When one is preparing documents that will be used abroad, they will come across the terms such as apostille attestation, embassy legalization or consular stamping. These processes are directly connected with one significant international convention, the Hague Convention of 1961. The knowledge of the functioning of this convention can assist you in identifying what your certificates need to be apostilled or fully attested by the embassy.
Hague Apostille Convention was adopted to ease legalization of documents among member countries. Prior to this agreement, the documents were forced to undergo a stringent chain of checks and balances such as ministry and embassy approvals.
This had been a very time-consuming process but the Convention substituted it with an apostille attestation, which is one authentication. After a document has the apostille, it is valid in all the remaining member countries without any additional legalization by other embassies.
An apostille verifies:
The authenticity of signature.
The person was signing the document in capacity.
The validity of the official to stamp or seal.
It does not verify the document content; it only proves that it is official.
Examples of common documents that need to be apostilled are:
Degree and diploma certificates.
Birth and marriage certificates.
Clearance certificates of police officers.
Business and corporate contracts.
When you are going to a country that is a member of the Hague Convention, it is enough to apostille.
Argentina is a signatory of Hague Convention. This would imply that in case you are filing documents which will be used in Argentina, e.g. educational certificates, business documents or personal documents, you will not require embassy legalization but an Argentina apostille.
The document is accepted in Argentina without any further authentication by the Argentine Embassy once it has been apostilled by the competent authority in the country of the issuance without the need to undergo further authentication. This saves a lot of time and cost involved in processing.
Where the Embassy Attestation Is Still Necessary.
The Hague Convention is not followed by every country. In case you are traveling to a country that is not a member of the treaty, treaty full embassy legalization is necessary.
To take an example, documents to be presented to a country where consular authentication must be obtained might require Croatia embassy attestation, where that legalization of the document is required specially because of the country of origin or the circumstances of the procedure.
The attestation of embassies usually comprises:
State-level verification
Attestation of Ministry of External Affairs.
Legalization of embassies or consulates.
This is more elaborate than apostille attestation.
The selection of the wrong process may result in:
Application delays
Denials of visa or work permit applications.
Additional costs
Re-processing of documents
Being well informed on your destination country whether the country accepts apostille or wants the embassy attestations means that you will be well documented.
The Hague Convention has also revolutionized the movement of people in the world by making the legalization of documents easier between the member states. Apostille attestation opens up global opportunities to students, professionals, and businesses and makes this process more efficient.
Always ensure that you have checked the requirements of your destination country before taking the steps. Be it Argentina apostille or Croatia embassy attestation, the right choice of legalization route means that you will not be put into any difficult situation when enforcement of your certificates is required.
Apostille attestation is required to travel to any of the Hague convention member country.
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