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OrientUP — Campo de Cartagena

Bolivia: recognition as ESO and Bachillerato

Identify your education system, prepare transcripts and your diploma, and follow Bolivia’s digital apostille procedure before applying in Spain.

Which studies may correspond to each qualification

The Spanish Ministry’s country sheet distinguishes the current and former education systems. Check the name and duration of your programme with the institution that issued your documents. These references help you prepare an application; recognition requires a decision from the Spanish authorities.

  • Bolivia is a party to the Andrés Bello Convention. The agreement establishes equivalences but does not remove the application or document requirements.
  • You do not need prior recognition to join an ESO school year in Spain. Obtaining the Spanish ESO qualification is a separate procedure.

ESO qualification

Current system: successful completion of year 4 of Educación Secundaria Comunitaria Productiva. Former system: successful completion of year 2 of Secundaria.

Bachiller qualification

Current system: year 6 of Educación Secundaria Comunitaria Productiva and the Bachiller diploma. Former system: year 4 of Secundaria and the Bachiller Técnico or Bachiller en Humanidades diploma.

Sources and verification

Gather documents for the programme you completed

Request official transcripts stating subjects, marks and academic years. An informal list or photograph of marks does not replace an official certificate. Check your names and dates before authenticating documents.

  • ESO, current system: transcripts for years 1, 2, 3 and 4 of Secundaria Comunitaria Productiva. Former system: years 7 and 8 of Primaria and years 1 and 2 of Secundaria. Include a compulsory education completion diploma if one exists.
  • Bachiller, current system: diploma and transcripts for years 4, 5 and 6 of Secundaria Comunitaria Productiva. Former system: diploma and transcripts for years 2, 3 and 4 of Secundaria.
  • Include a signed application, identification —a passport is accepted; having an NIE is not required— and proof of payment for Bachiller only. If someone represents you, provide their identity and evidence of authorisation.
  • Show the originals so that a Spanish registry can verify the copies. If you previously studied in Spain, include your official Spanish academic record. Additional documents may be requested.

Sources and verification

Prepare and request the apostille in Bolivia

The Hague Apostille procedure applies between Bolivia and Spain. An apostille authenticates the signature and origin of a document; it does not grant academic recognition. Bolivia’s Ministry describes educational authentication steps for the diploma before apostilling.

  • Ask the Departmental Directorate of Education where you studied about authenticating the diploma. Then arrange the Ministry of Education’s intervention; confirm the route for transcripts with the issuing authority.
  • Apply through the official apostille portal and keep the tracking code. Take your document and any required supporting material to the issuing authority for entry into the system.
  • The authority sends the scanned document, digitally signed, to the Foreign Ministry. Once its status shows that the authority has signed it, wait for payment authorisation at your registered email address.
  • Record payment as instructed and download the digital apostille. The Foreign Ministry states that, after this stage, you do not need to attend its offices personally. Keep the PDF and its associated document together.

Sources and verification

Check the language of every document

Documents written entirely in Spanish do not need translating. If part of your file is in another language, provide an official Spanish translation accepted by the Spanish Ministry.

  • You may use a sworn translator authorised or registered in Spain. A translation you make yourself, or with an app, does not replace an official translation.
  • If you use an official translator abroad, their signature must be authenticated under the applicable procedure. Check this requirement before commissioning the work.

Sources and verification

Budget for the Spanish fee and costs in Bolivia

There is no Spanish fee for ESO recognition. The published national Bachiller fee is €49.76, using fee 079, form 790. Check the current form before paying. This excludes certificates, apostilles, delivery and bank charges.

  • In Bolivia, wait for the Foreign Ministry’s payment authorisation, which states the account and amount for your application. The public service page lists several amounts without clearly matching each to a document; this does not establish a single price for your diploma.
  • Ask the education authority separately about charges for issuing, replacing or preparing each certificate. A university or department’s charges must not automatically be applied nationwide.
  • For payments from abroad, bank charges are additional: the Spanish official account must receive the full fee. Keep receipts for every item.

Sources and verification

Register the application for processing in Spain

If you live in the Region of Murcia, follow the national procedure in the main ESO and Bachillerato recognition guide. Completing the online form or paying the fee does not register the application. Keep proof of submission.

  • Gather the application, identification, transcripts, diploma where applicable, apostilles and any required translations. Submit the complete file through an accepted registry channel.
  • For an in-person application, take the originals for verification of copies and check whether an appointment is needed. Include authorisation if a representative applies for you.
  • If you need to enrol while awaiting a decision, ask about the conditional enrolment form and the institution’s rules. The form guarantees neither a favourable decision nor a place.

Sources and verification

Avoid mixing education systems or unnecessary payments

Preparation depends on the document, its issuer and the programme completed. Before paying, clarify any difference between your certificate and the applicable table with the Spanish office that will process your application.

  • Do not treat year 2 of the former Secundaria system as year 2 of the current system: their structures differ. Provide the programme name and evidence of complete school years.
  • If a university issued your diploma under an earlier system, ask that institution how to certify it. Do not apply a fee restricted to its own diplomas as a nationwide charge.
  • A Bolivian guide from 2023 still mentions visiting the Foreign Ministry. Its published digital procedure explains that, after the issuing authority signs, payment authorisation and the apostille arrive by email. Follow the instructions for your application.

Sources and verification

My preparation checklist

Your data stays in this browser. No account is needed. On a shared device, keep your copy and delete your data when finished. Do not include identity documents or other people's private information.

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