Degrees, transcripts and education document certification — 100 FAQs

In practice the Thai MFA certifies a translation against either the original or a copy certified by the issuing institution bearing the registrar's signature and the institutional seal. Ask the university registrar for at least two institution-certified copies and keep the original degree certificate yourself, because receiving authorities sometimes ask to inspect it later.

Apply at the Office of the Registrar, stating that you need an official English transcript and how many copies. Make sure your name is spelled exactly as in your passport. Most institutions can issue transcripts either for collection or in a sealed envelope sent directly to the receiving body, which is what credential evaluators such as WES require.

The degree certificate is the formal award approved by the university council. A certificate of graduation is a registrar's letter confirming your status while the degree certificate is being produced. Most employers accept the interim letter, but credential evaluation and professional licensing normally require the full degree certificate.

Basic education uses the Por Por 1 academic record and the Por Por 2 certificate issued under Ministry of Education regulations. Schools can issue English versions on request; where only a Thai version exists, the document must be translated and the translation certified by the Department of Consular Affairs before overseas use.

The Legalisation Division of the Department of Consular Affairs mainly (1) certifies translations between Thai and English after checking them against the original, and (2) certifies the signature of the authorised signatory on a document. Education documents normally use translation certification. Channels and appointments are published at consular.mfa.go.th.

At the Department of Consular Affairs on Chaeng Watthana Road in Bangkok, at regional passport offices that offer legalisation, and by post under the conditions the department publishes. For clients in Phuket and nearby provinces our team collects the documents locally and handles the filing end to end.

The common reasons are a name spelled differently from the passport, degree or major titles that do not match the original, courses or credits omitted from the transcript, an original without an institutional seal, illegible copies, and wording added that does not appear in the original. Proof-reading the translation line by line against the original prevents most rejections.

The original education documents, the completed translation, a copy of the document holder's ID card or passport, and — if someone files on your behalf — a power of attorney with a copy of the agent's ID. If your name has changed, attach the name-change certificate or marriage certificate so the documents clearly relate to one person.

They must follow the official title shown on the original, not an equivalent qualification in the destination country. Where the institution already publishes an official English title, that title governs. Interpreting or ranking a qualification is the job of the destination credential evaluator, not of the translator.

Every course, credit value and grade is translated, and the original scale is preserved — a GPA of 3.25 on a 4.00 scale stays exactly that, never converted into percentages or the destination grading system. If the original prints a grading key on the reverse, that key is translated too, because evaluators rely on it.

The Thai MFA certifies Thai-English translations. Where the destination requires its own official language — German, French, Spanish, Chinese or Japanese, for example — the usual route is a certified Thai-English translation first, then a sworn translator in the destination country or a translation arranged through that country's embassy, according to its own rules.

The safest fix is to ask the registrar to correct the record or issue a name verification letter confirming you are the same person. Where the original cannot be amended, attach the name-change certificate, marriage certificate or the institution's letter and have the whole set translated and certified together so the receiving authority has no identity doubt.

Thailand has joined the HCCH 1961 Apostille Convention, which enters into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027. Until that date education documents still follow the Thai MFA legalisation route plus a second attestation at the destination embassy where required. Party status can be verified at hcch.net.

For use in another contracting state, a document certified by the Thai competent authority will carry a single Apostille and no longer need a second legalisation at the destination embassy, cutting steps and waiting time. Non-member destinations will continue to use the existing double-legalisation process.

Yes, subject to the receiving authority's own rules — earlier legalisation is not cancelled retroactively. Many authorities nevertheless require recently issued certification, often within three to six months, so confirm the freshness requirement with the recipient before relying on an older set.

At present the issuing country's authority certifies the document, the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate there legalises it, and once in Thailand it is translated into Thai and the translation is certified by the Department of Consular Affairs. From 28 February 2027 documents from contracting states can arrive with an Apostille instead of Thai embassy legalisation.

The core set is an English transcript and degree certificate (or Por Por 1 and Por Por 2), a bank certificate proving funds, a passport copy and language test results. Some countries also ask for the house registration, birth certificate and a police clearance certificate — Thai civil documents that must be translated and certified before submission to the consulate.

Generally yes. Most consulates require a consent letter for the child to travel abroad signed by the parents holding parental power, with ID copies and a birth certificate proving the relationship. This set is usually signature-certified by a Notarial Services Attorney and then legalised by the Thai MFA before overseas use.

