FAMILIES MOVING ABROAD · K–12 SCHOOL RECORDS
School Records Apostille for Families Moving Abroad
Relocating overseas with children in a Massachusetts school? Your new school, or the country’s education ministry, will want their records, often with an apostille and a translation. Here’s what to request, who has to sign it, and how we get report cards, transcripts, diplomas and immunization records ready for any country.
Over 20 years in business · Thousands of documents processed · 600+ five-star Google reviews
K–12 · ANY MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL
Public, private and charter schools
From kindergarten report cards to high school diplomas
- Report cards and transcripts
- Enrollment and withdrawal letters
- Diplomas and immunization records
- Birth certificates in the same order
What to request before you leave
| Record | Who usually needs it | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Report cards (last 2–3 years) | Almost every school abroad, at every grade level | Ask for official copies on letterhead, not a parent-portal printout |
| Transcript | Middle and high school students | Ask the guidance office for an official transcript, signed and dated |
| Enrollment or withdrawal letter | Every grade level | It should state the last grade completed and the withdrawal date |
| High school diploma | Graduates, and anyone continuing to university abroad | Countries like Spain want the diploma and transcripts together |
| Immunization record | Most schools abroad | The school nurse or pediatrician can provide it |
| IEP or 504 plan | Students with services | Usually doesn’t need an apostille, but bring it so the new school can plan |
| Course descriptions | High school students going through recognition | Some ministries want them to compare courses |
Under 603 CMR 23.07, a Massachusetts public school must give you access to your child’s record within 10 days of your request, and copies when you ask. Private schools have their own timelines, so start early.
How Massachusetts school records get apostilled
Massachusetts will apostille a document notarized with any of its four notarial acts: acknowledgment, jurat, signature witnessing, or copy certification. What decides the right route is the receiving country or school. Some only accept records the school itself certifies. Others accept a certified copy a parent presents. We confirm before anything is notarized.
School official acknowledgment
The principal, guidance director or registrar signs the record before our notary, confirming it’s the school’s official record. Accepted almost everywhere.
School official affidavit
The school official signs a sworn statement confirming enrollment or graduation and that the attached records match the school’s files. This is what Spain’s Ministry of Education asks for.
Certified copy, only if your recipient accepts it
You present the original record and our notary certifies the copy. Massachusetts will apostille it, but some countries reject it for school records, so we only use it after you’ve confirmed the recipient accepts it.
Prepared right the first time
We prepare the notarial wording so it includes what your country asks for: the official’s name, position and school.
Country notes for families
| Country | What to know |
|---|---|
| Spain | Grades 1–9 need no homologation. Grades 10, 11 and the diploma go through homologation or convalidation, and Spain wants school-certified records, not copy certifications. |
| Portugal | Schools usually ask for report cards and a declaration of the last year completed. Equivalence for secondary studies is requested through the school or education authorities. |
| Italy | Schools may ask for a dichiarazione di valore from the Italian consulate for high school records, on top of the apostille. |
| France | French schools usually ask for report cards and a certificate of attendance; translations are often required. |
| UAE | The UAE is not part of the Apostille Convention. Records go through state authentication, U.S. Department of State and UAE Embassy legalization. |
| United Kingdom | UK schools rarely need apostilles for younger children, but universities and some international schools ask for verified transcripts. |
Rules vary by school and region. Always follow the instructions you’ve been given, and send them to us so we can match them.
Public school districts we work with
We work with every Massachusetts district. These district pages explain how to request records from the districts we see most often:
Private and independent schools
Many of the families we help are at independent day and boarding schools. Private schools aren’t covered by 603 CMR 23, so each sets its own process, usually through the registrar or college counseling office. We coordinate with the school directly.
Don’t see your school? We work with independent, parochial and charter schools across Massachusetts.
How we handle it
- 1
Tell us the country, schools and deadline
Send us any instructions from the new school or ministry. We confirm which records and which notarization each needs.
- 2
We coordinate with each school
We contact the principal, guidance office or registrar and prepare the notarial wording.
- 3
Notarization at the school
Our notary meets the school official on site. With a signed letter of authorization, you don’t need to be there.
- 4
Massachusetts apostille
We file in person with the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
- 5
Translation and delivery
We add certified translations if needed and ship to you anywhere in the world.
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
Can Massachusetts apostille my child’s report card or transcript?
Yes. Massachusetts will apostille a school record once it carries a Massachusetts notarization using one of the four notarial acts: acknowledgment, jurat (affidavit), signature witnessing, or copy certification. Which one is right depends on what the receiving country or school accepts.
Who signs: the school or the parent?
It depends on what the receiving country wants. Many countries, including Spain for academic records, want the school to certify the record, so a principal, guidance director or registrar signs before the notary. Others accept a certified copy, where the parent presents the original and the notary certifies the copy. We only use the certified copy route once you’ve confirmed the recipient accepts it.
How fast does a Massachusetts school have to give me copies?
Under 603 CMR 23.07, a public school must give a parent access to the student record within 10 days of the request, and copies on request. Private schools set their own policies, so ask early.
My child is in elementary school. Will the new country even want records?
Often yes, even if no formal recognition is needed. Schools abroad usually ask for recent report cards, a letter confirming the last grade completed, and immunization records. Some ask for apostilles and translations; others don’t. Check with the new school first, then we’ll match what they ask for.
Can you apostille immunization records?
Yes, when they’re properly notarized. A school nurse or physician’s office can sign before a notary, or, where the recipient accepts it, we can certify a copy. Some countries also want the record translated.
We’re leaving in June. When should we start?
In the spring. Schools close for the summer and staff who can sign records may be unavailable in July and August. Request records and withdrawal letters before the last day of school.
Can you do our birth certificates and travel consent letters too?
Yes. Most relocating families need birth certificate apostilles, and sometimes a notarized travel consent letter if one parent is traveling with the children. We bundle everything into one order.
Do you work with private and charter schools?
Yes. We work with public districts, charter schools, independent day and boarding schools, and parochial schools across Massachusetts.
Moving abroad with your children?
Tell us the schools, the grades and your move date. We’ll confirm exactly what each record needs.