What is the difference between Apostille, Authentication, and Legalization?
WHEN IS IT AN APOSTILLE?
An Apostille is required for all types of documents that are to be used in foreign countries. This ensures that your document will be recognized as legitimate in all participating countries that are party to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents.
WHEN IS IT AN EMBASSY LEGALIZATION?
For documents that are to be used in countries that are not party to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents, then a chain of authentication is applied that eventually includes legalization by the appropriate consulate of the country of intended use.
reference: www.apostillepros.com
Whenever you need to submit official documents for use abroad, you often need to have these documents authentications in the United State before sending them or using in other countries. Sure, there are countries are parties to the Apostille Hague Convention of 1961. The purpose of the Convention is to abolish the need for consular legalization of documents originating in a country of the Convention and intended for use in another country.
Apostille
An “Apostille” is a form of authentication issued to document for use in countries participating in the Hague Convention that accepts Apostilles provided by the US Department of State. The Apostille verifies that the notary certifying the document is a valid official and is the notary in the State where it is put into service.
Legalization
Several countries, did not participate in the Convention. However, the verification process is similar but requires additional legalization from the embassy by the consular office of the country in which the document is to be used.
One Day Apostille can help to expedite the process even for Apostille or Legalization services in the united state.
Source: Difference between Apostille and Legalization
a. Apostille refers to a certification authorized by the Hague Convention which allows a government office (for example, the Texas Secretary of State) to recognize a document for use in a foreign country without certification from either the US State Department or the country’s embassy or consulate. This option is only available to countries which are part of the Hague Convention. b. Authentication is the process by which the US State Department certifies the signature or seal of another US government agency (for example, the Delaware Secretary of State) on a document for use in a foreign country. c. Legalization is the certification of the signature or seal of a US government agency by a foreign embassy or consulate on a document for use in a foreign country.
