Document types
University degree certificateApostille basics
Also called: diploma, degree certificate, university diploma.
The document
What it is
The certificate a university issues when a degree is awarded.
Usually issued by: The university, sometimes verified first by a ministry of education or a qualifications agency.
The rule
Can it get an apostille?
It depends on who issued it. When a public body issued it, it is a public document; otherwise a notary public usually certifies it first.
Article 1 of the Apostille Convention (Hague Conference on Private International Law) lists the public documents it covers: court documents, administrative documents, notarial acts and certificates that an authority places on private documents.
Step by step
How to get an apostille for a university degree certificate
- Ask whether the issuing country needs the degree verified first, for example by the ministry of education or a qualifications agency.
- If the university is private, a notary public may first certify a copy or the signature.
- Apply for the apostille in the country where the degree was issued.
The office, fee and steps differ by country. Open the guide for the country that issued the document, or check two countries to see whether an apostille works where you need it.
Note: Good to know
- An apostille confirms the signature on the diploma, not that the degree is recognised abroad. Recognition is a separate procedure.
Country guides
Offices that list this document
The apostille office in these countries names this kind of document on its own website. Each guide shows the office, fee and steps.
Questions
Questions about a university degree certificate
What is a university degree certificate?
The certificate a university issues when a degree is awarded.
Can a university degree certificate get an apostille?
It depends on who issued it. When a public body issued it, it is a public document; otherwise a notary public usually certifies it first.
How do I get an apostille for a university degree certificate?
Ask whether the issuing country needs the degree verified first, for example by the ministry of education or a qualifications agency. If the university is private, a notary public may first certify a copy or the signature. Apply for the apostille in the country where the degree was issued.
What does the apostille confirm?
An apostille only confirms the signature, the role of the person who signed and any seal or stamp on the document. It does not confirm what the document says. The office that receives the document decides what it accepts.
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