Apostille and legalisation
Do you want to use a translated document abroad that must be legally valid? Do you need documents which will be used in a court case? If so, you firstly need a translation by a sworn translator. In addition, a legalised translation of your document(s) is often required. A document can be legalised in two ways:
- With standard legalisation
- With an apostille
What is legalisation?
With legalisation, a document is declared legally valid in the country for which it is intended. The legalisation process is not the same in every country and can even vary according to the document. And different actions must be performed by different institutes, such as the court or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You often need several approvals in the form of stickers or stamps for legalisation. Legalisation can therefore be a time-consuming and laborious process.
What is an apostille?
An apostille is a short form of legalisation. If the country for which you need legally valid documents is a member of the Apostille Convention, then legalisation via an apostille is sufficient and a short process can be completed. You then only need one stamp or sticker. This is valid in all the countries which are party to the convention. Here you can find which countries have signed the Apostille Convention.
When do I need a sworn translation?
A sworn translation is necessary if you want to use a birth certificate, diploma, purchase agreement or another official document abroad. For a government organisation or a municipality, for example. For legalisation, a sworn translation is always required. In some cases, however, a sworn translation is sufficient, and legalisation is not necessary.
Not sure whether you only need a sworn translation or whether this translation must also be legalised? Please contact us and we will be happy to advise you.
Legalisation through Bothof Translations
Legalisation can be a time-consuming and difficult process, involving several organisations and different procedures.
At Bothof Translations, we can manage the entire legalisation process for you. We have your texts and documents translated by sworn translators and obtain the required stamps, stickers and approvals from the relevant organisations. You then only need to supply the source text. We do the rest. Easy and convenient.
Do you have any more questions, or would you like to request a translation? If so, please contact us!
