Application Process for Certificate of Returned Overseas Students from Spain | 西班牙留学回国人员证明办理流程

📚 Application Process for Certificate of Returned Overseas Students from Spain | 西班牙留学回国人员证明办理流程

The Certificate of Returned Overseas Students has long been a crucial document for Chinese students returning from Spain. It served as proof of educational attainment and identity for accessing benefits such as household registration, employment, tax exemptions on cars, and entrepreneurship support. However, as of 1 November 2020, the Ministry of Education of China officially abolished this certificate. Despite the change, understanding the former process remains valuable for historical reference and for those few cases where transitional arrangements might still apply. This article outlines the traditional procedure for students who studied in Spain, along with current alternatives.

《留学回国人员证明》长期以来是从西班牙回国的中国留学生的重要文件。它是学生学历和身份的证明，用于办理落户、就业、免税购车、创业扶持等。但自2020年11月1日起，中国教育部正式取消了该证明。尽管如此，了解原办理流程仍具有历史参考价值，且少数过渡情形可能仍需此证明。本文详细介绍原西班牙留学回国人员证明的办理步骤，并提供现行替代方案。

1. Overview of the Certificate | 证明概述

The Certificate of Returned Overseas Students was an official document issued by the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in the host country. For students returning from Spain, it confirmed the duration and level of study, the institution attended, and the student’s identity. It was required by various domestic agencies for verification purposes, including the Ministry of Education’s degree authentication, public security bureaus for residency registration, and customs for duty-free vehicle purchases.

《留学回国人员证明》是中国驻外使领馆出具的官方文件。对从西班牙回国的留学生而言，该证明确认了留学期限、层次、就读院校及学生身份。国内多部门要求凭此证明进行学历认证、公安机关落户、海关免税车购买等事项。

2. Policy Change: Cancellation in 2020 | 政策变化：2020年取消

On 18 September 2020, the Ministry of Education announced that the Certificate of Returned Overseas Students would be cancelled from 1 November 2020. The decision aimed to streamline administrative procedures, reduce burdens on returnees, and promote digital verification. Since then, the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE) no longer requires this certificate for degree authentication. Returnees can now directly apply for the Overseas Academic Degree Authentication online, using digital records from foreign institutions and immigration data.

2020年9月18日，教育部宣布自2020年11月1日起取消《留学回国人员证明》。此举旨在简化行政审批、减轻回国人员负担、推进数字认证。此后，教育部留学服务中心不再要求该证明进行国（境）外学历学位认证。回国人员可直接凭境外院校电子记录和出入境记录在线申请《国外学历学位认证书》。

3. Who Might Still Need It? | 谁可能仍然需要？

Although the certificate is no longer mandatory, a few transitional scenarios may still require it. For example, some local government talent‑introduction programmes, or certain employers who had initiated recruitment processes before the cancellation, might still reference the traditional document. If you completed your studies in Spain before November 2020 but delayed your return, you could be in a grey area. In such cases, it is advisable to contact the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in Spain for guidance. Otherwise, the standard practice now is to use the CSCSE degree authentication instead.

尽管该证明已不再是强制要求，少数过渡情形仍可能需要它。例如，某些地方人才引进计划或雇主在取消前已启动的招聘流程可能仍参照传统文件。若您在2020年11月前已完成学业但推迟回国，可能处于模糊地带。建议联系中国驻西班牙使领馆获取指引。否则，目前常规做法是使用教育部留学服务中心的学历学位认证代替。

4. Pre‑2020 Application Process | 2020年前的申请流程

For those studying in Spain before the policy change, the application was handled through the Education Section of the Chinese Embassy in Madrid or the Chinese Consulate General in Barcelona. The process generally involved four steps: online registration, document preparation, submission, and collection/delivery. The following sections describe each step as it was conducted prior to the cancellation.

对于政策变化前在西班牙留学的人员，申请通过中国驻西班牙大使馆教育组（马德里）或驻巴塞罗那总领事馆办理。流程通常包括四步：网上注册、材料准备、提交、领取/邮寄。以下逐节介绍取消前的详细步骤。

5. Step 1: Register with the Chinese Embassy or Consulate | 第一步：在中国驻西班牙使领馆注册

Students were required to register on the “Study Abroad Service Platform” (launched by the Chinese Ministry of Education) within one month of arriving in Spain. This registration recorded personal details, passport information, the host institution, and the duration of study. At the time of application for the certificate, the system would verify this initial registration against the final declaration of return. The service platform URL was http://zwfw.cscse.edu.cn.

学生须在抵达西班牙一个月内，在教育部“留学服务政务平台”进行报到登记，录入个人信息、护照、就读院校和留学期限。申请《留学回国人员证明》时，系统会验证此初始登记与最终的回国声明是否一致。平台网址为 http://zwfw.cscse.edu.cn。

6. Step 2: Prepare Required Documents | 第二步：准备所需材料

The standard document package for students from Spain included the following items. Each photocopy had to be clear and, unless stated otherwise, accompanied by the original for verification.