Banks issue English bank certificates and statements directly. Where a consulate wants extra certification, the bank officer's signature can be certified by the Department of Consular Affairs. Check the required seasoning period for the funds, which differs from country to country.

Mostly the same, but funders commonly insist that transcripts be sent directly by the institution in a sealed envelope, and may add an enrolment certificate, class-ranking letter and academic references. Anything issued only in Thai must be translated and the translation certified before filing.

World Education Services (wes.org) is a credential evaluator widely accepted in the United States and Canada. WES requires the institution to send transcripts directly in a sealed, stamped envelope or through an approved electronic channel; documents hand-carried by the applicant are normally not accepted.

A document-by-document report states only the destination-country equivalent of your qualification and suits employment and immigration. A course-by-course report itemises courses, credits and converted GPA and is required for further study and professional licensing. Confirm which one the recipient wants before ordering.

European countries use the ENIC-NARIC network, with a national centre in each state — UK ENIC for the United Kingdom, ZAB for Germany, for example. They typically request the qualification with a certified translation and may verify directly with the institution, so prepare a legalised set in advance.

It depends on the recipient. An evaluation report is the evaluator's own document, not a certification of a Thai public document. Government bodies and professional councils frequently ask for the legalised qualification alongside the report, so it is efficient to prepare both in parallel.

Normally a bachelor's degree or higher with transcripts certified by the embassy of the issuing country in Thailand or through the route Thai authorities specify, plus a police clearance certificate and the documents required by the Teachers' Council of Thailand (ksp.or.th) and the Ministry of Education, before applying for a work permit at the Department of Employment.

It is a permit issued by the Teachers' Council allowing a teacher without a Thai teaching licence to teach for a defined period while completing the licence requirements; the school applies on the teacher's behalf. The conditions, duration and number of renewals follow the Council's regulations published at ksp.or.th.

Usually the English degree certificate and transcript, a Thai teaching licence if held, a TEFL or TESOL certificate, and a police clearance certificate from the Royal Thai Police — all legalised by the Department of Consular Affairs and, where the destination requires it, attested again at that country's embassy in Thailand.

A certificate issued by a private provider is not a public document, so the MFA can act only where the authorised signature has been certified through an accepted channel or by a Notarial Services Attorney first. Confirm with the school or authority which format it accepts before starting.

Yes, subject to Ministry of Education equivalency rules or the institution's own admission conditions. You will normally file the academic record, certificate and a certified translation; some institutions also ask for an equivalency letter, so check with the admissions office of the target institution case by case.

These international programmes can be recognised under the criteria the Ministry of Education publishes, which set minimum scores and subject counts differently for each programme and are revised periodically. Check the latest announcement at moe.go.th together with the requirements of the faculty you are applying to.

Generally a valid passport and visa, birth certificate, academic records from the previous school and proof of address. Foreign-language documents must be translated into Thai with the translation certified, and schools may additionally ask for the parents' residence or employment documents.

Family-based education must be registered with the local Educational Service Area Office and assessed against the approved education plan. Once the assessment is passed, that office issues the academic record, which can then be translated and certified for overseas use exactly like a school-issued qualification.

The usual set is the degree certificate and transcript, the nursing licence from the Thailand Nursing and Midwifery Council and a certificate of good standing from that Council, all legalised by the Department of Consular Affairs. Some regulators additionally require the Council to send verification directly to them.

It is a letter from your professional council confirming that your licence is current, is not suspended or revoked, and carries no disciplinary record. Foreign regulators commonly accept it only if issued within three to six months, so request it close to the filing date.

By applying for curriculum recognition and sitting the examinations set by the Medical Council or the Dental Council, filing the degree and transcript legalised by the issuing country's embassy or apostillised as required, together with a certified Thai translation. The steps and examination subjects follow that council's own announcements.

The Council of Engineers and the Architect Council of Thailand set their own degree-recognition and licensing examinations. The ASEAN mutual recognition arrangements allow registration as an ASEAN Engineer or ASEAN Architect, but you must still register with the professional council of the country where you will practise, and every qualification document must be legalised.

Until the Apostille Convention takes effect for Thailand on 28 February 2027, documents for most destinations need Thai MFA legalisation followed by attestation at that country's embassy or consulate in Thailand — the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, China and Vietnam among them. Conditions and fees follow each mission's published rules.

