An apostille is a type of certification used in the context of public documents issued in one country and which must be legally recognized in another country that is party to an international agreement known as the Hague Convention. This convention, also called “The Hague Apostille”, was established in 1961 and aims to simplify and speed up the legalization of documents between member countries
The apostille is placed on a public document to certify its authenticity, so that an additional or more complex legalization process is not necessary in the destination country. Documents that typically require an apostille include:
Notarial documents: Powers of attorney, notarial acts, etc.
Judicial documents: Sentences, judicial resolutions, etc.
Administrative documents: Birth certificates, marriage certificates, academic certificates, diplomas, etc.
It is important to note that the apostille is only valid between countries that are part of the Hague Convention. If the country in which the document needs to be presented is not party to this convention, a different and more complex legalization process may be required, such as consular legalization. Therefore, it is always advisable to check the specific requirements of the destination country before applying for an apostille.