Apostille Education Certificates

Authenticate German degree certificates and academic diplomas for use abroad

German university degrees and course transcripts can be authenticated for submission to authorities abroad with an Apostille Stamp or Authentication from the competent State Authority.

Apostilles can be applied to a university-certified copy of the diploma or to a true copy certified by a German notary.

Apostilles: Authorities and embassies of countries that are members of the Apostille Convention (See additional notes below) will accept an Apostille Stamp from the State Authority directly as confirming authenticity, including:
United States - Spain - Italy - Portugal - Greece - Cyprus - France - United Kingdom - Saudi Arabia - China

Authentications: Diplomas for submission in countries that are not members of the Apostille Convention also need to be attested by the embassy of the recipient country in Berlin, including:
Qatar - Kuwait - United Arab Emirates - Taiwan - Vietnam

An Apostille on a notarized copy is the easiest and fastest way to authenticate a German university degree certificate. We just need the original diploma for our notary to make a certified true copy in Germany. This copy can then be authenticated by the State Authority with an Apostille stamp.
Notarization and the State Authority Apostille takes around 2 weeks

Degree certificates and transcripts can also be authenticated by legalizing a notarized true copy when required for submission to countries that are not members of the Apostille Convention (See additional notes below for exceptions). Again we just need the original diploma to make a copy in Germany.

The notarized copy of the diploma will be authenticated by the State Authority with an over-authentication (Uberbeglaubigung) and then submitted to the embassy of the recipient country for final attestation.
Notarization and the State Authority Authentication takes around 2 weeks. Allow an additional 1-2 weeks for attestation by the embassy.

Final Authentication by the Federal Agency for Foreign Affairs

While some attesting embassies will accept the State Authentication (Uberbeglaubigung) directly, others will require a final authentication (Endbeglaubigung) from the Federal Agency for Foreign Affairs (Bundesamt für Auswärtige Angelegenheiten).

Countries requiring final authentication from the Federal Agency for Foreign Affairs include Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Jordan.

Apostilles and authentications on notarized copies are generally accepted by authorities in most countries (other than Qatar and the United Arab Emirates). However, you should confirm that the recipient authority or embassy does not require the Apostille/Authentication applied directly to the original diploma or to a certified copy issued and signed by the university. When authenticating a notarized copy of a German diploma or course transcripts, the Apostille will certify the signature of the notary making the copy and not the signature of the university official.

If the recipient authority or embassy will not accept the Apostille or Authentication on a notarized copy (for example the embassies of Qatar and UAE), then an Apostille or Authentication can be applied directly to a copy (or in some cases the original diploma) that has been certified by the university. This is a longer process, taking 4 -8 weeks, depending on the State and other requirements (plus the time taken by the university to issue the certified copy and embassy attestation if required).

Procedures vary from state to state, but in most cases the first step is to contact the University and request a certified copy of the degree certificate that needs to be authenticated (in most cases, universities do not accept requests from third parties). This certified copy must have the official seal of the university and must confirm that it is copy is a true representation of the original. Normally, the original diploma cannot be used.

This certified copy can then be legalized by the responsible State Authority with an Apostille or over-authentication (e.g. District Government, Ministry of Science, State Office for Civil and Regulatory Affairs (Berlin), Regierung von Oberbayern (Munich), Regional Council). In this case, the State Authority will certify the signature and stamp of the university itself.

Diplomas required for countries that are members of the Apostille Convention

When the recipient country is a member of the Apostille Convention, certified diplomas from the university will be authenticated directly by the State Authority with an Apostille Stamp (See additional notes below). The Apostille stamp is accepted directly as a certification of authenticity, without any further authentication in Germany.

Diplomas required for non-Apostille countries

Diplomas required for countries that are not members of the Apostille Convention need to be legalized as follows:

1. with an over-authentication (Uberbeglaubigung) from the State Authority.

2. with a further final authentication (Endbeglaubigung) from the Federal Agency for Foreign Affairs
(only certain embassies require this step, including Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Jordan).

3. attestation by the embassy of the recipient country in Berlin (or regional consulate).

To obtain pre-certification of the original diploma or a certified copy, contact the issuing university directly. Please contact us if you need assistance.

• University of Cologne
• Constructor University
• Technische Universität Berlin
• RWTH Aachen University
• Freie Universität Berlin
• University of Freiburg
• Charite-Universitätsmedizin Berlin
• LMU Munich
• Friedrich-Alexander-University
• University of Potsdam

Exceptions to Apostille Convention (Documents issued in Germany)
Germany has objected to the accession of certain States to the Apostille Convention (including India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Tunisia and Morocco), so that the Convention does not apply between Germany and these states. Documents required for these states may also require additional attestation by the embassy of the recipient embassy in Berlin.
For a full list of countries with which the Apostille Convention applies in relation to German documents, see:
Countries where Apostille Convention applies in relation to Germany