AUTHENTICATION OF AMERICAN ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS FOR USE ABROAD


DISCLAIMER: THE INFORMATION IN THIS CIRCULAR RELATING TO THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS OF SPECIFIC FOREIGN COUNTRIES IS PROVIDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY.  QUESTIONS INVOLVING INTERPRETATION OF SPECIFIC FOREIGN LAWS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO FOREIGN COUNSEL.

U.S. embassies and consulates cannot authenticate diplomas or other documents from universities and other schools in the United States or provide notarial services related to such credentials.

PROVISO: Effective January 1, 1983, the U.S. Department of State and our embassies and consulates abroad ceased to authenticate or provide certified true copies of academic credentials, transcripts or degrees. The U.S. Department of Education determined at that time such documents are not required in the United States for persons who studied abroad who wish to attend primary or secondary school, or college in the United States .  This was announced in a joint release by the U.S. Departments of State and Education published in the NAFSA newsletter of December/January 1983.  See 7 FAM 874.  The U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Security also determined that authentication of foreign academic credentials generally is not/not required for U.S. immigration purposes. In an effort to be of assistance to persons who wish to present academic credentials from the United States for use abroad, the following step-by-step guidance is provided.

I. COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES AND OTHER POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS

1. Obtain from the registrar of the University an official true copy of the credentials bearing the seal of the university. The registrar should then execute an affidavit attesting to the validity of the document before a notary public in the registrar's office or elsewhere at the university.  Frequently the business office of colleges and universities have notaries public.

2. Take the document to the clerk of court of the county wherein the notary was licensed or commissioned to obtain a notarial certificate suitable for use abroad.

3. Transmit the document, with the notarial certificate to the state Notary Public Administrator for application of the state seal.   If the country where the document will be used is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, the state Notary Public Administrator will affix an apostille certificate and no further authentication is necessary.  See the Hague Conference on Private International Law Apostille Page for a current list of countries party to the treaty.  The treaty is in force in more than 87 countries.

4. If the country is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, the state Notary Public Administrator will affix a state authentication certificate.  You should then send the document to the Authentications Office of the Department of State, following the instruction on that office’s web page.

5. If necessary, obtain authentication of the U.S. Department of State seal at the foreign embassy in Washington, D.C.

(B) DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CHAIN CERTIFICATION METHOD

1. If the university is located in the District of Columbia , obtain from the registrar of the university an official true copy of the credentials, a statement, executed by the registrar, attesting to the accuracy of the credentials and have that statement notarized by a notary public in the registrar's office, business office or elsewhere in the University.

2. Proceed to the District Building , 717 14th Street NW , Room 230 and obtain a formal notarial certificate for foreign use.

3. Send the document to the Authentication Office of the Department of State for application of the Department 's seal in the form of an apostille or general authentication certification depending on whether the country where the document will be used is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention.

4. For non-Hague Apostille Convention countries, if necessary you may obtain authentication of the U.S. Department of State seal at the foreign embassy in Washington, D.C.

II. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS

1. Obtain a transcript from the school which bears the seal of the school and the signature of the principal.

2. Ask the school to send the transcript to the County Board of Education , Superintendent of Schools or other official body which can authenticate the school's seal with a superior seal. Ask that authority to send the document to the state Secretary of State's office.

3. Obtain authentication of the transcript from the state Secretary of State's office. (See the Hague Conference on Private International Law Apostille Page for a current list of countries party to the treaty.

4. If the country where the document will be used is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention you may obtain authentication from the Authentication's Office of the Department of State, following instructions on that office’s web page. 

5. If necessary, you may obtain authentication of the U.S. Department of State’s seal at the foreign embassy in Washington, D.C.

6. NOTE: An alternative would be to make an appointment with the school principal, bring a notary public to the principal's office in order that the principal may execute an affidavit attesting to the validity of the document before the notary. The document may then be authenticated by the clerk of court of the country wherein the notary was licensed, the state notary public administrator, who will affix the apostille for Hague Apostille Convention countries.

If the country where the document will be used is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, you may obtain authentication of the state seal by the Authentications Office of the U.S. Department of State.  If authentication of the U.S. Department of State seal is needed for non Hague Apostille Convention countries, contact the Embassy of the foreign country in Washington, D.C.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The Office of American Citizens Services has available two general information flyers regarding authentication of documents and authentication in accordance with the Hague Legalization Convention which are available via our Internet Consular Affairs Home Page.


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