西班牙留学生需准备以下标准材料。所有复印件必须清晰，除特别说明外，需出示原件以供核对。

English	中文
Passport personal‑information page and visa/entry‑stamp pages	护照个人信息页及签证/入境章页
Certificate of enrolment (carta de admisión) or student card	录取通知书或学生证
Proof of completion (título, certificado de notas, or a letter confirming graduation)	毕业证书、成绩单或毕业证明函
Flight itinerary or return‑ticket stub	回国行程单或机票存根
Consent form for return registration (generated from the online platform)	《回国证明申请表》（在线平台生成）
Pre‑paid, self‑addressed return envelope (if applying by mail)	已付邮资的回邮信封（如邮寄申请）

All non‑Chinese documents, such as the completion certificate, had to be translated into Chinese by a sworn translator or accompanied by a certified Chinese‑to‑Spanish translation. The Education Section might also request additional evidence if the study period or institution was not standard.

所有非中文文件，如毕业证书，须由官方认证翻译机构译成中文或附中文翻译公证件。若留学期限或学校非标准，教育组可能要求补充材料。

7. Step 3: Submit Application | 第三步：提交申请

Once the documents were ready, students could submit the application in person or by post to the Education Section of the Chinese Embassy in Madrid (covering most of Spain) or the Chinese Consulate General in Barcelona (for the consular district of Catalonia, Aragon, etc.). In‑person submission required an appointment via the online platform. Postal applications had to include a self‑addressed prepaid envelope for the return of the processed certificate. The processing fee, if any, was minimal and often waived for students.

材料齐备后，学生可本人递交或邮寄至中国驻西班牙大使馆教育组（马德里，覆盖大部分地区）或驻巴塞罗那总领事馆（管辖加泰罗尼亚、阿拉贡等领事区）。现场递交需通过平台预约。邮寄申请须附已付邮资的回邮信封以便寄回办理好的证明。办理费用极低，学生通常免收。

8. Step 4: Processing Time and Collection | 第四步：处理时间和领取

Standard processing took 10–15 working days from the date of receipt. During peak graduation seasons (June–September), delays could extend this to 20 working days. Applicants could track the status online. Once ready, the certificate could be collected in person or delivered by mail. The issued certificate was a single‑page document bearing an official stamp and was valid for the student’s lifetime.

标准处理时间为收到材料起10–15个工作日。毕业高峰期（6–9月）可能延迟至20个工作日。申请人可在线跟踪状态。证明制作完成后，可亲自领取或邮寄送达。签发的证明为单页文件，加盖公章，终身有效。

9. Post‑Cancellation Alternatives | 取消后的替代方案

Since the cancellation, the principal alternative is the Online Verification of Overseas Academic Credentials issued by the CSCSE. This electronic authentication is recognised by all government departments, employers, and tax authorities. To obtain it, students returning from Spain should visit http://zwfw.cscse.edu.cn, upload their degree certificate, passport, visa/residence permit, entry/exit records, and a recent photograph. The system automatically verifies the data with Spanish institutions and immigration authorities. For residency registration, the exit‑entry administration bureau now uses the CSCSE authentication, and for duty‑free car purchases, customs accept the CSCSE certificate together with the student’s original passport and study visa. Thus, the traditional Certificate of Returned Overseas Students has been entirely replaced by a faster, paperless process.

取消后，主要替代是教育部留学服务中心颁发的《国外学历学位认证书》（电子版）。该电子认证受到所有政府部门、用人单位和税务机关认可。西班牙回国学生访问 http://zwfw.cscse.edu.cn，上传学位证书、护照、签证/居留卡、出入境记录和近期照片即可。系统自动与西班牙院校和移民机关核验数据。落户办理时，出入境管理局现使用电子认证书；免税购车时，海关接受电子认证书连同护照原件和留学签证。传统的《留学回国人员证明》已被更快速的无纸化流程完全取代。

10. Frequently Asked Questions | 常见问题

Q: I lost my original Certificate of Returned Overseas Students issued before 2020. Can I get a replacement?
A: No. Since the certificate was officially cancelled, no re‑issuance is available. However, you can apply for the CSCSE degree authentication, which serves the same purpose. If a specific agency still demands the old‑style certificate, explain the policy change and provide the CSCSE document instead.

问：我遗失了2020年前签发的《留学回国人员证明》，可以补办吗？
答：不可以。证明已正式取消，不再补发。但可申请留学服务中心学历认证，功能相同。若某机构仍要求旧版证明，请说明政策变化并提供电子认证书。

Q: I studied in Spain for less than six months. Do I need any documentation for my short‑term study?
A: Short‑term study (e.g., a language course or exchange of less than six months) never qualified for the old‑style certificate. Today, you can present your official enrolment certificate and academic transcript from the Spanish institution. For degree verification, only full‑time degree programmes are covered by the CSCSE authentication.

问：我在西班牙留学不足六个月，需要任何证明文件吗？
答：短期学习（如语言课程或不足六个月的交换）从未符合旧证明申领资格。现在可出示西班牙院校的正式录取通知和成绩单。学历认证仅针对全日制学位项目。

Q: Can I still use the old Certificate of Returned Overseas Students if I obtained it before 2020?
A: Yes, pre‑2020 certificates remain legally valid. Many agencies still accept them. However, for any new procedure, you are strongly advised to use the CSCSE digital certificate, as it is more widely recognised and electronically verifiable.

问：2020年前取得的旧《留学回国人员证明》还能用吗？
答：可以，2020年前的旧证明仍具法律效力，许多机构继续接受。但办理新业务时强烈建议使用电子认证书，因其认可度更高且可在线核验。

Published by TutorHao | Study Abroad Guidance Series | aleveler.com

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