Apostille definition
A simplified certification of public (including notarised) documents used in countries that participate in a Hague Convention. This simplified form contains numbered fields (which allow the data to be understood by all participating countries regardless of the official language of the issuing country).
The completed apostille form certifies the authenticity of the document's signature and the capacity in which the person signing the document has acted, and it identifies the seal/stamp which the document bears. Documents needed for intercountry adoptions require the attachment of an apostille (rather than authentication forms) if the foreign country participates in the Convention. Coddan offers legalisation (apostille) of documents by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Apostille in brief
What is an "apostille?" An apostille (French word meaning notation) is a standard certification, provided under The Hague Conference on Private International Law: 1961 Convention Abolishing the Requirement for Legislation for Foreign Public Documents, for the purpose of authenticating documents for use in foreign countries. An apostille is a form of authentication accepted in countries which have signed the 1961 Hague Convention.
This Convention abolished the requirement for diplomatic and consular legalisation for public documents originating in one Convention country and intended for use in another. An apostille is often needed in adoptions, extraditions, and certain business transactions. The apostille is formatted in numbered fields that allow data to be understood by the receiving country regardless of the official language of the issuing country. With the apostille, the document is entitled to recognition in the country of intended use, and no further authentication or legalisation by the embassy or consulate of the foreign country where the document is to be used is required.
Additional items for overseas customers forming companies in the UK, the USA, or offshore:
these are legalisation (apostille) of documents by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for use by banks and other authorities overseas that support the Hague Convention.
Before certain corporate documents can be used overseas, document authentication may be necessary. It is usually required where overseas officials are not able to determine on sight the authenticity of UK documents. To check the requirements, contact the relevant authorities in the country concerned or their overseas representatives. When a document is to go to a foreign country, it is often necessary to have the notarisation or official certification authenticated.
Some countries call this an apostille. In 1961 many nations joined together to create a simplified method of "legalising" documents for universal recognition. Members of the conference, referred to as the Hague Convention, adopted a document, referred to as an apostille, that would be recognised by all member nations.
If the country belongs to the 1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement for Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents, the apostille is used. The Convention provides for the simplified certification of notarised documents by use of a special form called an "apostille" in certifying the document. The apostille does not need to be ribboned onto the document being certified. With the certification by the Hague Convention apostille, the document is entitled to recognition in the country of intended use, and no additional authentication or legalisation is required.
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