Legalization and Recognition of Diplomas

To work in Russia, one must make their diplomas and degree certificates valid in the Russian Federation. There are two procedures to do this: legalization and recognition.

LEGALIZATION

Step 1. Select diplomas

Step 2. Prepare original versions of your diplomas

Step 3. Identify the type of legalization

Step 4. Prepare notarized translations

RECOGNITION

Step 5. Identify if your documents must be recognized

Step 6. Have your documents recognized

If you find out that your diploma or/and PhD certificate must get recognized, you can do it via several authorities:

Option 1: National Information Centre – check this page for more details;
Option 2: HSE University. According to Federal Law No. 273-FZ "On Education in the Russian Federation" (2013), HSE University is among the institutions of higher education, which have the legal power to carry out the recognition procedure independently (on a free-of-charge basis).

If you choose to get your diplomas recognized at HSE University, please bear in mind the following steps:

1. You send the following documents (colour copies) to the International Faculty Support Centre (ifaculty.support@hse.ru, cc your coordinator):

For BA and MA diplomas

consent for Personal Data Processing
your passport;
notarized translation of your passport (can be prepared in notary agencies only in the Russian Federation);
legalized BA or MA diploma;
legalized transcript to the BA or MA diploma (grade sheet)^[1];
translation of legalized BA or MA diploma (can be prepared by the Expert Translation Centre);
translation of legalized transcript to the BA or MA diploma (grade sheet) (can be prepared by the Expert Translation Centre).

Upon request of the Recognition Committee, additional documents may be required.

For PhD diplomas

consent for Personal Data Processing
application (attached – both copies in Russian and in English should be filled in and signed; please contact the International Faculty Support Centre for translation assistance);
your passport;
notarized translation of your passport (can be prepared in notary agencies only in the Russian Federation);
legalized PhD diploma;
legalized transcript to the PhD diploma (grade sheet)^[1];
translation of legalized PhD diploma (can be prepared by the Expert Translation Centre)
translation of legalized transcript to the PhD diploma (can be prepared by the Expert Translation Centre)
BA and MA diplomas;
transcripts to BA and MA diplomas (grade sheets)^[1];
translation of BA and MA diplomas (can be prepared by the Expert Translation Centre);
translations of transcripts to BA and MA diplomas (grade sheets) (can be prepared by the Expert Translation Centre).

Upon request of the Recognition Committee, additional documents may be required.

^[1]If you do not have a grade sheet, you can provide a programme description.

2. Within 30 working days once the documents are submitted, the Recognition Committee examines the documents and makes decisions (the International Faculty Support Centre analyses the files and informs candidates of further actions (if necessary)).

3. Within 3 working days once the decision is registered, the International Faculty Support Centre informs candidates about the outcome.

The documents may be rejected if:

1. The candidate fails to provide necessary documents within 10 working days once they are requested;

2. The documents are not legalized according to the procedures (for further details please have a look at “Legalization” section);

3. The claimed degree doesn’t correspond to the qualification requirements of the Russian Federation.

For further questions, please contact the International Faculty Support Centre at ifaculty.support@hse.ru.