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Are you going to work or study in Switzerland? Prepare lots of well-verified documents. And how to take care of apostille? You can find out from the article.
If you want to use the document in Switzerland, you must apostille it. What does the word apostille mean, when and where will you need it in Switzerland, what complications can you encounter and who to turn to for help with apostille? This is what this site will be about.
In which case will you need apostille?
There aren’t too many cases. Let’s look at the most common ones you might encounter in your life.
Marriage in Switzerland
It doesn’t matter if you want to get married to a Swiss citizen or not. If you are not a resident of Switzerland, you will need apostille when you get married in that country. Please note that the Swiss authorities will ask you for a certified birth certificate and citizenship certificate.
Temporary residence or citizenship in Switzerland
The authorities will require even more documents from you when processing a temporary stay or citizenship. In this case, you must have a superlegalized birth certificate, marriage certificate and an extract from the criminal record.
Study or work in Switzerland
Would you like to study at one of the Swiss universities? Yes, that’s right, you’ll need apostille again. In this case, it will be a verification of your diploma or certificate. The same awaits you when applying for a job in Switzerland. In addition, nostrification of the diploma or certificate will be required.
What do you have to reckon with when dealing with apostille abroad?
It is often very difficult to deal with apostille. You must have not only original documents, but also knowledge and contacts. So it’s not surprising that you can run into a lot of problems. Let’s discuss them in the following lines to avoid them.
When is it appropriate to apply for an apostille and when, on the contrary, for superlegalization?
The apostille was established under the Hague Convention in 1961. Its jurisdiction includes almost all states. In countries not covered, superlegalization needs to be secured. You can find a list of these countries requiring superlegalization here.
Correct version of forms and age of documents
An important step in obtaining an apostille is to fill in the application correctly. You can download the forms from the websites of the competent authorities. In the following lines, we will describe how to proceed.
Make sure the form is up to date. If you download an expired version of the form, the apostille request will be rejected.
Verify the age of the document to which you want to issue an apostille.
If your document has exceeded its validity period (in most cases 3 years, or 3 to 6 months), obtain a new one. Make sure it is the original.
You have to reckon with the fact that the application for documents can be lengthy. In addition, the forms are in the language of the country. So you will need someone who knows both legal and professional terminology. Otherwise, there is a risk that you will make an unnecessary mistake.
What does the term apostille mean?
It is a legal clause that confirms the verification of a stamp or signature in another state. It verifies the authenticity of the document by affixing superlegalization certificates to the competent authority. You will recognize this certificate by the printed and stamped clause on that particular document.
Verification of your document can take a similar form of verification – apostille. Superlegalization is more complicated. This is the highest level of verification, so you will need at least two, in some cases up to four clauses from several ministries, state bodies and embassies.
Do you need a state or federal apostille?
When applying for apostille, it is difficult to distinguish whether you need federal or state verification. However, this problem only occurs in federal states (eg the USA or Brazil), but the solution is all the more difficult. Determining whether only state or federal verification is required is very difficult and is likely to require expert assistance.
You may encounter this problem in a variety of situations. For example, before starting work, where you will need an extract from the criminal record. In the same case, your employer will probably want a birth certificate and a diploma from you. Therefore, do not hesitate to contact someone who has experience in solving similar problems.
When will you need nostrification?
Official recognition of the validity of the authorization is required for a number of documents. Foreign institutions and employers will require them from you for diplomas or certificates. If you want to know more about the whole nostrification process, you can find more detailed information in this article.
How to pay a fee for an apostille abroad?
Paying for apostille may not be easy at all. Each country has its own laws. Therefore, not all countries accept money by bank transfer or card payment. Basically, you have only three options to choose from:
payment by check,
stamp payment,
payment in cash.
Always make a payment in that currency. Otherwise, you will need stamps and a check linked to a bank account abroad with a sufficient balance. You can also visit the office in person and pay on the spot in cash. But it will be more expensive and time consuming. If you want to save, Apostila.cz will arrange payment for you. Safely and without unnecessary delays.
How to deliver an apostille by post?
You have two options when requesting an apostille by mail. You will either enclose a return envelope with the completed address of the applicant and a foreign stamp affixed together with the documents, or you must trust the courier. But even here a problem can arise.
Some courier services offer the option of ordering with return delivery, but for many customers from abroad, this service is unavailable. So you will need someone to send the apostille home. If you do not know about anyone like that, contact us with confidence. We will ensure not only the apostille itself, but also its safe delivery back to you.
How long does it take to complete an apostille?
The whole apostilization takes a really long time. In some cases, you can wait a few weeks for a letter from abroad with verified documents. It depends on the speed of delivery and the willingness of officials on the other hand. And also on whether you make a mistake. Therefore, it is better to entrust this work to someone who can handle it perfectly.
Our experts will request all the necessary information from you and ensure a quick apostilization process. Verified documents will reach you as soon as possible. This will save you a lot of money and time, which you can spend on more interesting activities.