Nostrification of documents

Nostrification is a term that refers to the procedure of recognition of foreign documents. The importance of this legal procedure is very important, given that it contributes to the provision of the right to professional activity for citizens who have received education in foreign institutions. If you need advice from a migration lawyer or legal support for the procedure for recognizing foreign educational documents, you have come to the right place.

Lawyers of the “Prikhodko&Partners” law firm provide services in this category. In the meantime, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the procedure for nostrification of documents, determined by the current legislation of Ukraine. We will also tell you about the bodies authorized to carry out this procedure.

What do the legal norms say?

One of the main legal acts regulating this issue is the Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region. It was ratified by Law No. 1273-XIV of December 3, 1999.

The procedure for nostrification of educational documents is aimed at ensuring that the owner of the documents receives a certificate that will confirm his right to continue education or employment in his specialty in the territory of Ukraine. The certificate is issued on the basis of the relevant decision of the Ministry of Education and Science or higher education.

How does the nostrification procedure take place?

Recognition of foreign educational documents involves the following steps:

• verification of educational documents;
• checking the status of the educational institution that issued them;
• checking the educational provider and the educational program under which the person received education;
• assessment of qualifications;
• assessment of the period of study;
• establishing the conformity of the qualification and the period of study with the educational or educational-professional degree in Ukraine;
• establishing academic and professional rights.

In addition to the regulatory legal acts already mentioned above, it is also important to pay attention to the following:

1. The Law “On Higher Education” (by the way, it significantly reformed the nostrification procedure);
2. Order of the Ministry of Education and Science of May 5, 2015 No. 504 (it regulates how the nostrification procedure is carried out in Ukraine by all competent bodies authorized to carry it out).

We are talking about the recognition of documents corresponding to levels 2-5 of the National Qualifications Framework, which are issued by educational institutions in other countries.

What else should you know about nostrification of educational documents?

In order for the Ministry of Education and Science to make a corresponding decision on the recognition of foreign educational documents, they must first be submitted for processing to specialists of the State Enterprise “Information and Image Center” of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. It is this that performs the functions of the National Information Center for Academic Mobility ENIC Ukraine. This can be done, including remotely, if you use the official website.

As for the bodies competent to recognize foreign educational documents, first of all, this is the Ministry of Education, as already noted. After reviewing the documents, representatives of the Ministry of Education issue the applicant with the relevant Certificate. This certificate will allow further education in Ukraine or employment in the specialty. Higher education institutions can also recognize educational documents when an applicant with such documents wants to enroll. A special commission must be created to carry out the recognition procedure.

This is the procedure for document nostrification in Ukraine. If you want to know the prospects and the optimal algorithm of actions in your particular situation, you should contact our specialists. We provide a wide range of services in the context of recognizing foreign educational documents.

How can we  help you?

Lawyers of the law firm “Prikhodko&Partners”, helping their clients with the issue of recognition of foreign documents, provide the following services:

Consulting. In the consultation format, we will answer the current questions that you ask. We will guide you in detail about the procedure for contacting authorized government agencies and tell you what the algorithm of actions should be.

Legal support. Support for the procedure of document nostrification “turnkey” gives you the opportunity not to spend a lot of time and effort on this matter, because our lawyers will take care of everything.

Representation of interests in court. If you have received an unjustified refusal to nostrify educational documents, we can help with the appeal.

If you need the services listed above, you can fill out the feedback form on the website of our law firm and a specialist will contact you.

We know how to help clients with such requests effectively and efficiently, so that you can use your foreign educational documents while continuing your education in Ukraine or while finding employment in your specialty.