SEP revalidation with a U.S. or Canadian degree

What you need to have a U.S. or Canadian university degree revalidated in Mexico: an apostille in the issuing state or province, transcripts, a perito translation and, afterwards, the cédula profesional.

Revalidation: what it is and why it matters

Revalidation of studies (revalidación de estudios) is the procedure by which a Mexican education authority recognizes that the studies you completed abroad are equivalent to studies in the national education system. For higher education it is granted by the Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP) ↗, and in some cases also by state education authorities or certain universities authorized to do so.

Revalidation is needed when you want to practise a regulated profession in Mexico, go on to graduate studies at a Mexican institution, take part in public selection processes or meet hiring requirements that call for a SEP-recognized degree. If you only want to show your degree to a private employer, you may not need it; ask first.

The apostille is not the revalidation

This is the most common mix-up. The apostille only certifies that the signature and seal on your degree are genuine; it is issued by a U.S. or Canadian authority and says nothing about the content of your studies. Revalidation is a decision of the Mexican education authority, which compares your program with Mexican programs.

An apostilled degree is a requirement to start revalidation, not a substitute for it.

Documents the education authority usually asks for

Exact requirements depend on the level of studies and on the authority you file with, but they normally include:

Sometimes they also ask for course descriptions (the syllabus of each subject). It is worth requesting them from your university from the start: getting them years after graduating can take a while.

How a U.S. degree is apostilled

Each document is apostilled in the state where the university is located, not where you live. A diploma from a Texas university is apostilled by the Texas Secretary of State; one from California by California's. See the pages for Texas, California, New York or Illinois, among others.

In many states, before the apostille a university official (usually the registrar) must certify a copy before a notary public, because the Secretary of State only apostilles signatures of officials on its records. Transcripts follow the same path. Details are in our guide to U.S. diplomas and transcripts.

State apostilles take 5 to 7 business days on average; California and Florida usually take 3 to 5, and New York and New Jersey 12 to 15.

How a Canadian degree is apostilled

Since 11 January 2024, Canada has been part of the Hague Apostille Convention. If your university is in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Alberta or Saskatchewan, the apostille is issued by that province's authority; if it is in another province or territory, Global Affairs Canada issues it. A notarized copy is often required first. More on Canadian university degrees.

The translation

Once apostilled, the degree and transcripts are translated in full, apostilles included, by a perito traductor. Education authorities tend to be strict about how course titles, grading systems (letters, GPA, credits) and proper names are translated. Ask the office to confirm which peritos it accepts, preferably in writing.

The cédula profesional is a separate step

Revalidation does not automatically give you the right to practise. For professions that require it, you will then need to apply for the cédula profesional with the SEP's Dirección General de Profesiones, with its own requirements and fees. If you are a foreign national, also check the conditions that apply to your immigration status and to the profession you want to practise.

In short, the usual order is:

Practical tips

How we can help

We arrange the apostille of degrees and transcripts in the state or province where they were issued and the perito translation for filing with the education authority. You (or your representative) file the revalidation and the cédula with the SEP; we hand you documents ready for that step. Contact us for a quote.