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Where is an Apostille certificate recognized according to the Hague Convention

Where is an Apostille certificate recognized according to The Hague convention

Where is an Apostille certificate recognized according to the Hague Convention?

Did you know that a stamp called an Apostille has the power to transform any document into an internationally recognized fact? This simple looking paper stamp is like a golden key in the world of international documentation that makes all sorts of legal, company and personal actions possible abroad.

In this article, we will explain to you what an Apostille is, when it is needed, what the Hague Convention is, why it is important, and in which countries the Apostille of your document will be recognized.

What is an Apostille certificate and for what documents is it required?

An Apostille is a rectangular paper stamp which certifies the origin of a public document. It is issued by an authorized body in the country where the document was issued.

The main purpose of the Apostille is to eliminate the need for additional legalization or certification when presenting documents in foreign countries. This simplifies the process and ensures that the validity of the document is recognized internationally.

An Apostille is needed for various types of documents.

Among them are the following:
  • Personal documents: such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc.
  • Legal documents: such as court decisions or documents issued by government agencies
  • Notarized documents: such as powers of attorney
  • Educational documents: such as diplomas and transcripts
  • Trade-related documents: such as business contracts and articles of incorporation


The Apostille guarantees that these documents are exempt from any additional legalization, that they will have legal effects and will be accepted in countries that are parties to the Hague Convention, which facilitates citizens.

What is the Hague Convention and what are its purposes?

The Hague Convention, officially known as the "Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents", is an international treaty, aiming to streamline the process concerning the legalization of documents, issued in one Member State and used in another.

The aim is to create a standardized method for authenticating public documents.

The main objectives of the Hague Convention are:
  • Streamlined legalization: Eliminate the need for multiple levels of certification, including consular legalization, for foreign documents.
  • Promoting efficiency: Simplify the process of international document recognition, making it more efficient for individuals and businesses.
  • Reducing fraud: By providing a secure and standardized method of certifying documents through an Apostille, the Convention helps prevent document forgery and fraud.


Adopted on 5 October 1961, the Hague Convention introduced the concept of certification through an Apostille, which is recognized by State Parties as a universally accepted form of legalization and a means of certifying the legal effects of documents.

Countries that have signed the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents

The following is a comprehensive list of countries that have ratified the Hague Convention, which recognize the Apostille certification for foreign documents.

A
Albania
Andorra
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan

B
Bahamas
Bahrain
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
Burundi

C
Cabo Verde
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic

D
Denmark
Dominica
Dominican Republic

E
Ecuador
El Salvador
Estonia
Eswatini

F
Fiji
Finland
France

G
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Guyana

H
Honduras
Hungary

I
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
Italy

J
Japan
Jamaica

K
Kazakhstan
Kosovo
Kyrgyzstan

L
Latvia
Lesotho
Liberia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg

M
Malawi
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritius
Mexico
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco

N
Namibia
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niue
North Macedonia
Norway

O
Oman

P
Pakistan
Palau
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal

R
Republic of Korea
Republic of Moldova
Romania
Russian Federation
Rwanda

S
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Suriname
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland

T
Tajikistan
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey

U
Ukraine
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United States of America
Uruguay
Uzbekistan

V
Vanuatu
Venezuela

This extensive list of countries that are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention, demonstrates the wide recognition of the certificate, making it the primary method of document authentication in many countries.

How to legalize translations of documents for countries not parties to the Hague Convention?

Although the Hague Convention has significantly simplified the legalization process for many countries, there are still countries, which have not become parties to the Convention and thus require additional steps for the legalization of documents.

In these cases, it is of utmost importance that you understand the specific requirements of each country.

There are countries with which the Republic of Bulgaria has concluded an agreement for legal assistance. If your document was issued by such a country and the agreement signed between the two countries explicitly mentions the exemption from legalization of documents, this document should "bear the relevant elements", according to the terms of the agreement.

For countries not parties to the Hague Convention and countries with which Bulgaria has not concluded an agreement for legal assistance, the process is very different and often involves a combination of different factors.

