Which documents universities ask international applicants for

Terms used

• NIE — The NIE is the identification number Spain gives to foreigners, used on official paperwork.
• PAU — The PAU is Spain's university entrance exam, whose grade is used for admission.
• UNEDasiss — UNEDasiss is the UNED online service that issues accreditation certificates and admission grades to international applicants.
• Credencial — The credencial is the UNED accreditation certificate that lets applicants from non-agreement systems apply to Spanish universities.
• Traducción jurada — A traducción jurada is a sworn translation, made by a translator officially authorised in Spain.
• DELE — DELE is an official Spanish-language diploma, graded by level from A1 to C2.
• SIELE — SIELE is an online Spanish-language exam that gives a level certificate.

Key rules

• Route: Your country and qualification decide whether you apply by direct admission or need the UNED credencial first.
• Legalisation: Foreign diplomas and transcripts need an apostille or diplomatic legalisation unless your country is exempt.
• Translation: Ask the university before paying for a sworn translation, because many accept English and some other languages as they are.
• Spanish proof: No national rule requires it, but many universities ask for DELE or SIELE, usually at level B2.
• Originals: You upload scans first, and originals are usually checked at enrolment.

What you will be asked for

Expect to upload scans of a core set of documents: your passport or national ID (plus your NIE if you have one), your secondary-school diploma, your transcript with grades, and proof that you paid the application fee where one is charged. If your education system gives you an entrance result, such as a PAU-equivalent grade, add that too. You also fill in the online application form.

Originals are usually checked later, when you enrol. Keep them safe and ready.

Each university and region sets its own exact list and deadlines. Read the admission requirements page of every university and degree you apply to.

The documents list and the checklist below give the full set. This page explains the three things that cost time and money: your route, legalisation and translation.

Which route you take

Your country and qualification decide your route.

• Direct admission. This applies if you come from an EU state or a country with a reciprocal agreement (for example the EEA, Switzerland or China), or you hold an International Baccalaureate or European Baccalaureate. Your qualification must give university access in your home country. You apply with a UNEDasiss certificate, which may include your PAU or EBAU grade. In some cases a statement of eligibility is enough.
• UNED accreditation (credencial). If your system is outside those agreements, you first get the credencial through UNEDasiss. It needs your legalised and translated diploma, your transcript, your ID or passport, and a fee payment. You then apply to the university with your credencial number. You can also sit the UNED specific competence tests (PCE) to raise your admission grade.

The country lists and rules are published each year, so check yours before you start.

Legalisation

Foreign diplomas and transcripts normally need legalisation.

• If your country is in the Hague Convention, get an apostille from the authority in the country that issued the document.
• If it is not, use diplomatic legalisation. This goes through your foreign ministry and then the Spanish embassy or consulate.
• Documents from EU/EEA states and Switzerland are exempt, as are those from countries with a bilateral exemption agreement.
• International and European Baccalaureate diplomas are generally exempt too.
• Some countries, such as China, have their own verification procedure, which UNED handles.

Exemption lists differ by country, so confirm yours on UNEDasiss or with the university.

Translation

Anything not in Spanish needs a sworn translation (traducción jurada). It must come from a sworn translator authorised by Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or from a Spanish consulate or embassy abroad.

You may not need one in some cases:

• Documents in Catalan, Galician, Basque or Valencian are often accepted as they are.
• Many universities also accept English, French, Portuguese or Italian.
• EU multilingual standard forms and International Baccalaureate documents are often exempt.

UNED and each university decide what they accept. Ask before you pay for translations.

Proof of Spanish

No national rule requires Spanish proof for admission, and the PAU and credencial procedures do not ask for it. Many universities still ask non-native speakers for a certificate. This is usually DELE or SIELE at level B2, and some ask for C1. Some universities set their own test, and some waive the requirement if you studied in Spanish. Degrees taught in English ask for English certificates instead.

Do it in this order

1. Find your route and the university's requirements.
2. Order your diploma and transcript, then get them apostilled or legalised.
3. Confirm whether you need a sworn translation, and only then pay for one.
4. Book a language exam if the degree asks for one.

