What is legalization through diplomatic channels and how is it obtained?

If you studied at a university or school outside the European Union, you must legalize your documents before submitting them. The most common procedure is the Hague Apostille. However, if the country where you studied is not part of the Hague Convention, you will need to legalize your documents through diplomatic channels. You can check whether your country is part of the Hague Convention through this link.

If the country where you studied is not a signatory to the Hague Convention, diplomatic legalization is mandatory to ensure the validity of your documents abroad. For this, the documents must be stamped by the following institutions:

1. Spanish Consulate in the country where the university degree was obtained.
2. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country where the university degree was obtained.
3. Ministry of Education of the country where the university degree was obtained.

Which Documents Require Legalization?

The following documents must be legalized through diplomatic channels:

• Diploma of the degree granting access to the master’s program. If you do not yet have the original diploma, you can request an official letter from the university stating that the issuance process is underway and that you have paid the required fees.
• Transcript of Records (or certificate of grades). This document reflects the courses taken, grades obtained, and associated credits.