Getting an Egyptian Diploma Recognised at Home, Step by Step

Legalisation and recognition, what is the difference

A diploma from Cairo University, Ain Shams or Al-Azhar does not work at home on its own. To be hired, admitted to a master’s programme or allowed to practise a profession, you usually need two steps.

• Legalisation. A chain of stamps confirming that the document is genuine and was issued lawfully.
• Recognition (nostrification). A decision by a state body of your country on which level of education the diploma matches and what rights it gives.

Step one, certification at the university

Under the rules of Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the chain starts with the institution that issued the diploma. Start before you leave, while you are in Cairo and can go to the right offices yourself.

• State university (Cairo, Ain Shams, Helwan and others). First the faculty stamp, then the university’s secretary general.
• Private university. Certification at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
• Al-Azhar. Diplomas of Al-Azhar University are certified by the university itself.
• Together with the diploma, order a transcript with subjects and hours. Almost every office asks for it, and getting it from abroad is hard.

Step two, the Egyptian ministry and your embassy

After the university, the document goes to a certification office of Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. There are several in Cairo, and we covered their addresses and fees in our article on legalising documents in Egypt.

Egypt is not a party to the Hague Convention, so an Egyptian diploma does not get an apostille. Instead, you may need consular legalisation at your country’s embassy in Cairo. Ask the embassy and the office that will recognise the diploma whether you need it.

The translation into Russian, Kyrgyz, Uzbek or Kazakh is usually done at home and certified by a notary. Write your name exactly as it appears in your passport in Latin letters.

Kyrgyzstan

Foreign higher education diplomas are recognised by the responsible ministry, currently the Ministry of Science, Higher Education and Innovation. It usually asks for an application, a passport copy, the diploma with its transcript and a notarised translation into Kyrgyz or Russian. Check the exact list and timing with the ministry.

Religious education has its own rules. Since 1 February 2025 a new law on freedom of religion has been in force: a citizen going to study at a religious school abroad informs the authorised state body for religious affairs in writing and registers with the consular section of the Kyrgyz embassy in the country of study. That body is now the National Agency for Religious Affairs and Interethnic Relations. We found no separate public procedure for recognising religious diplomas, so ask the agency and the ministry.

Uzbekistan

Recognition and nostrification are handled by the Agency for Assessment of Knowledge and Qualifications. You apply through the my.gov.uz portal or a public services centre and attach scans of the diploma with its transcript and a notarised translation into Uzbek.

An expert commission decides one of three things: direct recognition, a test in your field, or refusal. You are told the decision within 10 working days, and the certificate is issued electronically. Recognised without tests are, for example, diplomas from universities in the top thousand of the QS, THE and ARWU rankings, and those of people who studied on quotas and grants for training staff for ministries and agencies. The commission decides whether your case fits.

A special rule applies to studying at Al-Azhar itself: citizens of Uzbekistan are admitted on a recommendation, and applications are reviewed by the Consultative Council of the Committee on Religious Affairs in Tashkent.

Kazakhstan

Higher education documents are recognised by the National Centre for Higher Education Development of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. You can apply on egov.kz or through the State Corporation service centres (TsON). You need an application, a copy of the diploma with its transcript, a notarised translation including seals and stamps, and a receipt for the fee.

Updated rules have applied since 30 August 2026. The review takes 8 working days, but if the centre sends an inquiry to the foreign university, it waits up to 20 working days for a reply. Medical, pharmaceutical and teaching diplomas go through an expert evaluation.

We found no special procedure for religious diplomas in these rules. If you plan to serve in a mosque, talk to the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan in advance.

Russia

There is no agreement on mutual recognition of education between Russia and Egypt in the Ministry of Science and Higher Education’s list, so an Egyptian diploma goes through the recognition procedure. It is run by Rosobrnadzor through Glavexpertcentre, you apply on Gosuslugi or on nic.gov.ru, and the result is called a certificate of recognition.

According to the National Information Centre, Egyptian education documents do not need legalisation for Russia, but a notarised translation is required. Check nic.gov.ru before applying, as the rules may change.

A separate rule for clergy has applied since 2021. Clergy and religious staff with religious education from abroad must complete additional professional training in the basics of state and religion relations and pass an attestation in their centralised religious organisation before starting to serve in Russia.

What to do before leaving Egypt

Recognition rules change, and timing differs from country to country. Before applying, check the procedure on the official website of the responsible office in your country.

• Collect the original diploma and the transcript, and make several certified copies.
• Get the university and Egyptian ministry certifications while you are in Cairo.
• Ask your embassy whether consular legalisation is needed, and do it right away.
• Keep the curriculum or a programme description with hours, as experts often need it.
• Check that the name on the diploma matches your passport.

How Tullab can help

Find translators and helpers with legalisation in documents, visas, translations. If you are only planning to study, start with our guide how to get into Al-Azhar.

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