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Certified copies, Legalization, Apostille, Translation

Certified copies of degree documents

For applications the companies or universities usually ask for certified copies of your degree documents. The examination office is not allowed to make certified copies.

Where can I get certified copies?

Please contact the registration office of your city/town. In Freiburg you have to contact the Bürgerberatung.

International certifications:

Documents are often only recognized by the authorities of another state if their authenticity and evidentiary value have been determined by a special procedure. But even formally authenticated foreign documents have on occasion been discovered to contain inaccurate information. Therefore, it must be confirmed in the process of international recognition that documents that are to be used abroad were both issued from the responsible agency and are factually correct. The authenticity of a certificate issued in Germany will be confirmed either by a so-called "international legalization" or by a so-called "apostille". Whether an apostille or legalization is required depends on which country you want to use the certificate issued in Germany.

International legalization

The term "legalization" must be understood in this context: legalization is the confirmation of the authenticity of a foreign public document by a consular officer of the state in which the document is to be used. Legalization is not required for documents from/for many countries with which treaties have been concluded, abolishing the requirement or replacing it with the "Hague Apostille".

You can find a list of countries for which legalization or the Hague Apostille is required on the Federal Foreign Office website.

 

How to apply for an international legalization:

Legalization is the confirmation of the authenticity of a foreign public document by a consular officer of the state in which the document is to be used.
Usually, a prior certification of the document is required for this purpose by German authorities, and occasionally a further certification, which is referred to as final legalization. The prior certification of your documents is available at

Student Service Center
International Admissions and Services
Sedanstr. 6

Information
Contact details and consulting hours

For more information see the Federal Foreign Office website.

 

Apostille

The "Hague Apostille" is – just like legalization – the confirmation of the authenticity of a public document. But, unlike legalization, it is conferred by a designated authority of the state that issued the document. It is no longer necessary to contact the consular officers of the state in which the document is to be used.

The Hague Apostille is required for documents from/for many countries with which treaties have been concluded, abolishing the requirement or replacing it with the "Hague apostille".

You can find a list of countries for which legalization or the Hague apostille is required on the Federal Foreign Office website.

 

 

How to apply for an apostille:

For German documents the "Hague Apostille" issued by a designated authority of Germany. These vary by state.
Usually, a prior certification of the document is required for this purpose by German authorities, and occasionally a further certification, which is referred to as final legalization.

The prior certification of your documents is available at

Student Service Center
International Admissions and Services
Sedanstr. 6

Information
Contact details and consulting hours

 

The final certification will be done by the

Ministry of Science, Research and Art
Königstr. 46
70173 Stuttgart

For more information see the Federal Foreign Office website.

 

Translation

The University of Freiburg issues the final certificates in German language only. Special regulations/exceptions can be found here!

If you need a translation into another language, you will need to translate your documents by a certified translator and have it certified.