STUDENTS · OCTOBER 2026

Studying abroad? Your document checklist, start to finish.

By the Costa Mesa Apostille team · 5 min read

You've been accepted — congratulations. Before you board, your program or student visa will likely ask for official documents that are certified for use abroad. Here's how to get ahead of it.

Start early

Give yourself at least two to three months before your visa appointment. Some pieces, like an FBI background check or a federal apostille, can take weeks on their own. Your program's international office or the destination country's consulate will tell you exactly which documents it requires; bring that list to us.

The documents students are most often asked for

Diploma and transcripts. Before they can be apostilled, these need to be prepared in one of a few ways, such as a certified copy or a registrar's signed and notarized statement. You choose the route, and the office receiving your documents decides what it accepts, so ask them which version they need. Our diploma and transcript guide explains each option.

FBI background check. Many visas require an FBI Identity History Summary. Because it's a federal document, its apostille comes from the U.S. Department of State, not California. It must be the official copy bearing the FBI's signature and seal.

Birth certificate. Use a recent certified copy from the county or the state. Older copies are sometimes rejected, so order a fresh one (you or a close family member) and we check it before we submit.

Bank letters and parental consent. Proof of funds letters and consent forms for students under 18 are private documents, so they're notarized first, then apostilled.

Certified translations. Many countries want documents translated into the local language. Ask whether the translation must be done before or after the apostille — it varies by country.

Your passport doesn't need an apostille

Passports are used as-is. If a program asks for a certified passport copy, that's usually a notarized copy — something we can do in a few minutes at our office.

Study abroad offices: let's work together

We partner with university study abroad and international student offices across Orange County to give students one reliable place for their documents, with clear pricing and group scheduling.

Start your checklist with us Email us your program's list

These articles are general information, not legal advice. Requirements change and vary by country and recipient — confirm with the organization receiving your documents.

Studying abroad? Your document checklist, start to finish.

Start early

The documents students are most often asked for

Your passport doesn't need an apostille

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