These may include:
  • Notarization.
  • Certification by the consular department of the country where the document was issued.
  • Additional legalization by a diplomatic or consular representation of the country of destination (in some cases).


This process ensures that the document is authentic and is accepted as valid by the foreign jurisdiction.

Translation and legalization of documents

When you are in need of translation and legalization of personal or company documents issued in the Republic of Bulgaria and intended for use abroad, it is good to be familiar with several basic features of the process.

Here they are:
  • Certification of documents with an Apostille: An Apostille is placed on the original document or on its copy. The price for an Apostille varies depending on the certifying institution.
  • Sworn translator: Translations of documents intended for legalization need to be done by a sworn translator. The document is translated together with its accompanying Apostille.
  • Legalization of translations: The finished translation, together with the originals, is submitted to the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for certification of the translator's signature.

You can do steps 1 and 3 by yourself or choose to trust a professional translation agency for the entire process. This ensures that everything will be done professionally and in accordance with the legal requirements. It will also save you valuable time from going around offices and institutions.

As a translation agency with 25 years of leadership in the industry, we at Arte.Doc are well prepared to assist our clients in need of translation and legalization of documents.

Our team of experts understands the ins and outs of the process and provides a free 15-minute consultation where all the steps of the process for your specific document will be explained to you. Our professional sworn translators can provide you with quality language translations in 36 languages.

Whether you need a certification through an Apostille of a birth certificate or legalization of documents intended for countries not parties to the Hague Apostille Convention, we at Arte.Doc guarantee seamless international recognition of your important personal and company documents.



FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions

  • Where are documents with an Apostille legalized?
Documents with an Apostille are legalized in the country where they were issued. This is usually done by specialized bodies or government institutions designated by the authorities of the country concerned. For example, a diploma is certified with an Apostille at the NACID, while a criminal record certificate - at the Ministry of Justice.

  • Is there a need for legalization and an Apostille for documents in the European Union?
There are some documents and other papers that may be presented abroad without an Apostille in line with EU rules. However, you should keep in mind that whether your document will be recognized without an Apostille depends on the institution or establishment you present it to. Therefore, it is best to ask them.

  • Does the translation service include the price for the Apostille certification?
The legalization fee is not included in the translation fee as these are two very different services. This is standard practice in all translation companies. For our customers' convenience, we provide package prices for translation and legalization of documents, allowing you to save time and money.

  • Can a copy of a document be legalized with an Apostille after being certified by a notary public?
Legalization with an Apostille is usually done on the original documents. In some cases, an Apostille may also be affixed to a copy, depending on the type of document and the requirements of the certifying institution. The general rule is to legalize notarized copies of documents whose original is issued once in a lifetime, such as a diploma.

  • When and why would a birth certificate be certified with an Apostille?
Birth certificates are often required to be certified through an Apostille when the document is to be presented abroad. This may be necessary when applying for a visa, citizenship or other international procedures.

  • Who and how can perform an Apostille certification in your absence? Is a power of attorney required?
Apostille certification is carried out by the competent authorities or institutions in the country where the document was issued. No institution requires one's personal presence for the legalization of a document through an Apostille. We can do the legalization for you. Your personal presence or an authorization by a power of attorney is required only when issuing documents.
Published: 10 March 2025 Hits: 32

Meet Artina: Your 24/7 digital assistant for translation and legalization

Meet Artina: Your 24/7 digital assistant for translation and legalization
Would you like to have access to free of charge consultation for translation and legalization whenever you want, at any time of the day, even on holidays?

This is now possible!

We are happy to present our newest addition to the arte.doc team, Artina - a digital consultant for translation services or, simply said, an AI chatbot.

Her smiling face will greet you on our website every day 24/7 and she will reply right away to any questions you might have.



What is an AI chatbot?

Chatbots are software online solutions which provide information to users through messages.

Powered by artificial intelligence, chatbots learn from conversations carried out with users, which allows them to improve their answers with time.

