Recognition of qualifications abroad

The Centre for International Cooperation in Education (DZS) will issue confirmation of studies by Czechoslovak citizens who were sent to universities in the countries of the former Eastern Bloc prior to 1989. It will also provide information on Confirmation of studies at secondary schools and universities abroad for medical reasons.

Recognition of studies at foreign universities prior to 1989

In response to requests by former scholarship holders, (submitted on the completed form below, with the information needed for its processing and sent as an email attachment) the DZS will submit a request to search for the relevant materials in the DZS archive, and then, for social reasons and for social and health insurance purposes, will confirm that the requestor was posted by the (Czech) Ministry of Education  from the then Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, before 1989, to study abroad (in the countries of the former Eastern bloc).

Who is the confirmation intended for?

For Czechoslovak citizens posted abroad by the Ministry of Education before 1989 to study in universities, in which case the general regulations on sickness insurance and employee’s pension insurance apply to their sickness and pension insurance, pursuant to the regulations in force in the then Czechoslovakia.

Why do I need confirmation?

The confirmation will guarantee that your period of studies will be included for social and medical purposes.

How can I obtain the confirmation and what should I do with it?

  1. Complete the APPLICATION FORM FOR CONFIRMATION OF STUDIES in docx  or pdf format.

  2. The confirmation application should be submitted to the email address: eva.simkova@dzs.cz.

  3. The DZS then has a deadline of 30 days to process the data. During this period, it may ask you to provide certain additional information.

  4. The certification is issued by the DZS in two counterparts. Submit one of these:

    • to the MEYS as one of the attachments to the application to assess the status of university studies abroad for social purposes and for the health insurance purposes, see below.

    Then submit the other counterpart:

    • to the ČSSZ /OSSZ as one of the attachments to your pension application.

  5. In order to count the period of study abroad as part of your pension entitlements in the CR, the law also requires you to prove that your studies abroad were at the same level as studies at secondary or tertiary vocational schools and universities in the CR (cf. Section 21 (1)(a) of Act No. 155/1995 Coll., on pension insurance, as amended). This fact is documented, pursuant to Section 85 (1)(f) of Act No. 582/1991 Coll., as amended, by a decision by the MEYS. The information necessary to prove that the status of studies abroad is equivalent to the CR for health and social purposes is published on the MEYS website.

Recognition of studies at foreign secondary schools and universities for health and social purposes

In order to include the period of study abroad in your pension entitlements in the CR, the law also requires you to prove that your studies abroad were at the same level as studies at secondary or tertiary vocational schools and universities in the CR. 

The MEYS issues a Decision on the equivalence of the status of studies at foreign secondary schools and universities with studies in the CR after 1989.

How can I obtain the confirmation, and what should I do with it?

  1. Submit an application, following the procedure laid down on the MEYS website:

    Steps to submit an application to assess the equivalence of studies at secondary school abroad

    Steps to submit an application to assess the equivalence of studies at university abroad

  2. The applicant should subsequently submit the documents from the MEYS to the Czech Social Security Administration (ČSSZ).