Legalisation and apostilles service
Alpis Translation and Interpretation handles the legalization and apostille of your documents, simplifying your administrative procedures related to translation. Legalization and apostille are authentication procedures primarily for international purposes. Legalization certifies the validity of a document by verifying the signature and authority of the issuer. It is required when the receiving country is not a signatory to the Hague Convention known as Apostille.
Apostille is a simplified certification that exempts additional legalization. It is used between countries signatory to the Hague Convention. It attests to the validity of a public document and makes it legally valid in other signatory countries. Apostille thus simplifies the international recognition of documents. Generally, it must be translated, just like the apostilled document.
When you have one or more documents requiring apostille or legalization translated, Alpis Translation and Interpretation manages the necessary steps to obtain the required final document. This may include assistance in document preparation, checking specific requirements of the receiving country, identifying competent authorities to contact, managing deadlines and administrative formalities, and, of course, translation by a sworn expert.
Depending on the country and document, the procedure can vary widely, from no legalization at all to a very lengthy process. For these reasons, the process must follow a specific order. We are here to help you and prevent unnecessary back-and-forths with the ministry, court of appeal, or consulates.
Quality and Confidentiality
Alpis Translation also ensures that the translation of the documents itself adheres to the quality and accuracy standards required. That’s why we conduct a systematic review of the documents in confidentiality before any legalization or apostille procedure. In any case, apostille or legalization is only done on an official public document intended for a foreign country. For private documents, a certification procedure for your documents must be completed beforehand.
Indeed, documents to be apostilled or legalized must be certified documents by a sworn legal translator. This ensures that the document translation is accepted and recognized by the competent authorities during the authentication process.
Examples of Commonly Translated, Apostilled, or Legalized Documents for Businesses
- Kbis
- Company statutes
- Powers of attorney
- Board of directors’ decision reports
- Lists of shareholders
- Financial statements
- Commercial contracts
For Individuals
- Notarial deeds
- Deeds of notoriety
- Civil status documents for marriage, PACS, or naturalization
Your questions on legalization and apostille
Can I legalize or apostille a translated document without certification?
Documents to be apostilled or legalized must be exclusively sworn translations done by sworn legal translators.
Do I need to apostille my French documents for French authorities?
No, as apostille is reserved for administrative and legal documents going from France to abroad.
Where to apostille an American document?
American documents are to be apostilled directly through the Secretary of State of the issuing American state.
How to know whether to apostille or legalize a document?
Apostille or legalization depends on international conventions issued by the foreign affairs ministry. You can also contact us for more information.
Can bilingual documents be legalized?
Indeed, bilingual documents can be legalized in certain cases, especially English-French or French-Spanish bilingual documents.
Can trilingual documents be legalized?
Unfortunately, trilingual documents cannot be legalized.
Can a diploma be legalized?
The legalization procedure for a diploma depends on the type of diploma obtained. The legalization procedures may vary from country to country, so it is advisable to inquire with the competent authorities. We are also available for more information.
How to apostille documents for Italy?
French documents for Italy are exempt from apostille, but it is necessary for translated documents to be certified and translated by an expert legal translator.
Do I need to translate a European vehicle registration certificate?
The European vehicle registration certificate is a multilingual document, similar to your driver’s license. They are normally exempt from translation as it is a specific form understandable throughout the European Union.
What needs to be apostilled for naturalization?
The required documents for apostille during a naturalization process may vary based on the specific requirements of the country where the application is submitted. However, commonly apostilled documents for naturalization may include identification documents, birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc. Refer to the guidelines and requirements provided by the competent authorities for naturalization to know which specific documents need to be apostilled. For more information, you can also contact us directly, specifying the language and the destination country of your documents to be apostilled.