The specific deadlines are stipulated by the Act No. 422/2015 Coll. and in case of recognition of professional qualifications they are derived from the EU Directive on recognition of professional qualifications. If the act does not stipulate a deadline, the administrative codex deadline is applied.

Recognition of professional qualifications:

  • two months from receiving a complete application to recognize the evidence of formal qualifications
  • one month from receiving a complete application to recognize the (informal) professional qualifications
  • three months in case that formal and informal qualifications are recognized in a single proceeding (applies to teaching, healthcare, and sport professions resolved by the Ministry).

Recognition of higher education qualifications for further studies (recognition of level of higher education):

  • one month from receiving a complete application

Evaluation of ongoing foreign studies for child allowance, health insurance, social benefits or tax bonus in Slovakia; application for certificate of competence for teaching professions for the needs of foreign authorities

  • one month from receiving a complete application

Apostille/legalization of Slovak education credentials:

  • one month from receiving a complete application
  1.  Have you received my application? Is my application complete?

If you submitted your application by post, please use the tracking number on the Slovak post portal (domestic shipment) or international tracking services (transnational shipment). If your application was delivered according to the tracking number, it was registered by the filing room. If you submitted your application electronically via the Central government portal, the acknowledgement of receipt will be in your electronic mailbox. Otherwise, you can contact the filing room about the delivery-related questions.  The deadlines apply to the date of delivery of the application and the documents (not to the date you sent your application)Lehota vybavenia začína plynúť doručením žiadosti s príslušnými dokladmi. If your application is incomplete, you will be contacted by the case handler.

  1. What is the current status of my application? When will it be completed? Why cannot I reach you by phone? Will I receive an email notification about the application status, receiving, completing the application etc.?

Centre for Recognition of Diplomas works under the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic and uses the available ministry systems. CRD is not a client centre, does not have a hotline or employees dedicated just to answering calls, automated redirect etc. It also does not have a software to automatically inform you about the status of your application (manual individual email communication about receiving, completing application, sending out the document etc. is not realistic due to capacity reasons). The emails and calls are answered by the application handlers. If the handlers must answer the questions which are already answered on the website for several hours a day, in the end effect, even your application will be handled with delay.

Since 2022 CRD handles a multiple volume of application compared to the previous time period and handles thousands of requests without change in the personal capacities. We would therefore ask you to contribute to the smooth and faster application handling by respecting the rules of communication. 

What do the consultations serve for: 

  • clarifying information related to application submission that remain even after studying the website
  • pointing to the correct process of authority
  • communication related to a specific case

What do the consultations not serve for: 

  • repeating the information already published on the website (e.g., what documents are required, where and how to send the application)
  • questions about application status, expected handling time, completeness of the application (application deadlines are published for every type of application, in the current period, please expect only the legislatively stipulated deadline).
    In case of necessity, you will be contacted by the case handler. If the application is complete, you will only be delivered a resulting electronic or printed document without further communication. 
  • urging and negotiatins about priority handling (applications are handled in the submission order, please respect the fact that recognition or other procedures are important for every applicant who applies for a job or further studies). 

 Therefore, we reserve the right not to answer the following types of questions: 

  • requests for priority handling due to your own deadlined and similar (please respect the fact that your application cannot legally be given priority to earlier submissions and that the current workload prolongs the average handling time)
  • questions regarding the receipt of your application (please see question no. 2)
  • questions unrelated to the foreign qualifications recognition (if we identify the responsible authority, we will forward them your request but do not follow up on it)
  1. Do I have to submit certified (notarized) copies of diplomas and certificates or are my own copies and scans sufficient?

From the education credential that is to be recognized a notarized copy is usually required. The copy certification in Slovakia is performed by notaries and registration offices, but only notaries can produce certified copy of foreign language documents. If you submit your application electronically, the equivalent to certified copy is a certified conversion to electronic document that is performed by Slovak Post (IOMO desk) and notaries and lawyers. Your own copy, scan, or a photo does not replace a notarized copy.

Legal exception from submitting a certified copy is provided to:

  • applicants for professional qualifications recognition from EU, EEA member states and Switzerland (simple copy is sufficient)

In case the no certified copy is submitted, you should expect that it will have to be verified by an authority of a home member state. This can prolong the application handling by up to a few weeks depending on the time of reply of the authority. If the authority doed not reply or cooperate, the applicant may be required to submit a certified copy even later in the process. Therefore, if the early application completion is important to you, it is recommended to submit certified copies.

  1. Can the documents be notarized abroad or do they must be certified in Slovakia?

If you are applying for the recognition at the Ministry, the copies can be notarized also abroad. However, in case of doubt, an apostille/superlegalization of the signature and stamp of the notary, unless an international agreement states otherwise.

