Your Diploma/Atestat/Certificate corresponds to the education system of the country where it was issued even if your nationality is different. For example, a candidate from Nigeria who studied in Russia and received the BA degree in Russia will only have to Apostille the issued diploma instead of doing double legalisation. Kindly proceed with the following instructions based on the country of issue of your document.
The Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (HCCH 1961 Apostille Convention) facilitates the use of public documents abroad. The purpose of the Convention is to abolish the traditional requirement of legalisation, replacing the often long and costly legalisation process with the issuance of a single Apostille certificate by a Competent Authority in the place where the document originates.
An Apostille certifies:
- the authenticity of the signature of the public official who signed the document,
- the capacity in which that public official acted, and
- when appropriate, the identity of the seal or stamp which the document bears, e.g. a notary public seal.
If you are a holder of documents issued in any of the countries mentioned below you should provide them to the one of the institutions authorised to issue the Apostille:
Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cape Verde, China (Special Administrative Regions of: Hong Kong, Macao), Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea (Republic of Korea), Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niue, Norway, Oman, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela.
The list of all countries – parties to the Convention and the data of the institutions authorised to issue the Apostille is available here:
http://www.hcch.net/index_en.php?act=conventions.authorities&cid=41
Important!
Even though Apostille is a International certificate recognasied in almmost all of the countries not all Apostilles are done the same. As such, WSBU requires all of its applicants to translate the body of the Apostille - if it is not in English language already - and to translate via a sworn translator the stamps and signatures of the document as well! Without the translation of the Stamps and Signatures the Apostille itself might not be accepted.
Legalisation is a process of ‘confirmation’ issued by several authorities in order to certify the validity of the document abroad.
Legalisation shows that:
-the document was issued by a competent and expert authority
-the signature, seal and/or stamp on the document are genuine
-the document’s format is correct
If you are a holder of documents issued in any of the countries mentioned below, you should legalise them:
Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China (excluding Special Administrative Regions of: Hong Kong, Macao), Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritania, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
The Legalisation steps should look like this:
Countries from Africa, Asia and sometimes Oceania are requested to do a double Legalisation.
In order for the education documents to be accepted by the University the following is needed:
Please remember!
All stamps and signatures – if not in Polish or English – must be translated by a sworn translator!
The Validation or recognition of foreign studies and degrees is the process whereby a competent authority in one country formally recognises the value of a qualification from a foreign country. This can entail total or partial validation of foreign university and non-university studies, degrees and other qualifications. Particularly within Europe, this is covered by a number of international conventions and agreements.
All students who are applying for a BA degree based on their High School degree or College degree must undergo official validation. As by the Polish law all international students have to complete the process of Validation as soon as possible.
As this process is rather complicated WSBU decided to complete it in the student’s name thus shrinking the overall waiting time.
All students who must undergo Validation have to bring the following documents to the office 206:
- Original diploma plus its transcript of records;
- Official translation of the diploma and its transcript of records;
- Translation of the Apostille or Legalisation* done via a sworn translator:
- Translation of all of the stamps done via a sworn translator;
- Confirmation from your school/college that you are allowed to undertake higher education in your home country (template can be found in the Attachment section);
- Translation of the confirmation in case it is done in any other language but Polish or English.
All of the above need to be brought to room 206 to GWeglarz@wsb.edu.pl
During the meeting the students will fill out two forms and afterwards the original documents will be collected. The University will then pass the documents in the students name to the Kuratorium - Ministry of Education - where the Validation will commence.
The duration of the Validation depends on the Ministry of education and not on the University. We will not keep your documents. Students whose documents will be received back by the University will receive an email notification that their Validation is complete.
If no such emails was sent that means your diploma is not yet Validated and you have to wait until further notice.
Important!
- Scanned copies of your documents will not be accepted for Validation;
- Colourful copies will not be accepted for Validation;
- Missing documents will not allow you to submit your diploma for Validation;
- Failure to complete the process of Validation will mean inability to receive your Bachelor’s degree from WSBU.
The certificate of confirmation has to be signed and stamped by the relevant authority i.e. High school principle and/or Official representative of the Ministry of Education of the country of the issue of the Diploma/Certificate.
The certificate of validation needs to be signed by your ministry of education if you are from:
- African countries
- Asian countries
For more information please reach out to your admission officer.
The document has to mention the full and correct name of the Diploma/Certificate and its number of issue.
Important!
The document should clearly state that applicant is entitled to receive higher education in the country where the Diploma/Certificate was issued.
*More information on the documents you can find here:
https://wsb.edu.pl/en/admissions/admission-process/documents