If you want a document you have received in the United States to be eligible to use in a different country, then it is necessary to have the document authenticated, which is also called “legalized.” The process to do this is similar to having the document notarized, but instead, the documents will receive official seals from the US government of the location where you are traveling. This is referred to as embassy legalization.
Is Having the Document Notarized Necessary?
In order to have the embassy legalization handled, you will first have to have a notary public notarize them. This is the first step to having the documents legalized and authenticated and something that must be present before an apostille will sign off on the documents are being legitimate.
How Do You Have a Document Notarized?
To have a document notarized, the procedures are going to vary; however, in most cases, you can take your documents to a notary public, who can typically be found at banks, lawyers offices, the post office and more. When having your documents notarized, you will need to take your photo identification and a witness.
Obtaining the Authentication
Once you have your documents notarized, you can have the process for authentication started. In some cases, this can take a while, so it is best to begin the process as early as you can before you plan to travel. This will help to ensure you get the documents back in time for your trip.
While the process to receive embassy legalization may seem somewhat difficult and involved, it doesn’t have to do if you know what you are doing. The professionals can help with this if you are unsure of what to do next.
Find out more about authentication services by visiting the U.S. Authentication Services website.