  1. Does the qualification and the supplement or transcript have to be translated even if it is within EU?

According to Act No. 357/2009 Coll. on state language, Slovak language is the official language in the territory of the Slovak Republic and it is used in official proceedings (unless a special law stipulates otherwise). Czech language can be used in official proceedings without translation. To lower the costs of the applicants, the Ministry also accepts own translation of documents issued in the following languages: English, German, French, Russian, Hungarian. In case of doubt, an official translation can be required at any time during the proceeding. Own translation of the applicant does not need to be certified by a notary or otherwise.

Legal exception from submitting a certified translation is provided to:

  • applicants for professional qualifications recognition for professions of doctor of medicine, dental practitioner, pharmacist, nurse, and midwife from EU, EEA member states and Switzerland (no translation required)
  • applicants for professional qualifications recognition from EU, EEA member states and Switzerland (own translation from an EU language is sufficient)

In case the no certified translation is submitted, you should expect that the contents of the documents will have to be verified by an authority of a home member state. This can prolong the application handling by up to a few weeks depending on the time of reply of the authority. If the authority does not reply or cooperate, the applicant may be required to submit a certified copy even later in the process. Therefore, if the early application completion is important to you, it is recommended to submit certified translation.

  1.  Do I have to translate documents issued in Czech language?

No, according to Act No. 357/2009 Coll. on state language, a language that fulfills the requirement of clarity can be used in official proceedings.

  1. Where do I find the sworn translator in Slovakia?

On the website of the Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic.

  1. Does the application have to be printed or can I send it by email?

Application needs to be submitted by post or at the filing room of the Ministry. Electronic submission is possible only via the electronic application form published at the Central government portal www.slovensko.sk. Email applications are not accepted as these are proceedings according to administrative codex and the result is a legally binding decision.

  1. How can I submit an application?

All applications are registered centrally at the filing room of the Ministry. Application can be submitted:

  1. by post (registered mail) to the address:

Ministerstvo školstva, výskumu, vývoja a mládeže SR
Stredisko na uznávanie dokladov o vzdelaní
Stromová 1
813 30 Bratislava

  1. in person at the filing room on the address above (filing room office hours)
  2. via the electronic form (together with certified electronic conversions, as required) at the central government portal www.slovensko.sk
  1. Does coming to submit the application in person speed up its completion?

No. The application handling deadline starts from the date of delivery (by post or to the electronic mailbox) or date of submission at the filing room and is the same for all types of submission.

  1. Is there a paid express service?

No. The Ministry is not allowed to prioritize individual applications or collect fees for sped-up handling.

  1. Can eKolok be purchased at the Ministry?

No. The payment options are as follows:

  • eKolok physical purchase confirmation containing the QR code that can be purchased in the required value at the Slovak Post offices
  • QR code confirmation from the eKolok mobile app
  • QR code confirmation from the eKolok web app
  • when submitting the application electronically, the fee is payable by card during the application submission or later by choosing the payment inscription to be sent to your electronic mailbox (it is not necessary to purchase an eKolok in advance)
  1. I cannot find the service I need in the eKolok fee app / I have problems using the app from abroad

Try to find the service using the service code. Service codes:

  • 2090 - professional qualifications recognition for healthcare, traching, sport professions (140 EUR)
  • 6355 - recognition of evidence of formal qualifications in the process of professional qualifications recognition for other professions (70 EUR)
  • 1723 - recognition of level of higher education for further studies and other purposes - within scope of a bilateral agreement (7 EUR)
  • 2218 - recognition of level of higher education for further studies and other purposes - outside scope of a bilateral agreement (40 EUR)
  • 6356 - certificate of competence for teaching professions in Slovakia for the needs of foreign authorities (15 EUR)
  • 2217 - apostille/legalisation - (10 EUR per document)

If you are unable to pay for the service in advance, you may send your application without the fee. You will be then issued a payment inscription which is payable in several ways (in app, at Slovak post offices, or by bank transfer). Payment inscription will be sent to the email address you fill out in the application.

If you submit your application via the Central government portal, you also do not need to purchase eKolok in advance. The correct fee will be generated by the application submission and will be payable by card or you can have the payment incription sent to your mailbox. If you have purchased a correct eKolok in advance and the value is correct, you may include it as an application attachmnent. If you paid a different fee, please cancel the eKolok in the app or return it at Slovak post and pay the inscription with the correct value instead.

