College diploma apostille
We turn U.S. college and university diplomas into documents foreign schools, licensing boards, employers, and immigration offices will accept — starting with the right notarized or registrar-certified copy and the correct state apostille route.
This page covers college and university diplomas. For college transcripts, see the transcript apostille page. For course descriptions or syllabi, see the course descriptions page.
What this page covers
A college diploma apostille is what most foreign graduate programs, licensing boards, employers, and immigration offices require before they will accept a U.S. degree. Most college diplomas are notarized as true copies in front of a notary, then apostilled by the Secretary of State where the notary is commissioned. Some universities also offer registrar-certified copies that can be apostilled directly. For non-Hague destinations, we coordinate consular legalization.
Common reasons people need this
Foreign master's, doctoral, and professional programs routinely require an apostilled bachelor's or master's diploma to confirm completion of the prerequisite degree. The apostilled diploma is usually requested alongside an apostilled transcript and course descriptions.
Foreign licensing boards — for medicine, nursing, engineering, accounting, architecture, and law — require an apostilled degree to verify education credentials before granting license reciprocity, sitting for board exams, or registering as a foreign-qualified professional.
Foreign employers, especially for skilled and visa-sponsored roles, frequently require an apostilled diploma to confirm education before issuing a contract or sponsoring a work permit. This is standard in tech, finance, healthcare, and academia.
Skilled-worker visas, residency programs (like Spain's NLV or Portugal's D7/D8), and immigration files routinely require an apostilled college diploma to confirm education credentials for points-based scoring or visa eligibility.
How it works
Text or email a clear photo of the diploma, the school name, issuing state, destination country, and your deadline. We confirm in writing whether the diploma can be notarized as a true copy or whether a registrar-certified copy is required.
Most college diplomas are notarized as true copies in front of a notary. If your destination requires a registrar-certified copy with the university seal, we tell you exactly which registrar's office to contact and how to request it.
We file with the correct Secretary of State (California or other), monitor processing, and return the apostilled diploma by secure courier, mail, or in-person pickup. Same-day rush is available for most California cases.
What will and won't be accepted
Realistic timelines
Before you contact us
College Diploma Apostille FAQ
Yes. The most common path is to notarize the original diploma as a true copy in front of a notary, then apostille the notary's signature through the Secretary of State. Some universities also issue registrar-certified copies that can be apostilled directly. We confirm which path your destination accepts.
Usually yes — the original diploma is brought to a notary who attests that the copy made from it is a true copy. If you no longer have the original, your university registrar can usually issue a replacement diploma or a certified copy with the university seal.
The diploma must be notarized in the state that will apostille it. We either coordinate notarization with a notary in the university's state, or use a California notary if the diploma will be apostilled through the California Secretary of State. Either way, the notarization and apostille state must match.
No — the apostille process is the same for associate's, bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and professional degrees. What matters is that the diploma is the original or a registrar-certified copy, and that it is properly notarized in the same state that will issue the apostille.
California diploma apostilles can often be completed in 1–3 business days with in-person filing, and same-day rush is available in most cases. Other states vary, typically 1–6 weeks. Non-Hague destinations requiring consular legalization add several more weeks.
Yes. The apostille is attached to the notarized copy or to a registrar-certified copy — your original diploma stays with you. The apostilled document is returned by secure courier, mail, or in-person pickup.
Other school & academic documents