Employers and labour authorities in the Gulf states normally require the degree to be attested by the foreign ministry of the issuing country and by the destination country's embassy, and some require direct verification with the university through an appointed service provider. Ask your employer for the requirement list in writing before starting.

China is already a party to the Apostille Convention, but until the Convention takes effect for Thailand, Thai documents for use in China still need MFA legalisation followed by attestation at the Embassy of China in Thailand with the translation format that embassy specifies. From 28 February 2027 an Apostille will suffice.

At least two or three for a job or study application, because many authorities retain the certified originals. Ordering several sets in one filing is faster than returning later, and official fees are charged per certification stamp. Talk to our team by phone, LINE or email about handling your case.

Usually three: obtain registrar-certified copies of the degree certificate and transcript, have them translated into English or the destination language, then have the translation certified by the Department of Consular Affairs. If the destination country does not yet accept Apostilles from Thailand, add a final legalization step at that country's embassy in Bangkok.

The Convention enters into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027. From then, a document certified by the Department of Consular Affairs and carrying an Apostille is accepted directly in more than 120 Contracting Parties without a further embassy step, cutting both waiting time and cost at the final stage. Non-member destinations keep the existing embassy route.

Most North American credential evaluators require the issuing institution to send transcripts directly in a sealed, stamped envelope. Documents forwarded by the applicant are generally not accepted. Ask your registrar to address the envelope to the evaluator and keep proof of dispatch so you can track the file.

You need a Thai qualification recognition letter. Higher-education degrees are assessed by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, while school-level qualifications are equivalated by the Ministry of Education. Both require the foreign degree and transcript legalized in the issuing country plus a certified Thai translation.

Schools and the Teachers Council typically ask for the degree certificate, transcript, teaching qualification such as TEFL or TESOL, and a police clearance or good-conduct certificate from your home country. Each must be legalized at source and by the embassy — or Apostilled once that route is live — and accompanied by a Thai translation certified by the Department of Consular Affairs for the teaching licence and work permit.

Universities normally accept an English-language bank letter directly, with no consular step. Student visa applications can be different: some embassies want supporting papers such as a sponsor's employment letter or house registration translated and certified. Read the destination embassy's checklist before preparing the file.

Yes, if left uncorrected, because the receiving authority treats the two spellings as different people. Ask the registrar to correct the spelling to match your passport before issuing the final copies. If correction is impossible, request an institutional letter confirming both names refer to the same person and have it translated and certified with the main document.

Not always. Even though they are already in English, receiving authorities often want the Thai official chain. The school certifies the copy, the supervising authority such as the Ministry of Education endorses it, and only then can the Department of Consular Affairs certify it. Allow several working days for the supervising authority step.

If the institution still operates, request replacements from the registrar together with a police report of loss. If it has closed or merged, contact the body that inherited its records — the education service area office or the higher-education ministry — and request a certificate of graduation instead. That certificate can be legalized in the same way as the original.

The institutional step usually takes three to ten working days depending on the registrar, translation one to three working days, and consular certification about two to three working days with a same-day express option under the department's conditions. An additional embassy step adds several more days depending on that embassy's queue.

Usually not. If the registrar issues an official English version with seal and signature, it can go straight to the Department of Consular Affairs for signature legalisation. Note that legalisation is separate from any requirement that the institution mail sealed transcripts directly to the receiving university or credential evaluator.

The Convention takes effect for Thailand on 28 February 2027. From then, documents legalised in Thailand and carrying an Apostille will be accepted directly across more than 120 contracting states without a further embassy step. Until then the traditional consular plus embassy chain still applies.

Higher-education qualifications are certified by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, while school-level qualifications are equated by the Ministry of Education. Submit the degree and transcript legalised in the issuing country together with certified Thai or English translations.

They are assessed case by case. The awarding institution must be accredited by the competent authority in its country and the online programme should mirror the on-campus curriculum. Provide programme outlines, credit hours and accreditation evidence with the application.

An acceptance letter and stay-extension letter from a licensed institution, proof of enrolment, and evidence of sufficient funds. Language schools must hold a Ministry of Education licence and appear on the list immigration accepts. Poor attendance is a common reason extensions are refused.

Allow one week for the institution, two to three working days for translation, one to three working days at the Department of Consular Affairs depending on the service level, and anywhere from one day to three weeks at the destination embassy. Budget two to five weeks overall.

