Documents submitted to foreign consulates or countries must typically be accompanied by an apostille. So, what is an apostille and how can you obtain an apostille? In this article, we will explain what this document is, how it is used and how to obtain one.
An apostille certifies a document so that countries that are part of the 1961 Hague Convention will recognize it. The Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents is an international treaty intended to simplify the process for accepting foreign documents in any of the countries that are part of the treaty. For example, a document issued in the US that is accompanied by an apostille can be submitted in any other member country, such as Italy or Spain, and legally recognized there.
An apostille is usually a one-page document attached to official documents, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates or death certificates. Essentially, an apostille authenticates signatures or stamps on the original document. However, in order to be accepted by a foreign consulate or country, the apostille must be translated into the official language of the receiving country. Translating an apostille is a simple process that can be done quickly.
Apostilles can only be issued by an official government body, and not a translation company. They must be requested in the country or state in which the document was issued. For example, a New York birth certificate must receive an apostille from the State of New York. By contrast, federal documents, such as FBI background checks, must be apostilled by the federal government. In the United States, apostilles are issued by a Secretary of State. If the original document is from a foreign country, the apostille must come from the foreign government where the document was issued.
When submitting documents to a foreign consulate or country, it is important to review all requirements in advance, as the time necessary for obtaining an apostille can vary, depending on the issuing state or country. Some states accept walk-ins for faster service, while others only offer mail-in service. The time to obtain an apostille can vary from a few days to several weeks or months, so if there are deadlines to be considered in your application, it is important to begin this process well in advance to ensure you have all of your paperwork on time.
At CSH Translation, we can assist you with translating an apostille and any other document. For questions, please contact us.