  1. What to do with an eKolok that was not used or expired?

All non-processed (even expired) eKolok payment confirmations are refundable at the Slovak Post offices. Please do not send eKolok confirmations that are expired or about to be expired.

  1. Where do I find the main building of the Ministry - the filing room and the Centre for Recognition of Diplomas?

Main building of the Ministry and the filing room is located at Stromová 1, 813 30 Bratislava – Kramáre. This is also the post address of the Centre for Recognition of Diplomas so please direct all the mail shipments to this address.

Stromová 1 - public transport connections spojenie mestskou hromadnou dopravou:

  • main railway station: bus no. 32
  • Pod Stanicou station : bus no. 64, 42, 49 
  • main bus station: bus no. 42
  • city centre (Hodžovo nám.): 42

There are no parking options near the main building. All types of applications can be submitted at the filing room (filing room office hours).

Centre for Recognition of Diplomas is located at Černyševského 27, 851 01 Bratislava – Petržalka. No personal admission, personal consultations and visits (except for finished document pickup which was previously arranged) are available at this address, mail shipments are not accepted at this address. Shipment sent to this address will be returned to you or will be redirected and registered at the filing room with 1-2 days delay.

  1. What are the ways to recognize a higher education qualification or to obtain a recognition decision? What to do to have my degree included in the data of my identification document?

A specific recognition process just for the use of academic degree or its entry into identification documents does not exist. The Ministry cannot award nor recognize an academic degree, it can only recognize a qualification by which the degree was awarded.

Use of the degree for official documents (ID or other public documents) is possible only upon the recognition of the qualification with a degree award. Other use of academic degrees is not legally stipulated.

The district directoriate of Police Force will enter an abbreviation of foreign academic degree into a Slovak ID document only based upon the decision on recognition of a qualification (with the exception of Czech documents that are, based on a presidential agreement, equivalent without recognition and therefore can be entered into public documents directly same as Slovak degrees).

The recognition decision can be obtained through the professional qualifications recognition (recognition for regulated professions) as well as academic recognition (recognition for further studies and other purposes).

By both types of recognition, the academic title is entered into decision in the language and abbreviation as it was awarded in the state of origin. Academic degree is not transformed or translated into Slovak language and the recognition of the qualification does not create the right to use the equivalent Slovak degree or both degrees.

  1. How are the decisions and other documents delivered?

Act on e-Government (305/2013 Coll., § 31a) created the central official delivery of documents, which means that the state authorities are required to deliver electronic official documents centrally through the administrator of the electronic delivery module (NASES).

Central official document delivery means that the Ministry no longer sends an electronic official document individually, but sends the authorized document through the module of Central government portal and NASES will then deliver the document to the electronic mailbox of the addressee. If the mailbox is not active for document delivery, NASES will ensure its delivery by Slovak post. In that case, the addressee also receives the authorization allonge together with the document. The allonge contains information on who issued the document and when it was authorized (electronically signed).

The delivered document is created automatically and does not contain signature of stamp of the Ministry. Nevertheless, it has the same legal power as the electronic document (original) from which it was created. If you submit the document to another authority, it should accept it as it was delivered (with the authorization allonge).

More information about the central official document delivery available below (please contact the responsible authorities below if you have any issues:

Central government portal
NASES Central official document delivery

  1. A legal validity allonge (doložka právoplatnosti) or an authorization allonge (doložka o autorizácii) are required of me. What are these documents and how to obtain them?

Authorization allonge is a document that certifies the electronic signature in printed form of the electronic official document. Authorization allonge replaces signature and/or stamp on the printout that was originally created as an electronic official document. According to the Act on e-Government, the Ministry decisions (including recognition decisions) are issued as electronic official documents with qualified electronic stamp or signature.

Adressees who have an active electronic mailbox at Central government portal, will receive electronic documents directly to their mailbox. Addressees who have not activated their electronic mailbox are delivered the so-called "printed original copy" that in place of signature and stamp contain the authorization allonge. If you obtained such a document, please always present it with an authorization allonge, even if it is not firmly attached to the document.

Legal validity allonge certifies that the decision has obtained its legal validity. Decision is legally valid if it cannot be appealed. Decisions of the ministry as decisions according to the administrative codex have 15-days appeal deadline that starts on the day of decision delivery. Therefore, decision cannot be delivered as legally valid.

Decision will become legally valid by running out of the appeal deadline or sooner - once the applicant will withdraw his or her appeal right and inform the Ministry as such. You may ask for the legal validity allonge after the decision delivery and it will be issued with a date when the appeal deadline ran out or the date when you expressly withdrew your appeal right. The form to apply for the legal validity allonge can be found in the appeals and legal validity subsection.

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