Steps for obtaining an apostille or document authentication for Ohio Wesleyan University documents.
If you plan to study, teach or work abroad, you may find yourself in need of an apostille.
An "apostille" or "document authentication" certifies the signature and the position of the official who has executed, issued, or certified a copy of a document. The educational documents usually requested for certification are the diploma and/or official transcript. Even though your Ohio Wesleyan University transcript is considered official in every way, foreign countries that are members of the 1961 Hague Convention may require documents to be certified in order to be accepted in the foreign jurisdiction.
According to the Ohio Secretary of State, "An apostille is a certificate issued by our office for all documents going to countries that are members of the 1961 Hague Convention. Since not all countries are members of the Hague Convention, it is important that you list the country to which your documents are going. With the certification of the apostille, the document is entitled to recognition in the country of intended use, and no additional authentication or legalization is required. For a list of countries that accept the Apostille, please visit the official Web site of Hague Convention." (Source: Ohio Secretary of State: Authentication and Apostilles)
While the apostille certification is provided by the Ohio Secretary of State, OWU's Office of the Registrar can help assist you in gathering materials to add an apostille to a diploma or official transcript. Our role in this process is to provide the notarized document and also a notarized acknowledgment certificate. We will certify the document as an official record or true copy of the original before a notary public, and include language with each document affirming that a notary public has confirmed its validity. These items will be issued directly to you as the requestor. It is then your responsibility to contact the Ohio Secretary of State for how to proceed with the apostille certification request.
Please visit www.owu.edu/transcripts to request an official transcript. Please note the following:
Once you receive the notarized diploma and notarized acknowledgment certificate, you will need to follow the procedures listed at Ohio Secretary of State - Apostille (including the Authentication Request Cover Letter). For more information, see their Web site or contact their office at (614) 728-9200 for further assistance.
Please visit the Replacement Diplomas Web page for information on how to order a replacement diploma. Please note the following:
Once you receive the notarized diploma and notarized acknowledgment certificate, you will need to follow the procedures listed at Ohio Secretary of State - Apostille (including the Authentication Request Cover Letter). For more information, see their Web site or contact their office at (614) 728-9200 for further assistance.
If you need your diploma authenticated for use in a country that is not a member of the 1961 Hague Convention, you will need to work with the U.S. Department of State for an authentication certificate.