Getting Czech Apostille

How can you get your diploma recognised in your country of origin, after you return home? This is in many ways a mirror image of the process by which you got your Bachelor's diploma recognised in the Czech Republic when you started your studies. Some of the processes involved will be similar. 

Please, check which office in your country takes care of this and which local rules apply (e.g. as regards translations). As a general rule, make sure you get together all the official Czech documents you will need before you leave.

At graduation, you will receive the following documents from Charles University:

1. Your official diploma, signed by the Dean and the Rector, which at Charles University is a single sheet, roughly A3 in format and written entirely in Latin.  You will receive one original of this only. If you need extra copies, you have to get them made by a notary.
2. Your EU diploma supplement. This is a 4 to 6-page document in A4 format, written in Czech and English, which explains what diploma you have received, what grades you achieved, and how the Czech higher education system works. You will receive one copy of this only as well.
3. In addition, we can give you a transcript of grades from your studies (bilingual in Czech and English, any reasonable number of copies), which gives a complete list of the classes you have taken but does not include the statement that you have graduated (i.e. it cannot replace your diploma).

In getting your diploma recognised abroad, you will need to use some combination of these three documents, plus (generally) some form of a legal document from the Czech authorities to prove that the diploma is real. The most common document used for this purpose is the Apostille, which most of you have already encountered when getting your Bachelor's degree recognised in the Czech Republic. This time, however, you will need to get a Czech Apostille to accompany your Czech diploma when you get it legalised elsewhere. 

PLEASE NOTE: Some countries have a different arrangement with the Czech Republic, and do not require an apostille. If you have legalised your Bachelor's diploma in Prague without one, it is highly likely that you will not need a Czech apostille on your Master's diploma either (but please check this anyway).

First step: Legalise your Diploma at the Czech Ministry of Education

This is handled by the Ministry of Education, and consists of a stamp certifying the authenticity of your diploma.

Where to get it

Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (Ministerstvo školství, mládeže a tělovýchovy)

Department of Higher Education (Odbor vysokých škol)

Address: Karmelitská street 7, 110 00 Prague 1 (at Malá strana)

Tel.: 00420 234 811 459

Office Hours

Cost: 100 CZK per page in the form of a duty stamp ("kolek" or "kolková známka" available at any post office)

Make sure you bring: either the original of your diploma (not recommended) or a notarised copy, plus a 100 CZK duty stamp for every page you want legalised. If you bring enough duty stamps, and enough notarised copies, you can get more than one copy legalised if you like. Generally, the Ministry can arrange legalisation while you wait.

Official information on Apostilles from the Ministry of Education
 

Second Step: Go to get an Apostille at the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Once you have had your diploma legalised at the Ministry of Education, take it to the Legalisation Office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which will issue the Apostille.

Where to get it

Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministerstvo zahraničních věcí)

Consular Department (Odbor konzulárních činností)

Legalisation Office (Oddělení legalizační)

Address: Hradcanske nam. 5, 118 00, Prague 1 (on the ground floor of Toskansky Palace)

Tel.: 00420 224 182 156

Office Hours

Cost: 100 CZK per diploma in the form of a duty stamp ("kolek" or "kolková známka" available at any post office)

Official information on Apostilles from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Czech only)

None of this is at all complicated, but with the transfer from one ministry to another it can take a little time. If you need advice, please feel free to contact us.