Order an English transcript and degree certificate from the university registrar, add a certified translation if any document is Thai-only, then have the set legalised by the Department of Consular Affairs. Some destinations also require destination-embassy legalisation or an Apostille. Many universities insist on sealed envelopes sent directly by the issuing institution, so order those in the same request to avoid missing an intake deadline.

Obtain a same-person certificate supported by the name-change record from the district registrar, together with the house registration and ID card. Translate and legalise that set alongside the academic documents. This is the most common reason foreign admissions offices freeze an application, and it is far easier to resolve before submission than after a conditional rejection.

Usually not. Credential evaluators generally require the issuing institution to send records directly, either in a sealed envelope or through an approved digital channel. Create your evaluator account first, obtain the reference number, and instruct the registrar to quote it. Documents forwarded by the applicant are typically rejected, costing several weeks per cycle.

Teachers apply to the Teachers' Council of Thailand for a licence or a waiver permit. Degrees and teaching certificates issued abroad must first be authenticated in the issuing country and legalised by the Thai embassy there, or carry an Apostille, before being translated and legalised in Thailand. A criminal record check and a letter from the employing school are normally required as well.

Legalisation authorities generally expect paper originals bearing a wet signature and seal. A PDF with an electronic signature may need the institution to issue a printed certified copy. Practice is evolving with each institution's e-document system, so ask the registrar whether a certified paper version is available before paying for a digital-only copy that the destination may refuse.

Yes. With more than 15 years advising students and families, we confirm what the destination actually requires, liaise with the registrar for certified copies and sealed envelopes, prepare translations using correct academic terminology, handle consular legalisation and any embassy or Apostille step, and courier the file internationally with tracking.

File the university's document request form with your ID or passport, plus a power of attorney if someone applies on your behalf. Ask specifically for the English version and for the envelope to be sealed and stamped across the flap; then legalise it at the Department of Consular Affairs if the receiving body requires it. Opening the envelope yourself voids it for most credential evaluators, meaning a fresh request. Order two or three sealed sets at once — the per-envelope fee is lower than repeating the request, and separate bodies each want their own sealed copy. We handle the request, translation, and legalisation as one continuous file.

Higher-education qualifications go to the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation; school-level qualifications go to the Ministry of Education or the local education service area office. Submit the original diploma and transcript with certified translations, your passport, and evidence of actual attendance such as student visa pages. Documents from some countries must first be authenticated by the Thai embassy in the issuing country — skipping that step causes the whole file to be returned. Send us scans first so the certification order is correct from the outset.

The core set is the degree and transcript with certified translations, passport, a police clearance or good-conduct certificate, a letter from the employing school, and any required test or training evidence. Schools normally first obtain a temporary permission to teach without a licence, then progress to the full licence. Police clearance certificates have a limited validity and often expire while the file is queued, so request it once the other documents are ready. We map the document timeline onto the school's term start.

It depends on the receiving institution. Many accept a certified translation directly, but student visa streams and employment-related credential recognition often require legalisation by the Department of Consular Affairs and then by the destination embassy. Provide the diploma, transcript, and passport, and make sure the English spelling of your name matches your passport on every document — attach a name-change certificate if it does not. Tell us the destination country and institution and we will confirm how many layers of certification apply.

No. The translator reproduces the grades exactly as issued, including the grading key printed on the reverse. Converting to an international GPA is the evaluator's role, whether that is WES or the receiving university. A translator who inserts converted figures risks the document being treated as altered. Ask the university for a grading system letter to attach instead — evaluators process files far faster with it.

Yes, using the institution's certificate of graduation showing the date the university council approved your degree, together with the complete transcript. Translation and legalisation follow the normal route for your destination. Some bodies accept the interim certificate to open the file but will ask for the original diploma later, so note your graduation ceremony date in the application and budget for a second legalisation round once the diploma is issued.

Prepare the original transcript and diploma, a certified Thai or English translation, your passport or ID, and evidence of genuine attendance such as student visa stamps. Request sealed documents from the issuing school, have them certified in the country of issue, then legalised by the Department of Consular Affairs or that country's embassy in Thailand, and finally submit them to the Thai institution assessing the qualification. Universities differ on who may certify a translation, and opening a sealed envelope yourself voids it. Always ask the receiving body for its document list in writing before commissioning translations. We assemble, translate, and run the certification chain end to end.

