What is Apostille?
Many, probably, heard the expression "apostille", but not everyone knows what an apostille is.
Apostille is a special square stamp, withparties not less than nine centimeters, affixed to an official document and certifying the authority of the person or signature of the person who signed the apostilled documentation, or by an apostille certify the authenticity of the seals and stamps that secure the document.
This procedure replaces the consular legalization of documents between the States Parties to the Hague Convention.
Why do I need an apostille?
First of all, an apostille is needed for citizens,going abroad to a permanent place of residence or work, study and so on. In order to have documents that have legal force of one country that issued them, they had legal effect when used in another country, it is necessary to pass the procedure of their legalization. Typically, this procedure can be done in two ways:
- Consular legalization
- Apostille (stamp)
The procedure for consular legalization is that the documents submitted are verified for authenticity and certified by the consulate.
To simplify the procedure for legalizing foreigndocuments, in the Netherlands, in 1961, the Convention was signed, authorizing instead of consular legalization, authenticating by apostille, between the States parties to the Hague Convention. To this end, each country appoints authorities authorized to legalize documents, by the apostille.
