Legalization

The country issuing your documents is a member of the

Hague Convention
Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents

The apostille is issued by the competent authority as designated by each Contracting State. The Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) website has a list of the competent authorities in each Contracting State.

The apostille must be on the document itself or on a separate sheet permanently attached to the document. The apostille confirms the authenticity of the signature of the person who issued the document. The apostille also confirms the function of the signatory and, where applicable, the authenticity of any stamp or seal found on the document.

The legalization by apostille differentiates between official documents (e.g. documents issued by state educational institutions or other accredited private educational institutions) and private documents (e.g. documents issued by some private educational institutions). Each Contracting State decides which documents are considered to be official and which are private.

Only official documents can be legalized by apostille.

Private documents must be legalized by a notary public or the competent education authority before they can receive an apostille and attain official status. The education authority or notary public must confirm the authenticity of the signature of the person who issued the document. Once the document has been legalized in this step, it has the status of an official document and must be legalized by apostille.

Please note that we can only accept documents in which the notary public or the education authority have confirmed the authenticity of the signature on the document. Documents in which the notary public or the education authority have confirmed only that the copy is identical to the original cannot be accepted.

Translation

All documents (including syllabi) must be submitted in German or English. If the original document was not issued in one of these languages, it must be translated.

Translations must be done by a certified, court-approved translator officially recognized by the issuing country.

Please note the following:

• The original document must have all necessary legalizations before translation

• Any stamps, seals or legalization notices (including those on the reverse side of the document) must also be translated. The apostille itself does not need to be translated.

• The translation must be permanently attached to the original document by the translator.

For documents translated in Austria:

1. Have original document legalized by apostille

2. Have legalized document translated by a translator who is certified and court-approved in Austria. Click here for a list of court-approved certified translators in Austria. 

 

For documents translated in the country in which the original document was issued:

1. Have original document legalized by apostille

2. Have legalized document translated by a translator who is certified and court-approved in the issuing country.

3. Have translation legalized by apostille