International legalization of your diploma/degree

Why do I need to get my diploma/degree legalized ?

If you have a diploma issued by a Hungarian institute of education which you would like to use in a country other than Hungary, you need to get it legalized.
Legalization proves the authenticity of the document to a foreign authority.

Why is it very important to specify the country where the diploma/degree will be used?

There are two kinds of legalization: Apostille legalization and diplomatic legalization.
You need an Apostille certificate for your diploma if the country where you are going to use it is a participant of the Hague Convention (Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents, Concluded 5 October 1961).
Diplomatic legalization is needed if the target country is not a participant of the above mentioned convention. In this case after we have legalized your diploma/degree, you need to go to the Embassy of the target country accredited to Hungary to finish the process.

Please note that one document can only bear one kind of legalization.

How do I find out whether the target country is a participant of the Convention or not?

You can easily double-check it on the website of the Hague Convention: www.hcch.net (convention No: 12/”status table”). The website is available both in English and French.

Order of stamping

1. EDUCATION OFFICE(Oktatási Hivatal)

1055 Budapest V. kerület Szalay u. 10 - 14.(entrance at the corner of Szalay & Honvéd utca), phone: (+36-1) 374-2100

Reception hours:
-Monday -Thursday: 9:00 – 12:00 and 13:00 –16:00
- Friday: 9:00 - 12:00

Bring your ID/passport on you along with the original diploma

2. MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ( Külügyminisztérium, Konzuli Szolgálat, Hitelesítési részleg )

1027 Budapest II. kerület Nagy Imre tér 4. E épület, földszint
phone: (+36 1) 458-1000

Reception hours:
- Monday-Thursday: 9:00 – 12:00
- Friday 11:00 -12:00 (only for receiving the stamped documents)

The Apostille and diplomatic legalization of your documents at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be accomplished within 15 days.

Fee payable: 5500 Ft/ document

Detailed information:
http://konzuliszolgalat.kormany.hu/tajekoztato-a-kulfoldi-felhasznalasra-szant-okiratok-felulhitelesitesenek-rendjerol

July 1st is a public holiday, therefore , the above ministries will be closed.

3. YOUR EMBASSY (if it is required by your country)