Document Legalisation Process

Sometimes legalization in a particular country is not possible. For example, because of a war or conflict in country A. Or because there are no authorities who can verify the document. In this case, the authorities of country B will review and evaluate the document. Let`s see how documents can be authenticated or legalized in different scenarios. Expect delays: Legalizing a document may take some time. You will be at the mercy of the schedules of the government agency and the embassy. And you have little or no control over a document once it`s submitted, even if it`s a national agency. Plan ahead and schedule enough processing time for each request. The steps to follow to obtain the legalization of a document vary from country to country. It depends on the agreements between the country where you want to use the document and the country that issued it. A state-issued document with an apostille does not require additional certification by the U.S.

Department of State or legalization by a U.S. state. Embassy or consulate abroad to be recognized in a participating country. The U.S. Department of State will not issue an apostille for state-issued documents. Notarization: Notarization verifies the authenticity of the facts presented in a document, and countries often require notarization. We offer notarial certification services to ensure that your important documents are considered valid and legal. The premium same-day business service is reserved for registered businesses and costs £75 per document. Documents issued by the government for use in countries that are not members of the 1961 Hague Convention can be certified with an authentication certificate from the U.S.

Department of State. For more information, see Authentication Certificate Requirements. In international law, document legalization is the process of authenticating or certifying a document so that it can be accepted in another country. You cannot have documents issued outside the UK legalised with this service – have them legalised in the country where they were issued. FBI Authorization Support: Do you need a letter of authorization from the FBI and do you find the process complicated? We manage this complicated process to ensure your background check is handled correctly and securely. To be eligible for certification, all documents submitted to the U.S. Department of State that are not in English must be accompanied by a notarized and certified translation into English. Processing your documents with the standard service can take up to 10 business days, plus courier or postage time. On the other hand, some cases may only require certification.

For example, if the purpose of a Canadian document is to apply for a Dutch passport in Canada, it is sufficient for the document to be certified by Global Affairs Canada. [2] For a document issued by a Canadian government agency to be used in Brazil, it is sufficient that the document be certified by a Brazilian embassy or consulate in Canada. [5] Our mission: The Certification Office issues both apostilles (for documents used in participating Hague countries) and certificates of credence (for documents used in non-participating Hague countries). If you need to certify U.S. Department of State documents, please contact the Office of Vital Statistics. Once a document is authenticated, it must be certified by the foreign jurisdiction to be valid there. This process, called legalization, usually takes place at the country`s embassy or consulate and can be considered the final step in the authentication process. In some cases, other certifications may be required. For example, to be accepted in mainland China, a document from the U.S. state of Maryland that has not been issued by a government official must be certified by a notary, who must then be certified by the clerk of the district court of the notarial district, which must then be certified by the state of Maryland, which must then be certified by the U.S. Department of State. which may need to be certified by the Chinese Embassy in the United States.

[3] [4] In some countries, additional certification by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the target country is also required. [1] Each country also has its own standards of proof. China, for example, requires the driver`s license of the person requesting the service when requesting the legalization of documents. You must bring your documents to the premium office in central London between 9:00 and 12:30. You will receive one pick-up time between 13:30 and 16:30. When presenting a document from one country for use in another country, the receiving Party often requires proof of authenticity for the signature and seals of the official who issued, issued or certified a copy of the document. The Hague Convention of October 5, 1961, Abolishing the Requirement to Legalize Foreign Public Documents or Apostille Conventions greatly simplified the process through a document called an apostille, eliminating the need for legalization by an embassy or consular legalization. More than 120 countries are now parties to the Convention. Translations: In some cases, governments require documents to be translated. We can translate your documents for use by the appropriate embassy or government agency. We can also translate foreign documents into English. Some countries require documents to be presented at certain consulates, depending on the origin of the document in the United States.

Others are not allowed to legalize a document depending on whether certain forms have been completed or if they find certain content of the document offensive. Have the right information: Gather in advance the full contact details and signature requirements of the Secretary of State and Consulate and stay up to date with the latest guidelines. Changes occur frequently. For example, in 2012, the U.S. State Department introduced a new policy requiring all documents to be kept for up to three days before being handed over to embassies. Due to legalization, the documents can be used in another country. The process often involves several different steps. Documents that can be legalized include civil status documents, court orders, and diplomas or certificates. You may have to do this if an official from another country has asked you to present a British document and has said it needs to be legalised. Documents issued by the federal government for use in countries that are members of the 1961 Hague Convention may need to be certified with an apostille issued by the U.S.

Department of State. Documents signed by the following officials require an apostille issued by the US State Department: You can have certain UK official documents « legalised » by asking the Legalisation Office to confirm that the signature, stamp or seal comes from a British official. Canada attracts many potential immigrants. Since January 2015, there has been an electronic selection system to facilitate and expedite the processing of applications for permanent residence. When you`re preparing to move abroad, it`s often about paperwork! Since the authorities in many countries only accept legalized foreign documents, it is recommended that you have those you may need certified abroad before you leave. This procedure confirms that a document has been issued by a person with the competent authority and that the signature is authentic. Learn more about the document legalization process. We offer fast, easy and secure legalization of documents, apostille, translation, authentication and FBI authorization.

Please note that the final price of your order depends on the type of documents required and how quickly you need them. Patent and trademark documents (including applications) Legalization and authentication can take a long time, and apostille applications, while simpler, still have their own requirements.