Recognition of a Foreign Diploma in Georgia: what to do under Georgian law

What to do

1. Purpose and authority: the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement (NCEQE) recognises education obtained abroad (Rules for Recognition of Education Obtained Abroad, Art. 2). For a doctor, recognition is only one step: a medical diploma must come from a country on the list approved by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Science (Law of Georgia on Medical Activities, Art. 8); the right to practise is granted by a state certificate issued by the Professional Development Council under the Ministry of Health, and recognition of the diploma does not replace it (Law on Medical Activities, Art. 20); otherwise the certificate is granted on the basis of passing a state examination (Law on Medical Activities, Art. 9).
2. Deadline and fee: a decision is made within one month of filing (General Administrative Code of Georgia (GACG), Art. 100); with an extension, no more than 3 months (GACG, Art. 100); fee 30 lari; expedited within 15 working days, 60 lari (Recognition Rules, Art. 1 and Annex No. 2).
3. Criteria: the authenticity of the document and the conformity of the qualification with Georgian standards are checked (Law of Georgia on Education Quality Development, Art. 26); with an apostille, authenticity is presumed and only the university's recognition in its own country is verified; without an apostille, the Center itself requests confirmation from the country or the university (Recognition Rules, Art. 4). The main risk is online study: online education is recognised only if it took place because of the pandemic, or at an accredited university in the EU, UK or USA without practical training and with in-person examinations (Law on Education Quality Development, Art. 26).
4. Filing: an application with the diploma or a certified copy of it (Recognition Rules, Art. 3); the Center may request proof of residence abroad (Recognition Rules, Art. 3).
5. Outcome: a refusal must be reasoned (Recognition Rules, Art. 7); partial recognition is possible (Recognition Rules, Art. 7).
6. Refusal or partial recognition: a complaint may be filed within one month of notification of the decision (GACG, Art. 180); a complaint against an act of a head of a body goes to the superior body (Ministry of Education and Science) (GACG, Art. 178); or a lawsuit may be filed within one month of notification of the act or of the decision on the complaint (Administrative Procedure Code of Georgia (APC), Art. 22). Challenge the specific conclusion of the decision and attach evidence of in-person study.
7. Where to apply: NCEQE (eqe.ge) for the application; Ministry of Education and Science for a complaint; administrative panel of the district (city) court for a lawsuit; for doctors, the Professional Development Council under the Ministry of Health.
8. Evidence: diploma with transcript (grades, credits), translation, apostille if available; evidence of in-person study and of residence in the country of the university; the Center's decision and the date it was served, from which the appeal period runs.
9. Traps: “nostrification” at a ministry: only NCEQE decides recognition; an apostille is not required to file; a recognised doctor's diploma does not authorise practice without a certificate; an online degree studied from within Georgia at a university outside the EU/UK/USA is not recognised.

Be sure to check

• recognition is carried out by NCEQE (fee, standard and expedited deadlines)
• criteria: authenticity and conformity of qualification; the role of the apostille
• risk of refusal for distance (online) education
• appeal against a refusal: complaint or lawsuit within one month
• for doctors, an additional state certificate is required