Often, documents submitted to foreign consulates, foreign embassies or a foreign country must be accompanied by an apostille. So, what is an apostille and how can you obtain one? In this article, we will explain what this document is, how it is used and how to obtain one.
The word apostille derives from the French word meaning marginal note or annotation. An apostille is typically a one-page document that certifies a document so that countries that are part of the 1961 Hague Convention will recognize it. An apostille typically contains the name of the official signing it, their title, information such as the time and date of signature and the seal of the issuing state or country.
The Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents (often called the Apostille Convention) 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 and legally recognized there.
An apostille is often 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 the end recipient (i.e., foreign consulate or foreign government), the apostille must be translated in most cases. 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 Florida birth certificate must receive an apostille from the State of Florida. In the United States, apostilles are issued by a Secretary of State. If the original document is from a foreign country, it will be necessary to request the apostille from the foreign country in which the document was issued.
At CSH Translation, we can assist you with translating an apostille and any other document for consular processes or submissions to a foreign country. For questions, please contact us.