Date of publication:
01/09/2026
Kyrgyzstan
Do domestic laws and policies facilitate the recognition of diplomas, certificates and degrees obtained abroad and in areas not under the State's control, including to practice liberal professions?
Assessment by population
Analysis
The legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic provides for the possibility of carrying out professional activities, including the so-called "liberal professions", by foreign citizens and recognized refugees. The main condition is the availability of relevant diplomas, qualifications or completion of established procedures for confirming professional competence.
In accordance with Article 13 of the Law on Refugees dated March 25, 2002, No. 44, persons recognized as refugees have the same rights and obligations as foreign citizens permanently residing in the Kyrgyz Republic. This includes the right to work for hire or engage in entrepreneurial activity on the basis of the rules in force for citizens of the country. These provisions are also confirmed by the Law on the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens (Article 7) of December 14, 1993 No. 1296-XII, which stipulates that foreign citizens permanently residing in the republic have the right to work at enterprises, institutions and organizations or engage in other labor activities on the same grounds as citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic, from which it follows that the legislation does not provide for special restrictions for foreign citizens and refugees in the exercise of their right to work. Special requirements for education and qualifications have been established for the implementation of professional activities in a number of areas. In particular, Article 149 of the Law on Health Protection of Citizens of January 12, 2024 No. 14 determines that the status of a medical or pharmaceutical worker is granted to persons with higher or secondary medical/pharmaceutical education or with documented professional retraining. In case of receiving an education abroad, it is necessary to undergo the procedure of recognition of educational documents in the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as specialist certification. Similar rules apply to teaching activities. The Law on Education (Article 43) of August 11, 2023 No. 179 establishes that persons with higher or secondary vocational pedagogical education or with professional retraining completed in licensed educational organizations have the right to engage in teaching activities. To work in higher educational institutions, an education of at least a master's or specialist level is required. The law also stipulates that persons with a criminal record or medical contraindications are not allowed to engage in teaching activities. It is important to note that foreign diplomas and qualifications are subject to a mandatory recognition or nostrification procedure in the Kyrgyz Republic, in accordance with the legislation on education. Only after completing this procedure and confirming their qualifications can a person begin to carry out professional activities. Thus, the laws of the Kyrgyz Republic create legal conditions for the implementation of professional activities in various fields, including "liberal professions". They provide an opportunity for foreign citizens and persons with refugee status to implement their professional skills, subject to compliance with the qualification requirements and the procedures provided for by national legislation.
Related provisions of domestic law or policy
The Law of the Kyrgyz Republic on Refugees
- Year: 2002
- Type: Domestic law
- Rights Category: Asylum, Education, Freedom of movement, Health, Housing, land & property, Liberty & security of person, Nationality & facilitated naturalization, Social protection, Work & Workplace rights, Family life, Documentation
- Link to external source: https://www.refworld.org/legal/legislation/natlegbod/2002/en/119852?prevDestination=search&prevPath=/search?keywords=Law+on+refugees&order=desc&page=1&sm_country_name%5B%5D=Kyrgyzstan&sort=score&result=result-119852-en
Legal provision
Article 13 - Rights and obligations of a refugee in the Kyrgyz Republic
A person recognized as a refugee in the Kyrgyz Republic enjoys the same rights and bears the same obligations as foreign citizens permanently residing in the Kyrgyz Republic. A person recognized as a refugee in the Kyrgyz Republic shall also be granted the rights and obligations of a person applying for refugee status, as stipulated by Article 6 of this Law. A person recognized as a refugee in the Kyrgyz Republic and his family members shall have the right to: - reside for three months in a temporary settlement; - choose a settlement from among those proposed by the Authorized Body in which his relatives reside as their place of permanent residence, subject to their consent to cohabitation; - work for hire or engage in entrepreneurial activity in accordance with the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic; - acquire real estate under the conditions established for foreign citizens and stateless persons by the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic; - receive, with the assistance of the relevant state bodies of the Kyrgyz Republic, information about property left behind in the state of previous residence; - have the necessary documents proving his identity and travel documents; - to receive medical care on an equal basis with citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic; - to receive administrative assistance when applying to state bodies of the Kyrgyz Republic; - to mandatory registration of civil status acts and receipt of relevant documents.