An enrolment certificate proves you are currently studying and supports visa applications, military service deferment, and various entitlements. A clearance certificate is issued on graduation or withdrawal to confirm nothing is outstanding with the institution. Apply at the registrar with your student card and ID, and state the language you need. Both documents carry a validity window set by the receiving party, often three to six months. Request the English version at the same time as the Thai one — obtaining it retroactively after graduation is far more cumbersome.

The core set is the degree certificate and transcript with certified translations, passport, a letter from the employing school, and the required criminal record check. The school files through the Teachers' Council system for a waiver permitting practice without a full licence — the route most foreign teachers use first. Waivers are limited in the number of renewals and are tied to the school that filed, so changing employer means a fresh application. Assemble the certified documents before term starts; the queue for legalising foreign documents is longer than most schools expect.

Yes. Ask the issuing institution for a letter confirming the qualification is genuine, then have it legalised by the Department of Consular Affairs, and additionally by the destination embassy where that country does not yet accept an apostille. You will need the degree certificate, transcript, and passport. Many foreign credential evaluators insist on documents sent directly by the institution and refuse copies carried by the applicant. Check whether direct dispatch is required before you start — it is the single most common reason these files are rejected.

Generally no. Certifying a copy only confirms the copy matches the original; it says nothing about translation accuracy. Most receiving bodies require a translation that can be legalised, or one produced by a translator they accept. The safe route is a translation prepared in the format the Department of Consular Affairs will legalise, certified before submission. Personal names in the translation must match your passport letter for letter. Always give the translator a copy of your passport so spellings are locked across the whole document set.

Start eight to twelve weeks before the deadline. The chain has several stages — institutional issue, translation, consular legalisation, and in some countries embassy legalisation — each taking several working days and each subject to seasonal backlogs. Some documents have short validity, so working too early can leave them expired at submission; sequencing matters as much as speed. Build a reverse timeline from the deadline, complete long-validity documents first, and leave short-validity items for last. We map that timeline before starting any file.

The core set is the degree certificate, a complete transcript, certified translations, a passport showing entry and exit stamps for the study period, and curriculum evidence such as programme structure and credit counts. The application goes through the OCSC system, usually filed by the hiring agency, or by the applicant in advance. Some online formats and institutions without recognised status in their home country will not pass, because the assessment looks at the programme, not the degree title. Collect curriculum documents while you are still enrolled — retrieving them after graduation takes many times longer. We review the set and arrange certified translations before filing to avoid repeat requests.

A sealed transcript is issued by the institution in a closed envelope stamped across the seal, proving nothing was altered in transit. Most credential evaluators and receiving universities accept only unopened envelopes. Order several copies at once, send one directly to the receiving body, and keep a spare. Opening the envelope to copy or translate it voids that copy immediately, and some institutions cap how many they will issue per year. If you need a translation, request a separate copy for that purpose and state it in the application.

The employing school files with the Teachers' Council before the current waiver expires, using the existing waiver, a valid employment contract, passport and visa, the degree with certified translation, and evidence of professional development or progress toward a full licence. The waiver is tied to the school that filed it, so moving employer means a new application rather than a transfer, and renewals are capped. Plan the route to a full licence from the second cycle onward so the cap does not end your employment. We prepare the qualification and translation set for each filing.

They normally require transcripts and degree evidence sent directly by the institution to the evaluator, with word-for-word English translations from a translator they accept. Open the online application first to obtain a reference number, give that number to your institution, and have the documents dispatched through the specified channel. Summary translations or applicant-prepared translations are usually rejected, and submitted documents are not returned. Read the country-specific requirements on the evaluator's site before commissioning translations, as they differ by country of issue.

Commonly: transcripts and degrees with certified translations, a letter confirming study or employment status, a supervisor's reference, a valid language test result, and certain civil registration documents. Translate first, legalise at the Department of Consular Affairs, then submit as the scholarship announcement requires. Language results and civil registration papers have short validity, so time them to remain valid on the closing date. Build a reverse timeline from the deadline and leave short-validity items until last.

