How to Get an Apostille for Diplomas & Transcripts

Moving or studying abroad? Whether you are applying for a master's degree in Europe, accepting a teaching position in Asia, or transferring to a foreign medical residency programme, overseas institutions will ask for official proof of your U.S. educational background.

However, foreign universities, licensing boards, and immigration departments will not accept a standard high school diploma, university degree, or registrar's transcript without official legal authentication. To make your educational credentials legally recognised in another country, you need an Apostille or Embassy Attestation.

Here is everything you need to know to avoid application delays or missing semester deadlines.

Almost any official record issued by an accredited U.S. school, college, or university can be authenticated for foreign use, including:

• University Diplomas & Certificates: Bachelor's, Master's, Ph.D., and professional degree certificates.
• Official Academic Transcripts: Grade reports signed and sealed by the university registrar.
• High School Diplomas & Records: Transcripts and graduation certificates for exchange programmes or international moves.
• Teaching & Professional Licences: State teaching certificates, medical board certifications, and professional credentials.

Unlike vital statistics such as birth certificates, educational records are private documents issued by educational institutions. Before the Secretary of State can issue an Apostille, your academic records must go through a specific preparation process.

The school registrar must execute a signed affidavit certifying that the diploma or transcript is an official, authentic record, signed in the presence of a commissioned Notary Public.

In certain states — including New York — the notary's signature and commission must first be verified by the County Clerk before the document can proceed to the state level.

Once properly notarised and verified, the Secretary of State issues the official gold seal or Apostille certificate that makes your document legally recognised abroad.

If you are moving to a non-English speaking country such as Spain, South Korea, France, or Italy, foreign universities and visa authorities require a Certified Translation of both your academic records and the attached Apostille.

Having your translations handled alongside your document authentication guarantees that language pairs match exact embassy specifications and USCIS or foreign government guidelines.

Obtaining academic apostilles directly through university offices and state departments can take weeks if done incorrectly. Missing a registrar's seal or submitting unnotarised copies can lead to immediate rejections.

Our document specialists manage the entire process — from university registrar coordination and mobile notarisation to rush state apostilles and certified translations in 50+ languages.

Get your school records, diplomas, and transcripts authenticated quickly and accurately. Contact our team to get started with same-day or next-day processing options for New York-issued documents.

Regulatory Notice & Legal Disclaimer: Apostille & Translations provides non-attorney administrative document authentication, certified translations, and commissioned Notary Public services. We are not attorneys licensed to practise law and do not provide legal advice, legal opinions, or legal representation. For legal advice regarding international visa regulations or foreign education laws, please consult a qualified attorney.