Preparation of documents for admission to foreign universities and colleges, employment, marriage in another country includes the legalization procedure. At this stage, the document authenticity is confirmed. Legalization can be consular or through the affixing of the Apostille stamp.

When going to Poland, our clients ask us, whether they need an Apostille? Let's sort out the nuances of document legalization together.

When do you need an Apostille for your documents?

The Apostille stamp is required for official documents that will be used abroad. This is a simplified legalization procedure. It is for the citizens of countries that are parties to the Hague Convention. Poland signed this international agreement in 2004, and it came into force in 2005. Therefore, going to the West, it is enough to stamp a document.

There are also bilateral agreements between countries, facilitating the legalization procedure. An agreement of document flow simplification was signed between Ukraine and Poland. The countries undertake to accept the documents without an Apostille. In some cases, it is enough to submit a notarized translation.

Be sure to clarify the requirements of Polish organization for which you prepare documents. Some institutions still require an Apostille. There are also subtle aspects regarding the translation into Polish.

Which documents have to be apostilled for Poland?

An Apostille stamp for the documents for Poland issued in Ukraine is affixed in our country. Therefore, be sure to prepare them before going abroad. The papers should be correctly executed, contain general data, have seals and signatures of authorized persons.

An Apostille for Poland is required for:

• birth, marriage, death certificates;
• diploma, certificate of secondary education, other education certificates;
• incorporation documents;
• notarial documents, etc.

How to prepare documents for Polish universities entrance?

To enter a university in Poland, a certificate of secondary education and an official transcript are required. Prospective master students applying to grad school must submit a diploma from a Ukrainian university with a supplement. Polish higher educational institutions also require No. 086 medical certificate form.

At the request of the educational institution, these documents should be apostilled. It is also necessary to notarize the certificates’ and diplomas’ copies. 

Additional requirements

Remember that each institution has its own requirements. In some cases, a translation by a Polish sworn translator is required. You can get this service only in Poland. In some cases, an Apostille is required. This service is performed only in Ukraine. Our office provides a service of documents apostillation.