There are a variety of reasons you may need to have your documents legalised – work, study, travel, among others. Depending on the use, as well as the countries and authorities involved, the process and requirements can vary wildly. There are, however, a few general guidelines and advice that apply to a few states. In this article we will focus on countries which require Embassy Legalisation, or attestation.
In 1961, the Hague Convention created the Apostille make the document legalisation process faster and more efficient. With the Hague Apostille, public documents can be accepted in any member country with the authentication certificate of the issuing country alone. Before the Apostille Convention, all documents would need to be authenticated at the receiving country’s embassy as well. However, not all countries are part of the Apostille Convention. States like the United Arab Emirates, China, Qatar and others have specific legalisation requirements.
Before the Hague Convention, in order to legalise documents, one would have to go through the double-certification process. This is still the system non-member states uphold to this day. Each embassy will have its own specific requirements as well, but the general process remains the same.
Embassy Legalisation
In order legalise documents for countries that are not part of the Hague Convention, you must:
- Get it certified by a solicitor or a notary public (most countries are likely to ask for a notarisation),
- Submit your document to the FCDO for them to affix an Apostille,
- Submit the apostilled document to the receiving country’s diplomatic mission in the United Kingdom.
Certain embassies may ask you for supporting papers to submit alongside your document. The most common supporting documents are a proof of identity, an application form, and the original of your document. For degree certificates, the embassy may ask you to provide a statement containing your grades. There are a variety of other possible requirements for embassy legalisation and procedures, which you can find listed on each embassy’s website.
In addition to supporting documents, each embassy has a different timeline and different submission channels. Wherever possible, Pardus Bloom will attend an embassy legalisation appointment on your behalf to ensure the quickest completion time. Turnabout may take anywhere from 1 to 10 working days, depending on the embassy.
One of the most important things to keep in mind when dealing with embassy legalisation is that each embassy has very particular requirements. It is therefore vital that you conduct your own research into what you need to complete the process. Do not hesitate to contact them to make sure you have understood right or for them to clarify details. We can help you with that process should you desire it, all you would have to do is contact us!
You can also read more about embassy legalisation and specific embassy requirements on our blog.