They help improve client support, thanks to their ability to process an infinite amount of requests at the same time. They can carry out conversations with many users at once, regardless of the time of day or the location.



Who is Artina ?

Artina is an innovative chatbot - a digital AI consultant, designed to help the clients of arte.doc Translation Agency with their translation and legalization needs 24/7.

With Artina, our clients can receive quick and precise answers to their questions, access to helpful articles, and direct guidance to a form to be filled in with the specific query of the client.

Using advanced AI technology, Artina will learn from each conversation, which will allow her to improve with time and provide better and more precise answers to our clients. 


How can Artina help you ?

The innovative capabilities of Artina make her a useful tool for clients seeking translation and legalization services.  
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Published: 03 June 2024 Hits: 851

How should we prepare our translation material?

Как да подготвим материалите си за превод Агенция Арте.Док

When you need a professional translation service, you definitely count on a quality translation implemented within the deadline.

However, accuracy and the speed of translating can often be affected by the preliminary preparation of the texts or documents to be translated. In order to achieve better results and speed up the whole process, it is a good idea to consider several factors about the material you will hand over for translation. As a client, you have general control over these factors.

The process is not complicated at all, of course, so you have nothing to worry about. Here are some factors which may facilitate or hinder the implementation of high-quality translations within the necessary deadline.

Several main requirements

There are a lot of things you can do in order to obtain a quality translation without wasting time and effort, but today we will share with you the main ones.

Legible materials

It is of utmost importance to provide legible materials – the translator has no way of knowing what your surname is or exactly how much the turnover of your company was last year.
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Published: 13 December 2023 Hits: 325

Recognition of Bulgarian Medical degree abroad

Recognition of Bulgarian medical degree abroad translation and legalization arte.doc
If you have earned a higher education degree at the Medical University in Bulgaria and would like to have your qualification recognized in another country, be it for work or following studies, then you need translation and legalization of your documents.

The base set of documents needed for the recognition of your medical degree is:
  • Diploma and a supplement to the diploma - originals and notary certified copies;
  • Academic transcript;
  • Certificate from the Medical University stating that a valid diploma has been issued. 

These are the basic documents that must be legalized in Bulgaria so that they will be accepted abroad.

Since 2023 there are new requirements for the issuing of these documents set by the Ministry of Education. So, if you graduated university by 2022, there's a possibility that the Academic transcript which you have been issued will not be recognized.

For the translation and legalization process, the diploma, academic transcript, and certificate must be submitted in original form to an authorized translation agency.

If you do not have the time to deal with the legalization process of your documents yourself or if you live abroad and do not have the opportunity to visit the necessary institutions, another option for you is to contact our agency.

We at arte.doc can assist with the entire process of translation and legalization of your documents.

You can hand in the documents (originals) at one of our offices in Sofia or you can also send these documents to us via courier. We will take on the task to carry out all the necessary Notary Public certifications of the copies and will request the placement of an Apostille on your documents at the Ministries accordingly. We will perform the translation of the documents in your requested language. The final step would be to have the translation of your documents legalized by the Consular department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

When the translation and legalization procedure is done, we'll send you back the complete set of documents.

You can submit an online order through our website and make a secure online payment. The whole procedure usually takes 14 working days from making the initial payment.

Placing an online order through our platform is done in three quick and easy steps:
  1. Choosing: Type of service (Translation and legalization), Type of document (Baccalaureate), Language combination, and Delivery method.
  2. Filling out your contact data and attaching the files for translation.
  3. Making an advance payment online, via card, ePay or EasyPay. 

After submitting the online order, our colleagues will check out the documents, and send you a link for the initial payment of the order.

When the procedure is ready, you will receive a link for payment of the remaining sum. After which your documents will be ready for pick-up or to be sent to you via courier.

The specific steps to make an online order you can find in our article here.

Order now
Published: 20 November 2023 Hits: 1291

Translation from German into Bulgarian and from Bulgarian into German – services and prices

Превод от немски на български и обратно от Арте.Док 

Business between Bulgaria and Germany is very active and in the past several years a significant increase in the economic ties between the two countries has been observed, together with an increase in trade and investments.

