While the term apostille dates back centuries, it currently only has one usage in modern legal terminology. Countries that were a part of the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention agreed to work together to remove much of the red tape that occurs when trying to take official documents from one country to another; thus, an apostille document was created. An apostille is issued by the Secretary of State's office or a notary and certifies the document for use in the other nation. Once verified, the Apostille is attached and sent with the notarized documents. An apostille only applies to countries that were signers of the treaty.

If you attempt to use an official document from one nation in another nation that was a signer of the 1961 Hague treaty, you will need to apostille your documents. The use is strictly for going abroad and usually saves you from going through a much more complicated and convoluted verification process.

By the time you need to get an apostille translation, you should already have the set of key documents that have been translated and a translation certificate. You should also have a notarization page in English as well as an acceptable apostille document.

Technically, the apostilled document should be accepted in the receiving nation but the reality is that most countries will not take documents unless it comes with a translation into their official language. Most government agencies wish to avoid specific liability issues for accepting documents not in their language. We always recommend having an apostille certificate translated and attached to the submitted papers just in case.

You need to understand the country you are submitting documents to and their policies in order to know exactly what services you will require. The Spanish Group specialists are happy to help you figure out precisely what services you need.

Whether needing paperwork for business, immigration, or any other needs, The Spanish Group is here to assist you. We have many years of experience working with government organizations worldwide and can help you get exactly what you need, and get it done right.

If you need a birth certificate, marriage license, or any other form of official document translated and certified, we are ready to work for you at a moment's notice.