Legalizing documents is the process of making a document officially valid for use in a foreign country. This often involves verifying that the document is authentic and that any signatures, stamps, or seals on it are genuine. Here’s a general outline of the steps in document legalization:
- Notarization: Many documents, like affidavits or contracts, first need to be notarized by a registered notary public in the country where they were issued. This adds an initial level of verification.
- Authentication: After notarization, the document may need to be authenticated by a relevant government office (like the Secretary of State in the U.S.) to confirm the notary’s credentials.
- Apostille or Legalization:
- Apostille: If the document is going to a country that is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, the document will typically need an apostille rather than full legalization. This simplifies the process by having one central authority in the country of origin issue the apostille.
- Full Legalization: If the document is going to a country not in the Hague Convention, it will usually need a more involved legalization process. This typically includes verification by both the country of origin’s foreign affairs department and then by the consulate or embassy of the destination country.
- Embassy or Consulate Legalization: For non-Hague countries, the final step involves having the document authenticated by the embassy or consulate of the country where it will be used.
Common Documents Requiring Legalization:
- Birth, marriage, and death certificates
- Diplomas and educational transcripts
- Criminal record checks
- Affidavits and other legal documents
- Power of attorney documents
This process can vary greatly depending on the document type, country of origin, and destination country’s requirements.
Mindy Strum is a Certified Apostille Agent with 10+ years as a notary public in the state of Florida. Florida Notary Public, LLC DBA Apostille FLA provides apostille services from each state and the USDOS.
