An academic transcript records part or all of a course of study and commonly lists subjects, grades, credits, contact hours, semesters and details of the higher education institution. It may accompany a diploma, document incomplete studies, or support a transfer, admission, recognition of a study period or a professional procedure. Because its purpose varies, a transcript is not automatically equivalent to a diploma or diploma supplement.
Whether an academic transcript requires legalisation is decided by the institution receiving it. An accurate or certified translation is sufficient in some cases, while others require the original, an official copy, an apostille or further authentication. Legalisation confirms the origin of a signature or seal and the capacity of the signatory; it does not recognise a qualification or independently certify the grades shown in the record.
For a transcript issued by a Bulgarian higher education institution or research organisation, the issuer, signatures and seals, registration number, date and connection between all pages are examined. Where the destination and recipient require an apostille, NACID publishes administrative service No. 921 for eligible educational and certifying documents issued by such institutions. Eligibility is assessed from the actual document, not from the words “academic transcript” alone.
For a Hague Convention country, an apostille normally replaces full diplomatic legalisation. A legal-assistance treaty may remove the apostille requirement, while another destination may require a consular route. Even when formal authentication is unnecessary, a university, employer or public authority may set its own rules for language, type of translation, issue date and submission method.
A foreign academic transcript intended for Bulgaria follows the rules applying to its country of issue and the requirements of the particular Bulgarian recipient. Depending on its origin, this may involve an apostille, a treaty exemption or full legalisation, followed by a Bulgarian translation. Certification of a copy or of a translator’s signature does not replace authentication of the foreign public document where that authentication is required.
The translation keeps the student’s and institution’s names, qualification and field, subjects, credits, contact hours, grades and grading scale consistent. Tables, notes, seals and every attachment form part of the document’s meaning. When the transcript is submitted with a diploma, supplement or enrolment certificate, consistent terminology and personal names make the complete set easier for the recipient to understand.
La Fit Trans reviews a legible copy of every page, the countries of issue and use, and the receiving institution’s instructions. The quotation can then cover the required translation, certification, apostille or administrative handling, with price and timing based on the actual record. Current official reference points are the NACID apostille services for educational documents and the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs legalisation guidance.