The Law of the Kyrgyz Republic "On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens"
- Year: 1993
- Type: Domestic law
- Rights Category: Education, Freedom of movement, Liberty & security of person, Social protection, Work & Workplace rights, Family life, Documentation
- Link to external source: https://www.refworld.org/legal/legislation/natlegbod/1993/en/147104?prevDestination=search&prevPath=/search?keywords=On+the+Legal+Status+of+Foreign+Citizens&order=desc&page=1&sm_country_name%5B%5D=Kyrgyzstan&sort=score&result=result-147104-en
Legal provision
Article 7 - Labor activity
Foreign citizens permanently residing in the Kyrgyz Republic may work as workers and employees at enterprises, institutions and organizations or engage in other labor activities on the grounds and in the manner established for citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic. Temporarily staying foreign citizens may engage in labor activities if this is compatible with the purposes and duration of their stay in the Kyrgyz Republic, or if the relevant permission has been received from the authorized state body in the field of migration in the manner determined by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic. Foreign citizens may not be appointed to certain positions or engage in certain labor activities if, in accordance with the legislation, appointment to these positions or engagement in such activities is associated with belonging to the citizenship of the Kyrgyz Republic. Foreign citizens enjoy rights and bear obligations in labor relations equally with citizens of the republic.
The Law of Kyrgyz Republic On Education
- Year: 2023
- Type: Domestic law
- Rights Category: Education
- Link to external source: https://www.refworld.org/legal/legislation/natlegbod/2023/ru/150142
Legal provision
Article 43 - Right to engage in pedagogical activity. Principles of pedagogical activity
1. The right to engage in pedagogical activity is enjoyed by persons: 1) having secondary or higher professional pedagogical education; 2) having secondary or higher professional education, who have undergone retraining in a pedagogical specialty; 3) combining the main work of a specialist practitioner, state and municipal employee, deputy of the Zhogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic, judge with pedagogical activity. 2. Retraining in a pedagogical specialty is carried out in secondary, higher professional and other licensed educational organizations, regardless of the form of ownership, according to an accelerated program (pedagogical minimum), with the issuance of a document on education. 3. Persons with an education of at least a master's/specialist are allowed to engage in pedagogical activity in educational organizations of higher professional education. 4. Persons with a criminal record or medical contraindications, the list of which is determined by the Cabinet of Ministers, are not allowed to engage in pedagogical activity. Deprivation of the right to engage in pedagogical activity is carried out in accordance with the criminal legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic. 5. Employees of libraries of general education organizations are equal to the status of a pedagogical worker. 6. Teachers of preschool organizations are equal in status and salary to pedagogical workers of primary education. 7. The main principles of pedagogical activity of a pedagogical worker are: 1) a personality-oriented approach to teaching, education and development of the student; 2) a humanistic nature of teaching, education and development, ensuring respect for the rights and freedoms of the student, national and cultural traditions; 3) commitment to a scientifically based understanding of the world, universal moral principles and moral values; 4) prevention of direct, hidden and (or) indirect discrimination, restriction of rights or granting of privileges to students on the basis of gender, race, language, disability, ethnicity, religion, age, origin, property or other status, as well as other circumstances; 5) education of students in the spirit of love for the Motherland, high citizenship, tolerance, friendship between peoples; 6) continuity of the educational process; 7) academic freedom and academic honesty; 8) unity of principles of training, education and development; 9) improvement of knowledge based on the latest achievements of science, technology and culture; 10) assessment of the results of work based on the results of educational achievements of students; 11) interaction with students and their families; 12) cooperation with children's and youth associations, work collectives, as well as interested state and non-state organizations whose activities are not prohibited by the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic.
The Law of Kyrgyz Republic on the Protection of Citizens' Health
- Year: 2024
- Type: Domestic law
- Rights Category: Health, Social protection
- Link to external source: https://www.refworld.org/legal/legislation/natlegbod/2024/ru/150143
Legal provision
Article 149 - Persons with the status of a medical or pharmaceutical worker
1. The status of a medical worker is held by persons with higher and secondary medical, biological education, as well as persons who have undergone professional retraining in the qualification "Healthcare Management", carrying out their activities in healthcare organizations regardless of the form of ownership and private practitioners. 2. The status of a pharmaceutical worker is held by persons with higher and secondary specialized pharmaceutical education, carrying out their activities in healthcare organizations regardless of the form of ownership and individuals engaged in pharmaceutical activities. 3. The status of a medical or pharmaceutical worker is held by persons who have received medical or pharmaceutical education in foreign countries, after recognition in the Kyrgyz Republic of the education and (or) qualifications obtained in a foreign state, in the manner established by the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic on education, and passing the certification of a specialist, unless otherwise provided by international treaties of the Kyrgyz Republic. 4. The status of a medical and pharmaceutical worker is determined by the conditions and nature of the activity of the medical and pharmaceutical worker, includes their rights, duties and responsibilities. 5. Medical and pharmaceutical workers carry out their activities, guided by the humane principles of medical ethics and deontology, regulating the moral relationships of medical and pharmaceutical workers with patients, their relatives, and among themselves.