Legalization of Degree Certificates

Upon completion of the PhD studies, the degree certificate can be legalized as proof of your qualifications in other countries. Please follow the indications below to perform this procedure. 

It is required to present the original degree certificate. If a third party performs the procedure on the PhD holder's behalf, they must provide an authorization (power of attorney valid in Spanish territory).

The procedure varies according to the country for which the legalization is requested is a member country of the Hague Convention (full list of member countries is available here).

There are two options to have the degree certificate legalized: by Notary or by Ministerial Departments. In both cases two stages are required.

By Notary

1. Validation of signature of the Rector of Universidad Carlos III de Madrid

NOTARIAL OFFICE SAGRARIO ÁLVAREZ. Public Notary of the College of Notaries of Madrid
C/ Madrid, 85, 2nd floor | 28902 (Getafe)
www.notariasagrarioalvarez.com
msalvarez@correonotarial.org | Tel. +34 911 088 888

2. Validation of signature of the Notary by the Dean of the College of Notaries. Hague Apostille.

COLLEGE OF NOTARIES OF MADRID
C/ Ruiz de Alarcón, 3 | 28014 (Madrid)
https://madrid.notariado.org/portal/legalizacion-y-apostillas
info@madrid.notariado.org | Tel.: +34 91 213 00 00

   
By Ministerial Departments (free-of-charge)

1. Ministerial Department of Universities

APPOINTMENT REQUIRED: https://ssweb.seap.minhap.es/icpplus/citar?org=OIACR
Paseo de La Castellana, 162 | 28046 (Madrid)
Office hours: Monday to Friday, 10:00 - 14:00 h.

PLEASE NOTE: The Legalization service does not offer in-person information about administrative procedures.
Contact: www.universidades.gob.es/atencion-al-ciudadano

2. Ministerial Department of Universities

APPOINTMENT REQUIRED: citaprevia.mjusticia.gob.es
C/ Bolsa, 8 | 28012 (Madrid)

Further information: www.mjusticia.gob.es/es/ciudadania/tramites/legalizacion-unica-apostilla

There are two options to have the degree certificate legalized: by Notary+Ministerial Departments or by the Ministerial Departments only. In both cases the following stages are required.

By Notary + Ministerial Departments

1. Validation of signature of the Rector of Universidad Carlos III de Madrid

NOTARIAL OFFICE SAGRARIO ÁLVAREZ. Public Notary of the College of Notaries of Madrid
C/ Madrid, 85, 2nd floor | 28902 (Getafe)
www.notariasagrarioalvarez.com
msalvarez@correonotarial.org | Tel. +34 911 088 888

2. Validation of signature of the Notary by the Dean of the College of Notaries

COLLEGE OF NOTARIES OF MADRID
C/ Ruiz de Alarcón, 3 | 28014 (Madrid)
https://madrid.notariado.org/portal/legalizacion-y-apostillas
info@madrid.notariado.org | Tel.: +34 91 213 00 00

3. Ministerial Department of Justice

APPOINTMENT REQUIRED: citaprevia.mjusticia.gob.es
C/ Bolsa, 8 | 28012 (Madrid)

Further information: www.mjusticia.gob.es/es/ciudadania/tramites/legalizacion-unica-apostilla

4. Ministerial Department of Foreign Affairs

APPOINTMENT NOT REQUIRED. Requests are served on a first-come, first served basis.

Legalization Service: C/ General Pardiñas, 55 | 28006 (Madrid)
Office hours: Monday To Friday, 9:00 - 14:00 h.
Legalization: +34 91 379 1663 | Service Desk: +34 91 379 7965 or +34 91 379 8854

Further information:
www.exteriores.gob.es/es/ServiciosAlCiudadano/Paginas/Legalizacion-y-apostilla.aspx
Sede Electrónica del Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores, Unión Europea y Cooperación (maec.gob.es)

5.  Validation of the aforementioned signatures by the Embassy or Consulate in Spain of the country for which the document is legalized

By Ministerial Departments (free-of-charge)

1. Ministerial Department of Universities

APPOINTMENT REQUIRED: https://ssweb.seap.minhap.es/icpplus/citar?org=OIACR
Paseo de La Castellana, 162 | 28046 (Madrid)
Office hours: Monday to Friday, 10:00 - 14:00 h.

PLEASE NOTE: The Legalization service does not offer in-person information about administrative procedures.
Telephone assistance: Calls from Spain: 060 | Calls from outside of Spain: +34 902 887 060
Online assistance: Contact Form

2. Ministerial Department of Foreign Affairs

APPOINTMENT NOT REQUIRED. Requests are served on a first-come, first served basis.

Legalization Service: C/ General Pardiñas, 55 | 28006 (Madrid)
Office hours: Monday To Friday, 9:00 - 14:00 h.
Legalization: +34 91 379 1663 | Service Desk: +34 91 379 7965 or +34 91 379 8854

Further information:
www.exteriores.gob.es/es/ServiciosAlCiudadano/Paginas/Legalizacion-y-apostilla.aspx
Sede Electrónica del Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores, Unión Europea y Cooperación (maec.gob.es)

3.  Validation of the aforementioned signatures by the Embassy or Consulate in Spain of the country for which the document is legalized