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Apostille

What is an apostille?

"An apostille is a form of certification for documents that are for use in countries in the Hague Convention. The apostille certifies the authenticity of the signature, the capacity in which the person signing the document is serving, and identifies the seal/stamp, which the document bears." (Ohio Secretary of State website)

You might find yourself in need of an apostille if you plan to study, teach, or work abroad. It appears that even though the Kenyon transcript is considered official in every way, some countries require this extra step. Since the diploma is in Latin, its official English translation requires certification.

If needed, the Registrar's Office can coordinate the process of having a transcript and/or diploma apostilled. We need a written request from you that includes:

  • your name (as it was at Kenyon),
  • a birthdate,
  • a telephone number and an address where we can reach you
  • a specific statement requesting the types and numbers of documents you need
  • a statement that includes the contact information in the foreign country where you need your documents sent.

THIS STATEMENT MUST BEAR YOUR SIGNATURE.

We add language to each document that a notary confirms is a testament to its validity. A "Certificate of Character" of the notary is also obtained from the Knox County Courthouse and must accompany each document. Your documents are sent with a money order (set fee) and prepaid envelope to the Ohio Secretary of State Office. This government office sends the actual apostilled documents to the address provided by you.

The Kenyon College Registrar's Office charges the following fees to apostille a document:

  • $5 per transcript charge
  • $35 per diploma charge
  • $20 apostille fee per document

The normal time to process an apostille is 2-3 weeks, so you should plan accordingly. To expedite mailings, we do have express mail as an option—applicable charges added accordingly...

Rates found at http://www.usps.com/shipping/expressmail.htm
Payment should be in the form of a Mastercard or Visa number. Please include the name on the card, the expiration date and the 3-digit cvv number from the back of the card and your zip code.

If you have additional questions, contact Kim Smith at smithks@kenyon.edu or 740-427-5837. The Ohio Secretary of State apostille information may be found online at http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/recordsindexes.aspx.