In many countries yes — the receiving institution reviews credit counts and course content to transfer credit toward a bachelor's degree. You will need the academic record, course descriptions, and certified translations of the whole set. Request course descriptions from your school, translate and certify them, then legalise as the destination requires. Course descriptions are the item most often forgotten, which delays transfer assessment or reduces the credit awarded. Ask for an English version of the course descriptions from the outset to cut translation work and improve the transfer outcome.

Approach the supervising body that received the archives, such as the education service area office for schools or the ministry unit overseeing the institution, and request a substitute certificate. Bring your ID and any surviving evidence: old copies, class photographs, or tuition receipts. The office searches its register and reports back, which takes longer than a request to an operating institution. Records for some years may be incomplete, so supply as much supporting evidence as possible. We can run the search and follow-up for you, since it requires coordinating several offices at once.

It depends on the destination. Countries in the Apostille Convention need only a certified translation plus an apostille from the Department of Consular Affairs; countries outside it need consular legalisation followed by legalisation at that country's embassy in Thailand. The order — translate, consular, embassy — cannot be skipped. Some embassies accept consular-certified documents only within a set number of days, so working too early can force a redo. Confirm the current requirement with the destination before you start; we verify this for every file.

Either ask the institution to reissue with corrected spelling, or prepare a same-person declaration and legalise it alongside the qualification. You will need the original qualification, passport, ID, and any name-change record. Check first whether the receiving body accepts a same-person declaration; if not, only a correction at source will do. A single differing letter can cause the whole set to be returned. Lock your passport spelling as the single standard across every document and give the translator a passport copy each time.

Yes, provided the institution holds recognised status in its home country and the programme meets the criteria applied by the Thai authority. Prepare extra evidence: proof of institutional recognition, programme structure, credit hours, and records of attendance or assessment. File the recognition request with the complete curriculum set. Programmes without clear assessment, or which award a degree with no plausible study duration, generally fail. Verify institutional recognition before you enrol — it cannot be remedied after graduation.

It should show your name exactly as in your passport, student number, the full programme and qualification title, study period, graduation date, and intended use, because some receiving bodies require specific wording such as programme length in years or the language of instruction. File the request with the registrar and attach a passport copy to lock the spelling. Letters that omit programme length frequently trigger further requests during credential evaluation. Request the English and Thai versions together — retrieving one later is far slower.

Allow six to ten weeks before the application deadline. Documents must be issued by the home institution, certified in the country of issue, legalised here by the Department of Consular Affairs or an embassy, and then assessed by the Thai institution — the assessment alone takes several weeks. Term-opening backlogs and international post add further delay. Start with whatever must travel furthest and run translation work in parallel. We sequence the file this way from the outset so nothing misses the intake round.

Start by separating the purpose, because the recognising body differs: further study, private-sector employment, and civil-service examinations each follow a different route. Basic-education qualifications are equated by the Ministry of Education, while higher-education qualifications used for civil-service applications must be recognised by the Office of the Civil Service Commission. Prepare the original degree or certificate, a complete transcript, your passport or ID card, and certified translations; certify the documents in the country of issue, legalise them at a Thai embassy or the Department of Consular Affairs, then file for equivalence. Translations produced before the original is certified are commonly rejected, so confirm the sequence before paying the first fees.

Most North American credential evaluators require documents sent directly by the institution in a sealed, stamped envelope rather than hand-carried by the applicant. Prepare the registrar-issued English transcript, the English degree certificate, and an institution-to-institution dispatch request; file the request with the registrar, state the destination address and the evaluator's reference number, and track the parcel. Where a Thai institution offers no direct dispatch, obtain sealed envelopes stamped across the seal and forward them unopened. Allow six to ten weeks and order one spare set from the outset.

Thailand is now a party to the Apostille Convention, so for member states certification finishes at the Department of Consular Affairs with no further embassy step. Prepare the institution-issued degree certificate and transcript, an English translation, and your passport; obtain English-language documents from the institution, arrange translation where the document is in Thai, file for legalisation, and collect the Apostille. Non-member states still require the traditional destination-embassy step, so check the destination's status on hcch.net every time before starting.

Schools and embassies generally require a parental consent letter signed before a Notarial Services Attorney, and in some countries a guardianship or custodianship appointment. Prepare the birth certificate, house registration, both parents' ID cards, the student's passport, and a court order where parental authority rests with one parent only. Draft the consent in the wording the destination requires, sign with signature certification, obtain a certified translation and complete legalisation. Where parents have separated without a court order, the destination usually still wants both signatures — begin at least two months before term starts.

