Job Discussion Forums

[applied linguist]

Does a 3rd country national need his diploma apostilled to work at a Slovak university?

[spiral78]

Probably not, but if you have a job offer obviously they are going to tell you for sure. Such gigs are relatively uncommon.

[applied linguist]

The university does not know and expects me to figure it out. The Slovak Office of Labor's website has this (machine translation):

"...necessary to prove the relevant professional competence by documenting the relevant documents."

So I need some advice from a TCN working in Slovakia with a temporary-stay permit. Did you need your diploma apostilled?

[Kofola]

I realise that this is a bit late and you have probably already sorted things out. But just to provide some sort of a response for others in future.

Just for the record it is impossible to answer your question without knowing what kind of contract you are on and on what basis you were or will be awarded temporary residence.

I have a lot of (non-teaching) contact with universities and have never been fobbed off when asking for information about questions regarding legalities. Quite the opposite. This would raise alarm bells about the employer for me.

[scot47]

The university in Slovakia could find an answer to the question IF THEY WANTED TO. Surely there is a Law Faculty and the HRD have contacts with lawyers and with the Ministry of Interior.

[applied linguist]

Thanks for the help. I went ahead and got the apostille, just in case. Here's another question. I am being offered a one-year contract, but there is a good possibility I will leave after a semester. I mentioned this to the employer, and he said no problem. Maybe not as far as he is concerned at the moment, but does anybody know whether EU countries have something similar to the Middle East, where an employer or a ministry is able to block your change of sponsorship, future employment, etc., for not completing a contract?

[spiral78]

I don't know of any way they can create any record for the region. However, I also don't know why they would have any interest in a teacher for only a semester (unless it's to cover for someone temporarily away) - it's not even sufficient time to get minimally oriented.

[applied linguist]

Anybody here actually know anything?

[spiral78]

No, there is no European system similar to that in the Middle East through which your future employment can be blocked.

[scot47]

There may be informal networks. What is to stop the interested employer using his "connections" to phone your original employer and ask for the lowdown on the lecturer who "deserted his post" ?.

However, there is no formal system anywhere in Europe (EU or non_EU) which would allow an employer to put a stop on your employment.

[1st Sgt Welsh]