Documents for recognizing a degree earned abroad

Recognizing (convalidating) a degree earned abroad requires submitting the complete academic file, translated and authenticated, to the Ministry of National Education or the relevant higher-education institution. The exact requirement varies by degree level and institution, but this list covers what's almost always requested.

Documents typically requested

• Original diploma, apostilled in the country where the degree was earned
• Complete transcript, with the grading scale explained
• Syllabus for each course taken (content, hours)
• Certificate from the institution confirming its official accreditation
• Official translation of all the above documents, if not already in Spanish
• Copy of a government-issued ID
• Recognition application form filed with the relevant entity
• Proof of payment of the processing fee

A common mistake

Translating the diploma but not the course syllabus is the most common reason a file gets sent back. The evaluating institution doesn't just verify that the degree exists: it compares the content of each course against its own curriculum, and without a translated syllabus it has nothing to compare against.