Recognition for UK, US, EU and Latin American school qualifications

Terms used

• Apostille — The apostille is a standard stamp that certifies a document as genuine for use abroad, issued by the country that issued it.
• Homologación — The homologación is official recognition of a foreign qualification as equal to a specific Spanish title.
• Convalidación — The convalidación is the recognition of foreign studies as equal to Spanish courses, so you can continue from that level.
• UNEDasiss — UNEDasiss is the service that handles university access for foreign students and issues the credencial de acceso.
• Credencial de acceso — The credencial de acceso is the certificate that lets you apply to Spanish universities with a foreign qualification.
• Bachillerato — The bachillerato is Spain's two-year upper secondary school stage, which leads to university access.
• ESO — ESO is Spain's compulsory secondary education, covering ages 12 to 16.

Key rules

• Hague countries: If your country is in the Hague Apostille Convention, an apostille from the issuing country is enough.
• EU/EEA and Switzerland: Your documents are accepted as issued, with no legalisation, though a Spanish translation is usually still needed.
• US diploma: A US high school diploma alone does not give university access; you normally need homologación to the Spanish Bachillerato.
• Cuba and Venezuela: You may need full consular legalisation if an apostille is not available.

The short answer

Every country has its own equivalence table, and what you need depends on where you studied. EU/EEA and Swiss documents are the simplest. UK, US and most Latin American documents need an apostille and, if they are not in Spanish, a sworn translation.

Find your country's table

The Ministry of Education publishes one table per country. It lists your country's levels and the Spanish course each one matches. Look on the ministry's website under studies abroad, then convalidaciones and homologaciones, in the section on non-university studies. Page addresses change when the site is reorganised, so search by those headings.

How legalisation works

Foreign school documents must be legalised. There are two routes:

• Countries in the Hague Apostille Convention: you only need an apostille from the issuing country's designated authority.
• Other countries: you need full consular legalisation. First the foreign ministry of that country stamps the document. Then the Spanish consulate does.

EU/EEA countries and Switzerland are generally exempt. Spain also has a few bilateral agreements that waive legalisation. Ask the education authority handling your file which countries are exempt now.

United Kingdom

UK qualifications go through the Ministry's homologación (full recognition as a Spanish title) or convalidación (credit for courses you have completed) route.

• Documents: your certificates and, where required, school transcripts. You also need an apostille from the UK Foreign Office and sworn Spanish translations.
• A-levels: the two-year A-level pathway is normally equated with Spanish bachillerato. For university access, UNEDasiss issues the credencial de acceso.
• GCSEs alone: these are generally equated with the level reached after ESO. The exact level depends on your subjects and years of study.
• Scottish Highers and others: these follow the same route. The ministry publishes the full UK equivalence list.

United States

US studies are matched to Spanish courses by the grade you reached. The tables relate US grades 9 to 12 to 3º ESO through 2º Bachillerato.

• Documents: an official transcript from your high school, an apostille from the Secretary of State of the state where you studied, and a sworn Spanish translation.
• University access: a US high school diploma alone does not give it. You normally need homologación to the Spanish Bachillerato title. This is normally granted with the diploma, and often with SAT or AP results.

Check the current university-access requirements with UNEDasiss or your regional education office.

EU/EEA and Switzerland

Your qualifications are accepted as issued. You need no apostille and no legalisation.

• Documents: the title, the transcript and proof of identity.
• Translation: a Spanish translation is usually still required, unless the language is one the office accepts.
• University access: the EU Baccalaureate, the International Baccalaureate and national upper-secondary diplomas give access through the UNEDasiss credencial.

The exact documents vary by country and by the regional office processing your file.

Latin America

Most Latin American countries, including Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Chile and Brazil, are in the Hague Apostille Convention. Their documents need an apostille.

• Documents: the school certificate or transcript of studies, plus the secondary title.
• Translation: anything not in Spanish needs a sworn Spanish translation. This includes Brazilian Portuguese.
• Cuba and Venezuela: full consular legalisation may still be needed if an apostille is not available. Ask the education authority before you order documents.

Spain matches grades in each country to Spanish courses using the country's table.

Before you start

Rules change, so confirm the current list of documents with the Ministry or your regional education office before you pay for apostilles or translations. The documents list and checklist below set out what to gather and in what order.

Documents you need

• School certificate or transcript of studies, plus the secondary title, from your country's school or education authority

• Apostille on UK, US (from the state Secretary of State) and most Latin American documents; countries outside the Hague Convention, and Cuba or Venezuela if no apostille is available, need foreign ministry then Spanish consulate legalisation

• Sworn Spanish translation of documents not in Spanish, including Brazilian Portuguese, US and UK documents

• EU/EEA and Swiss qualifications: the title and transcript as issued, with no apostille or legalisation, plus proof of identity and a Spanish translation unless the language is accepted

Checklist

• Find your country's table on the Ministry of Education's website, under studies abroad, convalidaciones and homologaciones, and note the Spanish course it matches.

• Check whether your country is in the Hague Apostille Convention, then get an apostille from the issuing country's authority, or consular legalisation if it is not.

• Skip legalisation for EU/EEA or Swiss documents, and ask for a sworn Spanish translation if they are not in Spanish.

• Get a UK apostille and sworn translation for GCSE or A-level certificates, and ask UNEDasiss about the credencial de acceso for university.

• Request an official transcript from your US high school, apostille it with the state Secretary of State and have it translated by a sworn translator.

• Ask the education authority whether your Latin American country, especially Cuba or Venezuela, accepts an apostille or needs consular legalisation.

Frequently asked questions

Do UK A-levels give me access to Spanish universities?

Yes, A-levels give university access in Spain, but through a separate step handled by UNEDasiss, which issues the credencial de acceso. The 2-year A-level pathway is normally equated with Spanish bachillerato.

Is a US high school diploma enough for Spanish university access?

No, a US high school diploma alone does not directly give university access in Spain.

Do Cuban or Venezuelan school documents need an apostille?

Not always, because full consular legalisation may still be needed for Cuba or Venezuela if the apostille is not available.

Do EU school qualifications still need a Spanish translation?

Yes, EU/EEA qualifications are accepted as issued without apostille, but a Spanish translation is still usually required unless the language is accepted. Switzerland is treated like the EU.