Do I need to legalize or apostille my academic documents before the official translation?

Yes, if the international entity you're going to requires a Colombian apostille, you must first have it legalized by the Ministry of Education or the Department of Education, then obtain the apostille from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and finally, get an official translation.

Where can higher education degrees and certificates be legalized in Colombia?

They are legalized virtually through the web platform of the Ministry of National Education of Colombia or in person at their CAN offices in Bogotá.

What documents are considered valid for the academic legalization process?

Degree diplomas, graduation certificates, grade certificates or notes, study plans, enrollment certificates and program content or curriculum issued by institutions registered in the SNIES can be legalized.

Official Translation of Colombian Academic Documents for Use Abroad - 2026 Guide | Traductores.co

Official Translation Guide for Academic Documents

💡 Important Notice: If the international organization receiving your documents does not require a Colombian apostille, you don't need to take any further steps. Simply upload your files using the form at the bottom of this page to receive a direct quote for official translation.

However, if the receiving institution requires you to apostille academic documents (degree certificates, grades, diplomas, etc.) issued in Colombia, below we explain in detail the mandatory steps to follow:

STEP 1 Validate your documents with the Ministry of National Education or the Department of Education

• Primary and Secondary Education: The first thing you will need to obtain is a formal legalization at the Department of Education of your respective city or department of origin.

• Higher Education (Undergraduate or Postgraduate): Visit the official website of the Ministry of National Education to upload your digital files and obtain the legalization prior to the apostille at this direct link: Legalization Platform of the Ministry of Education.

You can also visit the Ministry of Education offices in person, located at Calle 43 N° 57-14 Centro Administrativo Nacional (CAN), Bogotá. The hours of operation for citizens are Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Mandatory requirements for validation:

That the higher education institution that issues your academic degree and other documents is actively registered in the National System of Higher Education Information (SNIES) of Colombia.
Each document to be legalized must be duly signed and clearly identify the person or competent official who prepared it.

Remember that the documents to be legalized must be presented in their original format and duly certified by the issuing institution. Valid documents for legalization include, for example: the degree diploma, graduation certificate, transcript of grades, academic program and/or curriculum or course content.

STEP 2 Apostille or legalize your documents at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs depending on the destination country

The next step is to access the official website of the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (www.cancilleria.gov.co) to process the apostille or legalization of each legalized document. This process is done virtually in the option Apostille or Legalization online Available in the platform's main menu. Before making the payment, it is important to verify whether the destination country requires an apostille (Hague Convention) or ordinary legalization.

Guarantee Entities according to Document Type:

1. Preschool, Primary and Secondary Education

Documents: Diplomas, program content, academic programs, proof of existence of an educational establishment

Requirement and Guarantee: Departmental or District Education Secretariat where the educational institution is registered.

Other documents related to basic education:

They must be signed by the Departmental or District Education Secretariat, or failing that, the signature of the issuer of the document must be recognized before a Notary Public (through personal presentation if not registered in the notary's office).

2. Higher Education Documents

Documents: Certificates of study from higher education institutions, diplomas, graduation records, study plans, program content, diplomas of honor, certificates of study, certificates of enrollment, certificate of existence of the establishment, certificate of program and academic programs.

Mandatory Requirement and Guarantee: Ministry of National Education.

3. Other Educational Documents and Institutions

Civil Aviation Education:

Endorsed by the Center for Aeronautical Studies (CEA).

Documents issued by SENA, ICFES and ICETEX:

They must be signed digitally or physically by the authorized official of the corresponding entity.

Business Cards:

You must first request authentication of the document by presenting a photocopy at the notary office of your choice.

4. Non-Formal Education Documents

Intensity greater than 160 hours (Diplomas, seminars, workshops, courses):

Endorsed by the Departmental/District Education Secretariat, or have the signature of the person issuing the document verified before a Notary Public.

Intensity Less than 160 hours:

Strictly verify the signature of the issuer from the academic institution before a Notary Public, through personal appearance if necessary.

STEP 3 Finally, send them to official translation

Once you complete the legalizations and apostilles of your academic documents, your file is fully ready to receive international validity through our professional service.

Request a quote for the translation of academic documents

Scan your academic documents and request your formal quote right here. You will receive a detailed description of costs and delivery time in your email. (If you already have the issued apostille, don't forget to attach it to the upload file).

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Upload up to 50 files for a quote (Up to 500 MB per file)

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Official Translation of Colombian Academic Documents for Abroad – 2026 Guide