If you graduated from a foreign university and want to work or continue studying in Kazakhstan, you need to nostrificate your diploma, i.e. legally validate it on the territory of Kazakhstan.
Although, depending on the place and time of study, nostrification might not be necessary.
In the material, we will describe the procedure in detail.
What is nostrification of educational certificates?
Nostrification of educational certificates is an official acknowledgment of educational certificates issued by foreign educational institutions, including the branches as well as by scientific centers and laboratories.
Which documents are subject/not subject to nostrification?
Foreign documents on basic secondary/general secondary/technical/professional/post-secondary/higher and postgraduate education are subject to nostrification.
Transcript to diploma is a compulsory document for nostrification procedure.
Nostrification is not required for European diploma supplement, which is a unified form for all European countries containing information on the level, program and results that are needed to confer qualification or degree.
Diplomas on professional retraining that award a qualification in a certain area are not subject to nostrification.
Documents on education issued by foreign higher education organizations, scientific centers and laboratories to Kazakhstani citizens-holders of “Bolashak” international scholarship are acknowledged without nostrification.
CIS
Educational certificates issued by CIS member countries until May 15, 1992 are acknowledged without nostrification.
Russian Federation
Educational certificates issued by the branch of Lomonosov Moscow State University in the Republic of Kazakhstan are acknowledged without nostrification.
Eurasian Economic Union member countries
To enable labour migrants performing labour activities on the territory of the RoK, documents on education issued by education organizations of EEU member countries (irrespective of issuance date) are acknowledged without nostrification since January 1, 2015.
Although, nostrification is compulsory for individuals who are seeking to perform teaching, legal, medical or pharmaceutical activities.
Also, nostrification is required for individuals, who have documents on academic degrees and titles.
Besides, nostrification of documents is required for those, who are willing to continue studying.
How equivalency of foreign diploma to Kazakhstani standards is established
Based on transcript, expert assessment is performed to establish relevance of foreign document on education to State Compulsory Educational Standards of the RoK (SCES):
- training term;
- list and volume of studied courses, subjects and disciplines;
- internships;
- final assessment level;
- final qualification work.
By results of expert assessment, qualification is assigned under SCES of the RoK.
Any major discrepancies in the level of education, training periods, terms and teaching method are recompensed by documents certifying training and obtainment of additional education, including practical skills and work experience over 5 years.
Where to apply for a document nostrification
Upon issuance of an educational certificate in member country of international treaty (agreement) on legal assistance that provides for cancelation of official documents legalization, acknowledgment and nostrification are not required.
To submit an educational certificate (diploma) for nostrification, you can submit documents to “Government for Citizens” Public Corporation or via e-Gov Portal.
The following documents are to be submitted to get a nostrification certificate:
- national ID.
- receipt certifying payment of national duty;
- copy of legalized or apostillized educational certificate and transcript thereto (original copy for verification; is returned) and notarized translation (in case if document is in the foreign language) of educational certificate and transcript thereto, including translation of seal.
Make an appointment to the Public Corporation online for your convenience
– Making an appointment to CSC
Amount of national duty (payment details):
- For documents on basic and general secondary education: 6 MCI
- For documents on technical and professional education: 8 MCI
- For documents on higher and postgraduate education: 10 MCI
- For a duplicate: 3 MCI
Public service delivery terms
Legalized/apostillized documents:
Upon visiting the Public Corporation in Astana or applying via the Portal: 15 working days;
Upon visiting the Public Corporation in other regions: 30 working days.
Not legalized/apostillized documents:
Upon visiting the Public Corporation in Astana or applying via the Portal: 30 working days;
Upon visiting the Public Corporation in other regions: 45 working days.
Consideration term is extended to 10 working days, in case if a repeated request is sent to a foreign educational organization.
Nostrification procedure for documents on academic degrees and ranks falls within the competence of the Quality Assurance Committee in the field of education and science under MoE RK.