The translation of documents, legal texts, business contracts, etc. from and into German is decisive for the smooth functioning of international trade and communication.

If you work with German-speaking partners, suppliers or clients, you may run into difficulties due to the specificities ofthe language, culture and way of thinking. Errors in the translation of important texts could jeopardize achieving your business goals and successfully maintaining your relations with clients.

In case a translation from Bulgarian into German or a translation from German into Bulgarian is needed, it is best to trust a reliable translation agency.

Regardless of whether the text to be translated is business documentation, manuals, software, legal contracts or personal documents, having it translated by a sworn translator with German will help overcome the language and cultural barrier and convey your message to the target audience in the best possible way.

In this article we will tell you about the services offered by arte.doc, such as various types of translations from German into Bulgarian and from Bulgarian into German, how we guarantee a high quality and what our prices are for the serviceswe offer.
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Published: 15 August 2023 Hits: 280

How much does it cost to translate and legalize a diploma?


Колко струва превод и легализация на диплома? Арте.Док
If you are applying at a university abroad, you will inevitably face a number of questions, regarding the preparation of the necessary documents. Regardless of what university you choose, one of the first things you need to do is have your diploma for secondary education, issued by the Ministry of Education and Science (MES), translated and legalized. 

The deadlines to submit documents in various countries are often shorter than those in Bulgarian universities. This is why preparing your documents ahead of time is essential.

Main steps for the translation and legalization of a diploma:

  1. Affixing a notary certification on a diploma copy - after you officially obtain your diploma for secondary education (DSE), you will need to have a notary certification affixed on a copy. Documents uploaded in the registers of the NACID (diplomas for secondary education issued AFTER 01.01.2007 and diplomas for higher education issued AFTER 01.01.2012) may only be certified via a copy drafted by the NACID. Originals are not certified!
  2. Affixing an Apostille - the copy that has been prepared should be certified by affixing an Apostille seal by the National Centre for Information and Documentation (NACID), where all education documents are certified. As of 2020, an e-Apostille can also be affixed. You can find out everything about the electronic Apostille here.
  3. Translation - the next step consists in having the document translated in the desired target language. An important condition here is that the translator needs to be sworn (approved by the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - CD of the MFA).
  4. Certifying the translation - the finished translation, prepared and formatted according to all requirements for legalization, is joined to the document and a certification of the translation is affixed on this bundle by the CD of the MFA.

Important! The entire procedure of translation and legalization is done on a copy. In this way you do not lose the original document and may produce two or more certified copies when applying at various universities.
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Published: 07 August 2023 Hits: 948

Express translation of documents – deadlines, conditions, and prices

Експресен превод от Арте.Док

Regardless of whether you are the owner of a business, lawyer, or student, you probably frequently need to have various documents translated. They may be linked to international transactions, traveling abroad on holiday, for work or studies. Professional translators help in overcoming language barriers which impede smooth communication and achieving your goals.

However, sometimes you may need to have your documents translated as a matter of urgency. Here is where the services for express translation come into play.

In this article we will have a look at the various aspects of express translation, including the differences between fast and express translation, the factors influencing the time for implementation, pricing, etc.

What are express translation services?

Express translation services help clients when they need a translation within an extremely limited deadline.

In those situations, there is often a need for a team of translators working simultaneously to finish the project in a shorter period of time than the standard time for implementation.

In other words, services aimed at the express translation of documents are meant for clients who need speed without compromising on quality.

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Published: 28 July 2023 Hits: 461

Why is professional translation and legalization important for studying abroad?

Studying abroad is an unforgettable adventure but if you have decided to go for it, you need to know that it requires thorough preparation. One of the most important steps you will need to do in order to apply successfully, is to prepare the necessary documents, such as diploma, supplement and language certificates, for example.

