1. When is sworn diploma translation required?
Translation is required when the diploma or supplement was not issued in Polish and you submit documents in an official procedure or to an employer in Poland.
Translation is required for:
- Nostrification: the regional education authority or authorised university verifies a foreign diploma against Polish standards — without sworn translation the application will not be accepted.
- Employment: employers request diploma translation to confirm qualifications — especially for roles where degree and field matter.
- Work residence permit: the voivodeship may require diploma translation together with the employment contract.
- Further study: a Polish university may require translation of a bachelor's diploma for master's or doctoral admission.
- Regulated professions: doctors, nurses, teachers, lawyers — beyond translation, full nostrification or a separate recognition procedure is often required.
- Licences and permits: bodies granting the right to practise accept only sworn translation of the full education document set.
Important!
2. Diploma, supplement and what to translate for work vs nostrification
Before ordering translation, use the table below — it shows which certificate you need, whether apostille is required, and what to verify before sending scans. Save it — when preparing an office submission, checking line by line is safer than relying on memory.
Work and nostryfikacja require different but overlapping document sets. Check the table before ordering translation.
| Diploma (dyplom) | the main higher or vocational education document — full translation of all pages including seals and signatures. |
|---|---|
| Diploma supplement (suplement do dyplomu) | list of subjects, hours and grades — mandatory for nostrification; without it the education authority cannot assess the study programme. |
| Academic transcript | sometimes requested separately if the supplement lacks detail — confirm with the receiving institution. |
| For employment | translation of diploma and supplement is often enough; full nostrification is not always required for non-regulated roles. |
| For nostryfikacja | diploma, supplement, sometimes syllabus and university certificate — all in Polish via a sworn translator. |
| Apostille | for diplomas from Hague Convention countries an apostille in the issuing country is usually required before translation; for others — legalisation. |
3. Requirements for diploma translation
The education authority, NAWA, voivodeship and employers accept sworn translation of the diploma into Polish with a seal from a Ministry of Justice register translator.
- Full translation: all pages of diploma and supplement — subject names, grades, university seals, rector signatures; no summaries or omissions.
- Language pair: translator accredited for source language → Polish.
- Data consistency: names, dates, field of study and diploma number in the translation must match the passport and application.
Note
4. What happens if diploma translation is incorrect?
- Nostrification refusal: the education authority or NAWA returns the file unprocessed — recognition is delayed by months.
- Employer rejection: the company will not accept documents for a role requiring confirmed qualifications.
- Residence permit delay: the voivodeship may suspend the case until a correct sworn translation is provided.
- Extra costs: re-translation of the supplement, new apostille, courier delivery.
- Incomplete set: only the diploma was translated without the supplement — insufficient for nostryfikacja.
5. Step-by-step guide: from diploma to finished translation
Define your goal — employment, nostryfikacja or study — and request the document list from the employer, education authority or university.
Check whether apostille is required on diploma and supplement in the issuing country. Complete legalisation before translation.
Gather originals or certified copies: diploma, supplement, transcript and study programme if needed.
Make clear scans of all pages — text, university seals and signatures readable. PDF or JPG, at least 300 dpi.
Send scans to a translation agency — after review you will receive price and turnaround (usually 2–4 business days).
Receive sworn translation with seal. At LEGIX we match a translator from the Ministry of Justice register for your language pair.
Before submission verify names, field of study and dates in the translation against the original and passport.
6. Cost and turnaround for diploma translation
Cost depends on diploma and supplement volume, source language and number of grade pages. Exact pricing is confirmed after reviewing scans — indicative rates are on the price list.
A diploma without supplement is usually 2–4 translation pages; a full subject list supplement adds another 4–15 pages.
Standard turnaround is 2–4 business days from order confirmation. Express translation is available for urgent submissions.
Pre-submission checklist