SENESCYT Documents Required: Complete Checklist for 2026

The 5 Core Documents

SENESCYT requires exactly five documents to register a foreign degree. No more, no less. Every rejection, every delay, and every stalled application we have seen traces back to one of these five documents being wrong, missing, or improperly formatted. This checklist covers each document in the detail you actually need to get it right the first time.

Here is the full list:

1. Apostilled Diploma
2. Official Transcript
3. Field of Knowledge Letter
4. Modality Letter
5. Passport Copy

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

1. Apostilled Diploma

Your university diploma is the foundation of your SENESCYT application. It must carry an apostille from the Secretary of State in the state where your university is physically located. This is the single most critical detail in the entire process, and it trips up more applicants than any other requirement.

Getting the Apostille from the Correct State

The apostille must come from the state where your university operates. If you graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, you need a Texas apostille. If you graduated from UCLA, you need a California apostille. It does not matter where you currently live, where you were born, or where your diploma was mailed. The state must match the university's location.

Getting an apostille from the wrong state is an automatic rejection that adds 4 to 8 weeks to your timeline because you have to obtain the correct one and resubmit.

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 a sealed, physically signed official transcript from your university registrar. This must be a traditional paper transcript with:

• Physical (wet-ink) signatures from an authorized official
• The university's institutional seal or stamp
• Your complete course history with grades
• Your graduation date and degree conferred

What Does NOT Count

SENESCYT will not accept electronic transcripts, even if they come from official services like Parchment or the National Student Clearinghouse. They will not accept PDFs downloaded from your student portal, unofficial copies, or transcripts without physical signatures. If your university has moved to a fully digital transcript system, you may need to make a special request for a traditional paper version.

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

This is the document that causes the most confusion and the most delays. The Field of Knowledge letter is a letter from your university that classifies your degree according to the UNESCO International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) framework. It must include specific ISCED codes that map your major and coursework to internationally recognized academic fields.

Why This Letter Is Difficult to Obtain

Most American university registrars have never heard of ISCED codes or the Field of Knowledge classification. When you call and ask for a "Field of Knowledge letter with ISCED codes," you will likely be met with confusion. This is normal. You need to be prepared to explain what SENESCYT requires and, ideally, provide a template.

What the Letter Must Include

• The specific ISCED broad field code (e.g., 04 for Business)
• 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

Do not wait for your university to figure out what you need. Write the letter yourself based on the ISCED classification that matches your degree, and send it to the registrar asking them to produce an official version on university letterhead. This approach cuts the typical 3-week turnaround to 1 to 2 weeks because the registrar just needs to verify and reformat rather than research from scratch.

If you are not sure which ISCED codes apply to your degree, UNESCO publishes the complete classification online. Match your major to the closest field and narrow field codes.

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

The Modality letter confirms how you completed your degree: in-person (presencial), online (en línea), or hybrid (semipresencial). This letter must come from your university on official letterhead with an authorized signature.

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:

• Spanish translations: SENESCYT accepts English-language documents. Translations are required for the visa process later, not for SENESCYT registration. Do not spend money on translations at this stage.
• Apostille on your transcript: Only the diploma requires an apostille. Apostilling additional documents wastes time and money.
• Notarized copies: SENESCYT does not require notarized copies of any document. You will present originals at your verification appointment.
• 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 apostille is from the correct state (the state where your university is located)
• The Field of Knowledge letter includes specific ISCED codes, not just a general description
• The Modality letter specifies in-person, online, or hybrid

If you want an expert to review your documents before submission, our Document Review service ($99) catches errors that cause rejections. Most clients who use it avoid the 2 to 4 week delay that comes with each rejection cycle.