Consular legalization of documents and apostylation: major differences

Consular legalization of documents and apostylation are two different procedures used to provide legality of documents used abroad. However, they have their differences to consider.

Consulate legalization of documents is a process performed by the consular institutions of the country in which you are planning to use the document. This process includes the validation of the document to meet the law requirements and its validation by the consular representative. The document can then be used abroad.

Apostilling, on the other hand, is a simplified procedure for legalization of documents used within the Hague Convention of 1961. Apostille is a special seal that refers to a document by the competent authority of the country from which a document is published. This seal confirms that the document is official and has legal power abroad.

The major difference between consular legalization and apostille is that consular legalization is performed by the consular representative of the country, apostilling the same as the country’s competent authority from which the document is published. Furthermore, the apostilling process is more simplified and fast because it involves only one seal per document.

When choosing between consul legalization and apostille, it is necessary to consider the requirements of the country in which you are planning to use the document. Some countries require consular legalization, while others accept apostles. It is also important to account that the cost and duration of these procedures can vary.

In general, consular legalization of documents and apostille are important procedures to ensure legality of documents abroad. The choice between them depends on the requirements of the country and your needs.
Now when you understand the basic differences between consular legalization of documents and apostilling, you can make the correct choice for your needs. If you need to legalize documents for use abroad, contact the Kharkiv Regional Translation Bureau. Our experienced joy professionals help you with all the procedures associated with legalization of documents and aposylation. We guarantee quality translation and fast execution of the order. We’re happy to help you with all questions related to translation and legalization of documents.