There are more than 75 countries that are not part of the Hague Convention of 1961. Countries that are part of the Hague Convention normally have a straightforward process to getting their documents legally recognized. If the country you instend to use the document for is not a party of the Hague Convention, you need to obtain embassy legalization. This process can be time consuming and difficult, which is why it’s important to have your documents in order so the process can go smoothly. Here are a few tips to help you prepare for embassy legalization.
What Is Embassy Legalization?
Embassy legalization is a process that involves certifying or authenticating legal documents so they are recognized by a foreign country. The Embassy legalization process is determined by the issuing country’s legal system. Basically, if you have a legal document from country A and need it to be valid in country B, you go through the process of embassy legalization so that country B recognizes it to be fully legal as if it was originally created in that country.
What Types of Documents Are Accepted?
Depending on what country you are traveling to, you need certain documentation that can be proven legal. This means original, certified issued documents from your originating country must be presented for embassy legalization. Examples of those documents would be a birth certificate, a divorce decree, or a death certificate. For some documents, PDF images that come directly from the originating country can be accepted. This will depend on the country the documents are intended for use.
To learn more about embassy legalization, contact US Authentication Services.
