SENESCYT Documents Required: Complete Checklist for 2026

The Required Documents

The standard package includes identification, an apostilled or legalized diploma, a university academic record establishing study duration, and a university certificate identifying the field of study. A study-mode certificate is required for doctorates and applicable restricted fields. Health specialties, títulos propios and other particular cases can need additional evidence. The checklist should follow your qualification rather than a fixed document count.

These are the main document types to prepare; applicability varies by route:

1. Apostilled Diploma
2. Official Transcript
3. Field of Knowledge Letter (or ISCED Certificate)
4. Modality Letter (when required for your route or field)
5. Passport Copy

Depending on your situation, you may also need:

• Signed letter specifying study dates and curriculum — a separate letter from your university with enrollment dates and degree curriculum details
• Proof of university accreditation — documentation from the accrediting body or university proving accreditation status
• Transferred-credit evidence — if needed to explain the study history or requested for your particular application.
• Other analyst-requested evidence — follow the specific request. A separate ISCED certificate or letter of non-use is not a universal item in the current core checklist.

See our Document Checklist guide andcategory-specific checklist for the current requirements. Below we explain the main document types and how to prepare clear copies.

Let us walk through each one with the specifics that matter.

1. Apostilled Diploma

Your diploma must meet the applicable apostille or consular-legalization requirement. Confirm the authentication chain with the issuing institution and competent authority before ordering a service. Do not choose an authority solely because it shares a state with the university campus.

Getting the Apostille from the Correct State

For US academic records, the relevant state authority authenticates the official or notarial signature in the certification chain. Ask the school how it certifies its diplomas and check that authority's requirements. Your current residence and the campus address alone do not settle which apostille is appropriate.

An incorrect certification chain can lead to a request for correction. Confirm the document, the signature being authenticated and the competent apostille authority before paying; a change of campus or an out-of-state address does not by itself prove an apostille is invalid.

Scan Requirements

After apostilling, scan the diploma (with the apostille attached) at 300 DPI in full color. The scan must show:

• All four edges of the document clearly visible
• All text legible, including fine print
• The apostille certificate fully visible and readable
• Any seals, stamps, or signatures clearly discernible

Save as PDF. The file must be under 2MB. If your high-resolution scan exceeds this limit, reduce the DPI slightly to 250 or use a PDF compressor. Do not use JPEG, PNG, or any other format.

Cost and Processing Time

Apostille fees range from $2 to $25 depending on the state. Some states charge per document, others charge a flat fee. Processing time is the real variable:

• In-person: Same day in many states. Walk in, pay the fee, walk out with your apostilled diploma.
• By mail: 2 to 6 weeks depending on the state and time of year. Some states have significant backlogs.
• Expedited mail: 1 to 2 weeks in most states for an additional $25 to $75.
• Third-party service: $75 to $200 total. They handle the logistics for you.

Start with the apostille. It takes the longest and everything else can run in parallel.

2. Official Transcript

Request an official university-issued academic record in your name that shows the duration of your studies. It must be signed by the competent official. Paper originals, accepted certified copies and verifiable electronic records can be used. Useful information includes:

• The signature of the authorized official, including a verifiable electronic signature
• The university's institutional seal or stamp
• Your complete course history with grades
• Your graduation date and degree conferred

What Does NOT Count

Authentic electronic documents are accepted under the published guidance. Preserve digital signatures, QR codes and official verification links. A screenshot or unofficial portal printout may not establish authenticity; confirm that the record is the university's official issued document before submitting it.

Important: No Apostille Needed

The transcript does not require an apostille. Only the diploma needs one. This is a common source of confusion that wastes time and money when applicants apostille documents that do not need it.

Scan at 300 DPI in color, save as PDF under 2MB. If your transcript is multiple pages, combine them into a single PDF file.

3. Field of Knowledge Letter

The university must issue a signed document identifying the area, branch or field of study of the qualification. The current core checklist does not universally require numeric ISCED codes. If the authority requests further classification evidence for your case, follow that request and have the university verify the description.

