Harvard Apostille Services: Diplomas & Transcripts
Updated: 18 hours ago
Start with the Harvard school that issued your record
Harvard College and Griffin GSAS use the FAS Registrar. HGSE and Harvard Business School MBA alumni have separate guidance, and Harvard Medical School students should start with HMS records instructions. Tell us your Harvard school, record and destination before arranging a Cambridge or Longwood handoff.
Your Harvard University documents, prepared for the next step
Harvard has different schools and records offices. Start with the office that issued your credential and the recipient’s written requirements, then plan preparation and certification. Boston Notary Service can help review what you have and coordinate the agreed preparation, submission and return delivery.
Include your Harvard school or registrar, the document and copy count, whether pickup has been authorized, and where and when the documents are needed.
Campus photo: The original uploader was Mancala at English Wikipedia . / Wikimedia Commons · Public domain. Original photograph; displayed to fit the layout.
Choose your starting point
What you have | What to confirm |
Original or replacement diploma | Whether the recipient requires a school-certified record or a particular notarized statement. |
Transcript or verification letter | Whether a sealed record, notarized version or direct school delivery is needed. |
Digital credential or scan | Whether it is accepted directly or a different paper record is required for certification. |
1. Get the recipient’s written checklist
Exact record and number of copies.
Destination country, receiving organization and purpose.
Required signature, certification and delivery format.
Any issue-date limit or translation requirement.
The date the finished packet must arrive.
2. Follow Harvard University preparation instructions
Harvard FAS distinguishes degree verification, enrollment verification and certified electronic diplomas. Its official degree-verification route uses the National Student Clearinghouse, with different selections for Harvard College and Harvard Griffin GSAS. A verification response is not automatically the same record as a registrar-prepared diploma for apostille. The FAS instructions apply to FAS; other Harvard schools can have different procedures. Ask your own school which signed paper record and certification it can provide for international use.
Identify your Harvard school or campus when requesting help. We can review the recipient’s checklist and coordinate agreed preparation, but we do not substitute one school’s procedure for another or assume a printed electronic diploma is apostille-ready.
How to prepare Harvard Medical School documents for an apostille
Start with the Harvard Medical School Registrar and the overseas recipient’s written checklist. Ask which record is required, such as an MD diploma, transcript, enrollment confirmation or degree verification, and which format the recipient accepts. HMS has its own procedures.
HMS requires a signed written transcript request. The school lists submission options that include a scanned request by email, fax, mail or in person. Ask the Registrar whether it can issue the specific paper, signed or notarized version your recipient requires. The Harvard Medical Alumni Association also explains how alumni can request degree verifications and other records for licensure or hospital staff appointments.
For medical licensure, hospital employment or credential recognition, ask whether the receiving authority requires direct delivery from HMS, primary-source verification, credential evaluation, translation or further legalization. Massachusetts apostille or authentication is a separate step for an eligible signature or seal. Medical credential and licensure decisions belong to the receiving authority.
Boston Notary Service can review the recipient’s checklist and coordinate authorized local collection, eligible Massachusetts apostille or authentication and tracked return delivery. Share the exact record, destination country, receiving organization, deadline and school release instructions. We confirm availability, scope and the quote before work begins. Boston Notary Service is independent of Harvard Medical School.
3. Separate school preparation from state certification
The school issues or prepares the academic record. Massachusetts issues an apostille or certification for an eligible original signature. A notary performs the appropriate notarial act; that does not verify grades or award academic recognition. An apostille authenticates the relevant signature, capacity or seal and does not guarantee acceptance by the recipient.
If the recipient asks for a registrar’s signature, a personal copy-attestation route may not satisfy it. Show us the written requirements before arranging another notarization. A stamp on a printout does not create an original registrar signature.
4. Agree on collection, processing and return
Tell us where your documents are now and whether school preparation is complete. We confirm the available service, quote and authorization requirements before arranging collection or asking you to send originals. Overseas alumni can start with the school, document type, destination and deadline.
Allow for separate school preparation, certification and shipping stages. An urgent request does not shorten a registrar’s production queue automatically. We review the actual arrival deadline and explain the available options before work begins.
Translation and destination requirements
Send the receiving office’s instructions and source/target languages if translation is needed. We confirm scope, availability, quote and sequence before translation work is ordered. Requirements can differ by receiving office and purpose, including whether the attached apostille must be translated or a translator’s certification needs separate authentication.
Questions to settle before sending originals
Can I use a digital diploma?
It may be accepted directly for some purposes, but that does not make a printed digital credential suitable for an apostille. Confirm the required format with the recipient and issuing school.
Can BNS arrange university pickup?
Only where the school permits it and the necessary release, appointment and authorization are confirmed. Tell us the issuing office and its current instructions before booking travel.
What does the quote cover?
We confirm the requested service and applicable preparation, travel, government and delivery costs. List multiple records separately, because a diploma and transcript may need separate certification.
Let’s plan your Harvard University apostille request
Share the record you have, destination, recipient checklist and arrival deadline. We’ll confirm preparation, available service and quote before you send originals.
Preparation sources reviewed October 16, 2026. School procedures can change. Boston Notary Service is not affiliated with Harvard University.
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