A status letter confirms current enrolment, year of study and expected completion, and supports dependent visas, fare concessions and scholarship applications. An academic record shows subjects and grades, and supports admissions and credential evaluation. Prepare your student card or number, ID card or passport, and the registrar's request form; state the purpose and the language required, collect the document, then arrange certified translation if the destination requires it. Status letters that omit programme length usually trigger follow-up requests, so ask for the Thai and English versions in a single request.

When an institution is dissolved its registry records transfer to the supervising authority, such as the Office of the Basic Education Commission, the Office of the Vocational Education Commission, or the Ministry of Higher Education, depending on level. Prepare your ID card, any evidence of enrolment such as a copy of the degree certificate or student card, and the request form; contact the supervising authority to locate the file, apply for certified copies, then arrange translation and legalisation. Searching archived files can take several weeks and sometimes requires a written petition, so keep every original document you still hold.

Germany grades foreign qualifications through the anabin database, and many universities admit through uni-assist, which requires officially certified copies. France routes applications through Campus France with ENIC-NARIC equivalence. Prepare the degree certificate, transcript, certified translations, passport and language test results; obtain English documents from the institution, translate into the destination language where required, certify copies and legalise, then file through each country's online system. Translations must come from a translator the destination accepts. File three months before the closing date.

The set most funders ask for is the English transcript and degree certificate, a status or employment letter, a police clearance certificate, a medical certificate, and an employer's consent letter for civil servants. Also prepare your ID card, house registration and language results. Request everything from source at the same time, translate in a single batch, and legalise as one set. Time-limited items such as the police clearance certificate should be requested last so they do not expire before filing — build the timeline backwards from the closing date.

They count as supporting evidence rather than a principal qualification, and their weight depends on whether the issuer is accredited — for example an institution under the Ministry of Education, the Department of Skill Development, or a professional council. Prepare the original certificate, evidence of the syllabus and contact hours, and a certified translation; ask the issuer for a course confirmation letter setting out content and hours, then translate and legalise as the destination requires. Certificates from unaccredited providers are usually not counted in credential evaluation, so always attach the syllabus so the assessor can see the actual content.

Two routes exist: ask the institution to reissue documents in the current name where its regulations allow, or keep the original qualification and attach the change-of-name evidence as a bridge. Prepare the change-of-name certificate, marriage or divorce registration, house registration, passport and the original qualification; translate and certify the change-of-name evidence, legalise it, and file everything as one set. English spelling must match the passport character for character or the receiving system treats you as a different person, so fix the spelling across all documents before translation begins.

Typically the last two to three years of academic records, a transfer or school leaving certificate, a conduct reference, immunisation records, and passports with visa pages for the student and parents. Documents in other languages need English translations. Request everything from the previous school before leaving, arrange certified translations, then file with the application and sit whatever placement assessment the school sets. Leaving certificates are hard to obtain retrospectively once you have moved country, so collect every document with certified copies before your last day at the old school.

For civil-service positions the qualification must be recognised by the Office of the Civil Service Commission as equivalent to the standard set for the position; where it is not already on the recognised list, the applicant must apply for a case-by-case determination. Prepare the degree certificate, transcript, syllabus details, certified translations, and evidence of the institution's accreditation in the country of issue; submit the complete set and expect several weeks to several months for a decision. Some online programmes are not recognised, so check the recognised-qualification list before enrolling, not after graduating.

Thai schools admit by equating the year level under Ministry of Education criteria, based on the number of school years completed and the syllabus content. Prepare academic records for every year studied abroad, a leaving or completion certificate, the birth certificate or passport, and certified translations; file with the receiving school, and where it asks, apply for level equivalence at the Educational Service Area Office or the Ministry, then submit the equivalence letter. Records that do not clearly state the academic year cannot be equated, so ask for documents that show the start and end date of each school year.

We work as advisers rather than document couriers: we confirm which documents the destination actually needs, order the certification steps correctly from the outset so nothing is repeated, liaise with the institution's registrar for English-language issues, produce certified translations, complete legalisation at the Department of Consular Affairs or the relevant embassy, and file for equivalence or qualification recognition as the case requires. Send us copies of the qualification, transcript, passport and the name of the receiving body. The destination's closing date drives the whole timeline, so let us review the file before you pay the first round of fees.