At arte.doc, we help with all necessary steps:
  • professional translation
  • legalization of the diploma for secondary education, as well as other necessary certificates, recommendations, etc. 

Translation of the diploma an important part of applying to study abroad

The diploma for secondary education is the main document required to continue one education abroad and attain a Bachelor degree. It may also be required in other instances, for example when you apply for a job.

In order to be comprehended and recognized, the diploma needs to be legalized and hence translated into the official language of the country where it will be presented.

There are some exceptions, for example universities in the Netherlands, where studies are conducted in English and so it is acceptable to have the diploma translated into English instead of Dutch.

For the translation of diplomas, we at arte.doc offer a basic, fast, and express option. The express translation is done in up to 4 working hours. In case the diploma needs to be translated into an exotic language, such as Chinese, its translation may take a little more time.

In addition, we can also take care of legalizing the diploma. We offer a combined package for translation and legalization, in order to save our clients time and effort.

Legalization is a process through which the diploma is certified as an authentic document with legal effect. To legalize a Bulgarian diploma, a notarized copy must be procured on which the NACID (National Centre for Information and Documentation) must affix an Apostille.
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Published: 17 May 2023 Hits: 434

Translation of a power of attorney when travelling abroad – when is it necessary?

Превод на пълномощно за пътуване в чужбина от агенция арте.док

You have decided to travel abroad? Wonderful! But don’t forget you have an important task – preparing the necessary documents. This includes, for example, powers of attorney that you need to have translated and if necessary – legalized. 

It is important to have all documents you may need during your trip, since you wouldn’t want any unnecessary difficulties during your vacation outside Bulgaria, right?

Types of power of attorney when travelling abroad

There are several types of power of attorney when travelling abroad that you should know about.
Today we will tell you about the ones most frequently required by authorities abroad and thus the ones most often translated.

Both natural and legal persons frequently need to have the following types of power of attorney translated and/or legalized.
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Published: 27 April 2023 Hits: 726

Translation and legalization from any point in the country

Translation and legalization from any point in Bulgaria agency arte.doc Only 18% of the population lives in Sofia but, like many other countries around the world, almost all institutions that certify and legalize documents are located in the capital city. 

Such institutions are: 
  1. The National Centre for Information and Documentation (NCID)
  2. The Ministry of Justice
  3. The Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  4. The Regional Administration

In other words, each diploma for completed education, police certificate, birth certificate and even the translation of documents that have already been certified, must be sent from each other place in the country to Sofia for the purposes of legalization / affixing an Apostille and then sent back to the client. 

There are several options: 
  1. Travel to Sofia and certify your documents in person
  2. Entrust your document to a translation and legalization agency in your town
  3. Entrust your document to a translation and legalization agency in the capital

By choosing the first option you can save on agency fees but it means that you must set aside several business days to visit the necessary institutions in order to submit the documents, then collect them, to organize the translation and then certify it at the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
This means losing precious time going about and waiting in queues, as well as spending money on transportation and even accommodation (if you are travelling from Burgas, for example).

The second option lets you entrust your documents to an agency to handle them, but bear in mind that it, too, will have to send them to Sofia, where someone else will take them and visit the necessary institutions, and you will have to pay for that. 
This will save you effort, but it might entail additional costs due to the need for subcontractors. Additionally, sometimes the deadlines for certification are prolonged due to the organization of work.

The third option is to choose an agency with an office in Sofia which lets you place an online order for translation and legalization. Similar to the one in your town, the Sofia-based agency will handle everything and will organize the legalization, the translation and its certification.
However, due to its location, it can react faster, work with shorter deadlines and not have to do the certification twice.

Thus the complexity of organizing the translation and legalization of documents outside Sofia can become a simple task if you use our online platform to place an order.

In this way, the translation and legalization of your documents will be a matter of a few clicks, and the only thing you will have to do is send the documents by courier to one of our offices.  
Your documents will be ready by the deadline – which is set in advance – and will be sent to the address you specified, translated and legalized in line with all requirements. 
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Published: 11 April 2023 Hits: 473

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