Academic credentials

Digital credentials and e-Apostilles: how electronic proof of qualifications is checked

Last checked 7 November 2026 · 6 sources

Short answer

A digital credential is issued in electronic form and carries its own proof of origin, unlike a scanned copy. The W3C Verifiable Credentials Data Model 2.0, a W3C Recommendation of 15 May 2025, describes issuers, holders and verifiers ¹. European Digital Credentials for Learning carry a mandatory electronic seal and are checked each time they are viewed ². An e-Apostille is as valid as a paper one ³. Services such as the UK's HEDD and the Australian and New Zealand My eQuals platform connect checkers with institution records ^5,6.

W3C standard: Verifiable Credentials Data Model v2.0, Recommendation 15 May 2025 ¹
EU format: European Digital Credentials for Learning (EDC) ²
EDC seal: Electronic seal under the eIDAS Regulation, mandatory ²
Hague e-APP: Launched in 2006 ³
UK e-Apostille: £35, up to 2 working days ⁴

Three roles: issuer, holder, verifier

The W3C Verifiable Credentials Data Model v2.0 defines a verifiable credential as a way to express claims made by an issuer, such as a driver's licence or an education certificate ¹. It describes a three-party ecosystem of issuers, holders and verifiers ¹. Holders can create verifiable presentations to share with verifiers ¹.

The standard draws a line between verifying and trusting. It says verifiability does not imply the truth of the claims encoded in it, and that a verifier validates claims under its own rules after evaluating the issuer, the proof, the subject and the claims ¹. A digitally valid credential from an unrecognised issuer is still a credential from an unrecognised issuer.

European Digital Credentials for Learning

The European Commission provides an infrastructure to create, issue, view, store, share and verify European Digital Credentials for Learning ². Europass describes EDC as a multilingual format for electronically sealed digital learning credentials, which can be diplomas, micro-credentials or certificates of participation ².

The electronic seal is mandatory and is obtained from Trusted Service Providers under the eIDAS Regulation ². Europass says EDCs undergo automatic authentication and verification checks each time a credential is viewed, so that a change such as an edited recipient name is detected ². Learners receive EDCs by email or in a wallet and choose how and when to share them ².

Electronic apostilles

The HCCH launched the electronic Apostille Programme (e-APP) in 2006 to support electronic issuing and checking of Apostilles ³. It says an e-Apostille is issued under the same rules as a paper one, is just as valid, and cannot be refused for the sole reason that it is electronic ³. The HCCH publishes an implementation chart that lists e-Registers, where an Apostille can be checked online ³.

In the UK, an e-Apostille costs £35 and takes up to 2 working days, for PDFs electronically signed by a UK notary or solicitor ⁴. Some documents, such as General Register Office certificates, DBS certificates and ACCA membership certificates, cannot get an e-Apostille ⁴.

National platforms compared

Platform	Country	What it holds	Source
My eQuals ⁶	Australia and New Zealand ⁶	Digital transcripts and certificates ⁶	Governed and operated by participating education providers ⁶
HEDD ⁵	United Kingdom ⁵	Place of study, award, grade and dates of attendance, from £14 ⁵	Not for graduates checking their own awards ⁵
Europass EDC ²	European Union ²	Sealed learning credentials in a personal wallet ²	European Commission ²
e-Register ³	Apostille Convention parties that use one ³	Record of Apostilles issued ³	HCCH e-APP ³

Practical checks

Open the credential in the issuer's or platform's own viewer, not a forwarded PDF ².
Confirm who the issuer is and whether it has authority to award the qualification ¹.
For an Apostille, use the e-Register of the issuing Competent Authority where one exists ³.
Where no digital record exists, contact the institution or a service such as HEDD ⁵.

Common questions

Is an e-Apostille valid in every Apostille country?

The HCCH says it is just as valid as a paper Apostille and must be accepted by all Contracting Parties ³.

Does a valid digital signature prove a degree is genuine?

No. The W3C standard says verifiability does not imply the claims are true, and the verifier must evaluate the issuer ¹.

What makes a European Digital Credential tamper-evident?

A mandatory electronic seal and automatic checks each time it is viewed ².

Can every UK document get an e-Apostille?

No. GRO certificates, police and DBS certificates and ACCA membership certificates are among the exceptions ⁴.

Rules and charges change. Check the official source linked on this page before you pay or travel. Spotted an error? Email hello@thecredentialregistry.com.

Sources

How to verify an academic degree with the issuing institution
Official services for confirming a degree: HEDD in the UK, the National Student Clearinghouse in the US, My eQuals and India's NAD.
Apostilles and legalisation for degree certificates: UK, India and the Hague Convention
What an apostille is, which countries accept one, and how the UK and India apostille degree certificates, with fees, times and the e-Apostille.
Recognition of foreign qualifications: the Lisbon and Global Conventions, ENICs and national rules
How foreign degrees are recognised: the Lisbon Recognition Convention, the UNESCO Global Convention, UK ENIC, Canada's CICIC and the US approach.
Glossary of credential verification terms
Plain definitions of official terms used in licence and degree checks, from apostille and caution order to erasure, multistate licence and revalidation.