Apostille vs Legalisation: What’s the Difference and Which One Do You Need?
When preparing documents for use abroad, you might come across two terms — apostille and legalisation. They sound similar but mean different things.
Here’s how to tell them apart and know which one applies to your situation.
Apostille is a simplified form of authentication used between countries that have signed the Hague Convention of 1961.
If the destination country is part of this agreement, all you need is an apostille stamp on your document — no additional embassy steps required.
Legalisation, on the other hand, is needed when the destination country is not part of the Hague Convention.
In this case, after your document is certified, it must be further validated by the embassy or consulate of that country before it becomes officially recognised.
Example:
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For France or Italy → Apostille is enough.
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For the UAE or China → Full legalisation process is required.
Conclusion:
Choosing between apostille and legalisation depends on the destination country. If you’re unsure which service you need, the team at 12 Apostilles can advise and handle the process from start to finish — saving you time, effort, and potential rejections abroad.