Poland in the UK

Please be advised that, pursuant to recent amendments to Polish law under the Act on the Elimination of Irregularities in the Visa System, a reform of the national student visa process has been introduced, effective July 1, 2025.

As of this date, foreign nationals who do not possess a secondary school diploma or an equivalent qualification issued by an educational institution in one of the following jurisdictions:

1. European Union (EU) Member States,

2. Member States of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD),

3. Member States of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) – parties to the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement,

4. Holders of the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma issued by the International Baccalaureate Organization in Geneva,

5. Graduates of secondary schools or equivalent institutions abroad, whose diplomas are recognized under the provisions of international agreements binding for Poland,

are required to obtain an additional document issued by the National Agency for Academic Exchange (Narodowa Agencja Wymiany Akademickiej – NAWA). This document, referred to as "written information", confirms that the high school diploma held by the applicant entitles them to undertake higher education studies in Poland.

Key Requirements:

• The written information must be submitted together with the student visa application and all other required documents.

• This requirement applies to international students admitted to the first year of first-cycle (undergraduate) studies or first year of long-cycle Master’s degree programmes in Poland.

• Failure to submit the required written information will result in the refusal of the student visa application.

Exceptions:

Foreigners who already possess an official decision issued by the appropriate Education Superintendent in Poland confirming the recognition of their secondary school diploma may submit that decision in place of the NAWA document.

Important Note:

Polish consulates do not participate in the process of diploma recognition. They do not provide assistance or act as intermediaries between the applicant, universities, or the National Agency for Academic Exchange.

For further guidance, please contact NAWA directly:

Email: dyplom@nawa.gov.pl
Website: How to obtain a recognition statement – NAWA