CRITICAL UPDATE:Digital Nomad Visa, student visas, or degree recognition (homologación).

Up until recently diplomas and transcripts would have a "Copy Certification" notary certificate.  

The original would be photocopied, notarized using the copy certification notarial act as a true copy, and the Secretary of State would apostille it.

This year, Spain has started to reject documents submitted in this format.

To ensure acceptance of your document, the “Chain of Authentication” must now be more direct:

1. School Official Signature: The document (often the original or a new registrar-issued copy) must be signed by the School Registrar or a designated official in the presence of a notary.
2. Direct Notarization: The notary must notarize the School Official’s signature, not just certify a photocopy.
3. The Apostille: The Secretary of State then apostilles that notarized school record.

The Bottom Line: If the document doesn’t come directly from the institution’s signing authority, your client risks a “Requerimiento” (a formal request for correction) in Spain, which can delay their residency by months.