Foreign documents — your degree, transcripts, birth certificate, police clearance — usually aren't accepted in Austria as-is. They first need to be legalised, and then translated into German. Getting this wrong (or doing it in the wrong order) is one of the most common causes of delay.
Start this first
Depending on your country, legalisation can take several months. Begin as soon as you have your shortlist — long before your application appointment.
Which rule applies to you
The level of legalisation depends on the country that issued the document:
- Apostille — if your country is part of the Hague Apostille Convention, a single Apostille stamp from the competent authority is enough
- No legalisation — a few countries have a bilateral agreement with Austria and need nothing further
- Full diplomatic legalisation — for all other countries: the full chain (see below)
Full diplomatic legalisation, step by step
For countries without an Apostille or agreement, each document passes through a chain of authorities:
The legalisation chain
0/4 doneCertified translation
After legalisation, foreign documents must be translated into German by a sworn, court-certified translator. English is accepted in some cases, but German is the safe default.
Order matters
Translate after legalisation — the translator should translate the legalised document including its stamps. Translating first means paying twice.
EU-issued documents
Documents issued by an EU member state often need no translation if the authority attaches a standard multilingual form — ask for it when you request the document.
Your checklist
Before your appointment
0/5 doneThe student residence permit, step by step
Keep moving toward Austria
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