Since October 15, 1981, the United States has been part of the 1961 Hague Convention abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents (Only). The Convention provides for the simplified certification - the "apostille" - of public documents to be used in countries that have joined the convention.

Since the majority of education-related documents are executed and signed by state officials, in order to obtain the apostille you would need to contact the state department for the state where the documents were issued. You may access the general contact information for the Secretary of State for all states at National Association of Secretaries of State.

Documents requiring certifications with an apostille by the U.S. Department of State (federal agency) are those that have been signed by a federal official with the official seal of that agency, American Consular Officer, Military Notary (10 USC 1044a) or Foreign Consul (Diplomat Officials must be registered with the Office of Protocol).

The U.S. Department of State issues both Authentication Certificates and Apostilles. The determination of which certificate is issued is based on the country in which the document will be used. Authentication Certificates are issued for documents which are destined for use in countries that are not parties to the Hague Apostille Convention. Apostille Certificates are issued for documents destined for use in countries that are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention. For more information visit the Office of Authentications.

Unlike in many countries, the United States has no Federal Ministry of Education or other centralized authority exercising single national control over postsecondary educational institutions in this country. The states assume varying degrees of control over education, but, in general, institutions of higher education are permitted to operate with considerable independence and autonomy. U.S. colleges and universities can vary widely in their admissions policies and requirements. Therefore, you should contact the institution(s) you are interested in attending for more information about admissions requirements. The institution(s) can also provide information about policies concerning the evaluation of non-U.S. credentials.

For visa requirements, you must visit your local U.S. Embassy or consult the U.S. Department of State website. Please note there are different types of visas. If you are in the United States, you may contact the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Please note that the U.S. Department of Education does not oversee or influence the issuance of visas.

In the United States, the ultimate decision to recognize or accept an education credential rests with (1) individual employers (for those seeking employment); (2) state-level licensing agencies (for those seeking professional licensure); (3) universities (for those seeking to continue their studies); and (4) federal immigration authorities (for those seeking a visa or a change in immigration status).

For the evaluation of non-U.S. credentials, employers and other entities will often request that an applicant obtain a "credential evaluation" to determine how one's non-U.S. credentials compare to U.S. credentials. Such evaluations are carried out by private, non-governmental entities called "credential evaluation services," which charge a fee that varies depending on the level of detail needed. The U.S. Department of Education does not evaluate education credentials.

Before selecting a credential evaluation service, consult with the prospective recipient of the evaluation (e.g., employer, university admissions office) to find out if there are specific policies in place concerning the evaluation of non-U.S. credentials. If you do not have a specific recipient in mind, you can research online to identify and select a credential evaluation service on your own. Additional resources and information can be found at U.S. Network for Education Information. (There is no federal or state regulation of credential evaluation services, and the U.S. Department of Education does not endorse or recommend any individual credential evaluation service or any individual association of credential evaluation services.)

There are hundreds of foreign post-secondary institutions that are eligible to participate in the Federal Student Aid Program. If you attend one of these institutions, you would be eligible to apply for a student loan through this program. To search for an eligible institution, visit our Federal School Code Search page. Once on this site, select the "school year," in the state field select "foreign country," and then select "Search" to get a full listing of overseas schools, or search for a specific school using the institution's name. Additional information about studying abroad is also available at https://studyabroad.state.gov/.

For general information about studying abroad, as well as links to relevant organizations, see Academic and Professional Mobility and the U.S. Department of State's USA Study Abroad website.

For general information about studying in the United States, as well as links to other relevant organizations, see the U.S. Department of State's EducationUSA website and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Study in the States website.

In the U.S., each state determines the requirements for licensing and certifying teachers in that state. Individual schools and school districts, not the U.S. Department of Education, are responsible for the hiring of teachers.

For more information about licensure requirements in any state that may interest you, contact the state department of education. The state's department of education can also provide information about its policy for evaluating and recognizing non-U.S. education qualifications.

The U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security oversee all visa requirements for students from other countries coming to the United States. Information and assistance are available from the following sources:

For information on student visa requirements, visit the U.S. Department of State Student Visa website.

The U.S. Department of State provides support to a network of Educational Advising/Information Centers around the world. These centers advise prospective international students and other audiences on higher education and study opportunities in the United States.

Foreign students in the U.S. with questions about their visas, and schools with questions about student visas, should contact 1-800-375-5283 or visit United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for more information.