International families often request that their student’s Bridgeway issued report cards, transcripts, and/or diplomas be notarized and apostilled in order to be recognized by authorities in their home country. This is often the case when an international student is seeking to transfer to a local school or college and the institution aims to validate the records. An apostille is different from notarization. A notarization assures that a notary public (a state officer) witnessed the named person sign the document presented. Apostilled documents are authenticated by the state authorities. An apostille further authenticates the document for international use in most countries. An apostille must be specifically requested, and the nation to which the document will be sent must be indicated. To purchase an apostilled document, you can reach out to your advisor and they can create a customized quote or you can order under Services at order.homeschoolacademy.com. Please note which documents you need to be apostilled. The fee is $125 per document. The process can take up to 12 weeks, prior to shipping. Once the item has been shipped to the family, the additional shipping time will depend on the country’s shipping procedure. We cannot rush this service under any circumstances. If the country in which you reside requires that your student’s documents be authenticated by the US Secretary of State or US Department of State and/or by your country’s Embassy in the US, it is your responsibility to seek out these services. The following company has been used by former Bridgeway families with much success: International Apostille Services. Please note that Bridgeway is in no way affiliated with this organization and we cannot guarantee that they can provide the individual services you may require. Please also note that this process may take several months.Countries in the Middle East often require apostilled transcripts for several reasons related to the authentication and validation of academic documents. Here’s why:1. Legalization and AuthenticationApostille as an International Standard: An apostille is a form of authentication issued by a designated authority in a country that is a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention. It certifies that the document is genuine and was issued by a recognized authority, making it easier to be accepted in another country.Validation of Foreign Credentials: Middle Eastern countries require apostilled transcripts to ensure that educational credentials obtained from foreign institutions are legitimate and recognized by the country's educational authorities, employers, or immigration offices.2. Recognition of Academic QualificationsEducational and Employment Purposes: For students planning to continue their education or professionals seeking employment in the Middle East, apostilled transcripts help to verify the authenticity of their academic qualifications. This is crucial for admission to universities or for meeting job requirements.Standardization: Since educational systems vary across countries, the apostille process helps create a standard method for validating transcripts and other academic documents, ensuring they meet the host country’s criteria.3. Avoiding Fraudulent DocumentsPreventing Document Fraud: The apostille process is a safeguard against forged or counterfeit documents. Middle Eastern countries require apostilled transcripts to prevent fraudulent qualifications from being used to gain entry into educational institutions or employment.