Choosing between options

Which route do you take to apply, and do you need a sworn translation?

• UNED accreditation (credencial) route: Your education system is a non-EU one without an agreement. You apply through UNEDasiss with legalised, translated documents and then pre-register with your credential number.

• Get a sworn translation: Your documents are not in Spanish and the university does not exempt their language.

• Skip the translation: Your documents are in Catalan, Galician, Basque or Valencian, or in a language your university accepts, such as English, French, Portuguese or Italian.

Your country and qualification decide the route. The university and UNED decide whether your document language needs a translation, so ask before paying for one.

Documents you need

• Passport or national ID, plus your NIE (foreigner ID number) if you have one. You upload a scan.

• Secondary-school diploma, apostilled or legalised unless your country is exempt. Add a sworn translation if it is not in Spanish.

• Transcript with your grades, legalised in the same way as the diploma. Add a sworn translation (traducción jurada) if it is not in Spanish and the university does not exempt your language.

• UNED accreditation certificate (credencial), issued through UNEDasiss. It is required if your education system is a non-EU one without an agreement, and you use its number when you pre-register.

• PAU result, or the UNEDasiss certificate showing your admission grade, if your system gives you one.

• Proof of payment of the application fee, where the university charges one.

• Spanish language certificate, usually DELE or SIELE at level B2 (some ask C1), if the university asks non-native speakers for one for a Spanish-taught degree. English-taught degrees ask for an English certificate instead.

Application pack checklist for international applicants

Application pack checklist

• Check the admission requirements page of each university and degree you are applying to, because document lists vary by region and university.

• Find out which route applies to you: direct admission if your country is in the EU or has a reciprocal agreement, or the UNED accreditation (credencial) if your school system is outside those.

• Get a valid passport or national ID, and add your NIE (foreigner ID number) if you have one.

• Gather your secondary-school diploma and your transcript with grades.

• If you are on the credential route, apply for the UNED accreditation through UNEDasiss with your legalised and translated diploma, transcript, ID or passport, and fee payment.

• Get your PAU result or the UNEDasiss certificate with your admission grade, if your system gives you one.

• Consider sitting the UNED specific competence tests (PCE) if you want to raise your admission grade.

• Get your diploma and transcript apostilled if your country is in the Hague Convention, or legalised through your foreign ministry and the Spanish embassy or consulate if not.

• Check whether your documents are exempt from legalisation, as EU and EEA documents, Swiss documents and International or European Baccalaureate diplomas generally are.

• Order a sworn translation (traducción jurada) of every document not in Spanish, from a translator authorised by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a Spanish consulate.

• Ask the university whether it accepts documents in Catalan, Galician, Basque, Valencian, English, French, Portuguese or Italian without translation before you pay for translations.

• Check whether your Spanish-taught degree asks for a Spanish certificate, usually DELE or SIELE at level B2 (sometimes C1), and book the exam if it does.

• Scan every document and upload it with the online application form.

• Pay the application fee if the university charges one, and keep the proof of payment.

• Keep your original documents ready, because they are checked when you enrol.

Frequently asked questions

Can I skip the sworn translation if my diploma is in English?

Yes, you may skip it if the university accepts English documents, but this depends on the university and on UNED. Many universities accept English, French, Portuguese or Italian without translation. Confirm with the university before paying for a translation.

Do I need a Spanish certificate to apply for a degree taught in Spanish?

No, there is no national rule that requires a Spanish certificate for admission, but many universities ask for one anyway. They usually want DELE or SIELE at level B2, and some ask for C1. Some waive it if you studied in Spanish before.

Do I need an apostille if my diploma is from the International Baccalaureate?

No, International and European Baccalaureate diplomas are generally exempt from legalisation. Documents from EU or EEA states and Switzerland are also exempt. For any other country, ask UNEDasiss or the university whether an exemption agreement applies.

Who can make a sworn translation of my documents?

A sworn translator authorised by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs can make it, as can a Spanish consulate or embassy abroad. The translation is called a traducción jurada. Check what your university accepts before you order one.