Certification of document authenticity or legalization means verification of signature and seal of a document, it means that Consular Officer certifies signature and seal of document made in one country and then document becomes effective in another one. Legalization implies confirmation of the legal status and authority of the signatory.
Certification of document authenticity or legalization is not notarial act.
If document is issued abroad and must be in force in Republic of Latvia
1. If the document is made in a country which is joined to the Hague Convention of Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents of 1961 (hereinafter Hague Convention-1961), authenticity of that document must be certified with an Apostille by the competent institution of the respective state abroad according to regulations of the Convention. There is no necessity for confirmation by another Latvian diplomatic/consular mission if document is certified with an Apostille.
2. If the document is issued in a country which is not joined to Hague Convention-1961, that document must be legalized by Latvian diplomatic/consular mission in the respective country, or document must be legalized by the diplomatic/consular mission of the respective country in Latvia or the nearest neighbour country, and then by Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consular Department.
If a document issued in Latvia and it must be in force outside Republic of Latvia
1. If the document is provided for using abroad and must be in force in a country which is joined to Hague Convention-1961, authenticity of that document must be certified by the Consular Department of Republic of Latvia with an Apostille. There is no necessity for confirmation by another diplomatic/consular mission of the respective foreign country.
2. If the document is provided for using abroad and must be in force in a country which is not joined Hague Convention-1961, authenticity of that document must be legalized by Latvian Consular Department and/or diplomatic/consular mission in the respective country, and then by a diplomatic/consular mission of the respective country.
Certification of document authenticity is not necessary
Regarding to countries that have concluded bilateral and multilateral agreements on legal assistance and legal relations in civil, family and criminal matters with Latvia, documents that are made or certified by a court or an official within its competence, and adhering to the established form, and are marked with the official seal in the territory of one contracting party, are accepted in the territory of the other party without any further certification. Documents considered as public in the territory of one contracting party are also considered as public in the territory of the other contracting party.
Latvia has concluded treaties on legal assistance and legal relations in civil, family and criminal affairs with such countries: Belarus, Estonia, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Russia, Moldova, Poland, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Documents are legalized after confirmation of respective institution of Republic of Latvia in which there are shown surname and position of official. Signature, print of stamp and seal must be clearly seen. If there is more than one page in document they must be stringed through.
If it is necessary to legalize copy of document, it must be confirmed by notary. If there are more pages in document, those must be stringed through and stamped together. Copy of document can be without confirmation of notary if this copy is issued in institution which have issued also original.
If it is necessary to legalize translation of document it must be confirmed by notary. If there are more pages in document, those must be stringed through and stamped together.
Legalizing of copy of documents, extract and / or public confirmation of translation is made if only it is possible to confirm also authenticity of original document.
Before submitting documents for legalizing we advise you to clarify in respective consulate what documents you have to legalize:
– only original of document / copy of document which is confirmed by notary;
– only translation of document;
– both original document / and copy of document which is confirmed by notary, and translation of document.
It is not possible to legalize documents if there are not sample of signature of official which sign the document and print of stamp of competent authority in Consular department of Ministry of Foreign affairs of Republic of Latvia.
If You need legal services or accounting services, please contact us
Tel. (371) 29 112 333
e-mail: info@register-company.lv