If a notary certifies that the person in question has indeed put his signature on a particular document, it is called a legalisation. If a notary certifies that a copy of a particular document does indeed match the original document, it is called a certified copy.
Some authorities want to be sure that also the signature the notary puts under that declaration is indeed the notary's signature, and that this notary is authorised to issue the declaration. Usually, it is authorities abroad that require this.
This declaration of the notary's authority is called an apostille. So the apostille is actually the legalisation of the notary's signature. In the Netherlands it is issued by a court.
An apostille is only valid for countries that are party to the "apostille convention" (Convention on the abolition of the requirement of legalisation of foreign public documents,
The Hague 5-10-1961). These countries can be found at https://verdragenbank.overheid.nl/nl/Verdrag/Details/009051.
For countries not party to the Apostille Convention, a considerably longer route needs to be taken. Then it is necessary to legalise the signature of the notary public at the court. The signature of the court employee then has to be legalised again at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Finally, the signature of the employee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is legalised by an employee of the embassy of the country for which the document is intended.
For more information on having an apostille provided, please contact us. We will be happy to advise you.
