Obtaining an Apostille

Definition: An apostille (pronounced "uh-pos-till") is a stamp or seal verifying the authenticity of an official document. Most official documents are recognized only in the country in which they were originally issued. The U.S. is a signatory to a 1961 treaty that provides mutual recognition of documents bearing an apostille. In the U.S., apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State for the state in which the document was issued.

To obtain an apostille for your WWU diploma, you must submit a copy of your original diploma that has been signed and stamped, as a true copy, by an official from Western Washington University to the WA Secretary of State. If you should have your original diploma, you can deliver the original to the Registrar's Office via mail or in-person. It will be signed and stamped by a Registrar official. It will then be sent to you to request the apostille through the WA Secretary of State. For information on obtaining an apostille, please Visit the WA Secretary of State's website on apostilles.

If you need a duplicate diploma, you can submit a Diploma Replacement Form, along with a payment, to the WWU Registrar's Office.

Please contact the Registrar's Office at 360-650-3701 with any questions.