Why This Letter Is Difficult to Obtain

Explain that the document is for foreign-degree recognition in Ecuador and should identify the field of your degree. Supply the official example or a draft for the university to verify. Avoid requesting extra certificates or numeric classifications unless they are needed for your case.

What the Letter Must Include

• The area, branch or field of study, in the university's own verified terminology
• The narrow field code (e.g., 0413 for Management)
• A description of the primary field of study
• Official university letterhead
• Signature of an authorized official (registrar, dean, or department head)

Pro Tip: Provide a Template

You may provide the university with a draft listing your name, degree, program and field of study. The authorized university official must verify the facts, make any corrections and issue the signed document. Do not assign a classification yourself and present it as the university's determination.

Where classification detail is specifically requested, ask the university to confirm the applicable field. A broad description and any supporting codes must accurately reflect the program; the authority decides whether the evidence is sufficient.

Timeline

Expect 1 to 3 weeks from your initial request. Some universities are faster, especially if you provide a template. Others require multiple follow-ups. Start this request the same day you start the apostille process.

4. Modality Letter

When required, the study-mode certificate confirms whether your program was in-person, blended or online/distance. It must be issued and signed by the competent university official. It is required for PhDs and fields covered by the CES list, with listed exceptions. Your team should confirm applicability rather than treating it as mandatory for every degree.

What It Must State

The letter should clearly state one of the following:

• In-person (Presencial): The student completed all coursework through on-campus, face-to-face instruction.
• Online (En línea): The student completed all coursework through distance/online education.
• Hybrid (Semipresencial): The student completed coursework through a combination of in-person and online instruction.

If you graduated before COVID-19 and attended classes on campus, your modality is almost certainly in-person. If your program was explicitly an online degree program, it is online. If you did a mix, or if your program shifted online during COVID, discuss the correct classification with your registrar.

Timeline

This letter typically takes 1 to 2 weeks. It is a simpler request than the Field of Knowledge letter, but registrars may still be unfamiliar with the concept. Again, providing a draft helps.

5. Passport Copy

The simplest document on the list, yet still a rejection risk if done carelessly. You need a color scan of your passport identification page (the page with your photo and personal information).

Requirements

• Full color (not black and white or grayscale)
• All four edges of the passport page visible
• All text clearly legible
• Photo clearly visible
• PDF format, under 2MB

Do not crop the image. Do not apply filters. Do not photograph it with your phone at an angle. Use a flatbed scanner or a high-quality scanning app that produces a flat, well-lit image.

What You Do NOT Need

There is a lot of misinformation about SENESCYT document requirements. Here is what you do not need to provide:

• Translations of English or Spanish documents: These are not required by the published SENESCYT guidance. Documents issued in other languages need an official Spanish translation. Visa requirements are separate.
• Apostille on your transcript: Only the diploma requires an apostille. Apostilling additional documents wastes time and money.
• Certified copies: The accepted form depends on the document. Official guidance allows qualifying copies authenticated by an Ecuadorian notary when originals cannot be presented. Authentic electronic records do not require prior notarial materialization.
• Letters of recommendation: Not required for SENESCYT. These are sometimes needed for specific visa categories but have nothing to do with degree registration.
• Proof of work experience: SENESCYT is verifying your academic credential, not your professional history.
• Multiple copies: One of each document is sufficient. You do not need to submit duplicates.

Document Preparation Checklist

Use this checklist to track your progress. Each item should be completed before you begin the SIAU online submission.

Before You Submit

Double-check every document against these criteria:

• All scans are in color at 300 DPI
• All files are in PDF format and under 2MB
• All four edges are visible on every scan
• All signatures and seals are clearly legible
• Your name appears exactly the same across all documents (watch for middle names, suffixes, and maiden names)
• The diploma’s apostille or legalization comes from the competent authority for the document and signature being authenticated. The campus address alone does not determine the correct authority.
• The field-of-study document clearly identifies your qualification's academic area and is signed by the competent university official.
• The Modality letter specifies in-person, online, or hybrid