Apostille and documents for admission
Which documents are usually needed, when an apostille is required and in what order to do things so you do not redo them. This is the general order; the exact list depends on the university.
Five steps
Get the exact list
The list depends on the university, the programme and the intake year. It is usually a school certificate or diploma with a transcript, a passport and translations. Get the list from the admissions office or ask us.
Check whether you need an apostille
If the country that issued the document and the country that will use it are both parties to the 1961 Hague Convention, an apostille is enough. China has applied the convention since 7 November 2023. If one of the countries is not a party, consular legalisation may be needed. Check your exact pair of countries.
Get the apostille from the right body
The apostille is issued by an authority in the country where the document was issued. Which one depends on the type of document: education, civil registry or notarial. Find out before you apply.
Order the translation
Many universities ask for a translation by a certified or sworn translator into a specific language. The order (apostille, translation, certification) and who certifies depend on the country. Ask in advance so you do not do it twice.
Leave time and make copies
Timing depends on the authority and the season, so start early. Scan everything before you send it. Some universities accept scans at application and ask for apostilled originals at enrolment. Ask which applies.
What most often goes wrong
An apostille on a plain copy
An apostille confirms the signature and position of the official, not the content of the document. It is usually not placed on an ordinary copy: the copy must be certified first. Check what your document needs.
Translating before checking the rules
A translation in the wrong language or without the required certification has to be redone. Learn the university's requirements first.
"Ready-made" documents from intermediaries
A forged document or apostille leads to rejection and can close the way into that country. Documents come only from official bodies.
Rules change, including for countries that joined the convention recently. For your university and country we check the procedure separately; this is only the general outline. Some countries also recognise a foreign diploma through a separate procedure, depending on the country and programme.
Need a document list for your university?
Tell us which university and country you are applying to and where your documents were issued. We will tell you what to collect and in what order. Only the university can confirm the final list.