Getting federal documents legalized is an important step when using them overseas. The process can be complicated and time consuming. There are many steps involved, and you’ll often be at the mercy of government agency and embassy schedules. For these reasons, it’s best to plan ahead and allow plenty of time to complete the process. Read more
The first step is determining whether the country of use follows the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. This process simplifies the authentication of public documents for countries that are members and reduces the number of steps required. Documents that are authenticated with an apostille are considered legally valid in the signatory countries, which includes more than 125 jurisdictions around the world.
Steps to Get Your Federal Documents Legalized
If the document will be used in a country that is not a member of the Hague Convention, you’ll need to follow a more lengthy and complex process called legalization. This involves verifying the signature and authority of the public officials who signed the document, along with any stamps or seals that may be affixed to the document.
Each state’s Secretary of State determines its apostille and full legalization procedures, which is why you’ll need to check with your specific State for the requirements, costs, and address. In Maryland, for example, you’ll need to authenticate federal documents at the U.S Department of State Office of Authentications, and authenticate the underlying state public document at the State’s Authentication Office.
The final step is having the document certified by the embassy or consulate of the destination country. The embassy will also validate any translations of the original document that may be required.