Useful information

Useful information

• Apostille – certification of a document

Certification of document authenticity (legalization) means verification of the signature and seal, performed by a consular officer, so that documents drawn up in one country are legally valid in another. It also implies confirmation of the legal status and authority of the signatory. Certification of document authenticity (legalization) is not a notarial act.

If you require a certified translation of a document that has been issued in a different country, or has been issued in Latvia and must be submitted in another country, the document must be certified. When submitting documents for certification, please consult in advance the embassy or consulate of the respective country to find out whether it is necessary to certify (legalize):

1. Only the original document/certified copy of the document;

2. Only the translation of the document;

3. Both the original /certified copy, and the translation

To find out more, please visit: (The Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

• Notary certification of translation

A notary certified translation is a translation certified by a public certified translator by his signature, and the signature of the certified translator is then certified by a public certified notary. The certified translator has sworn to the notary by committing to provide correct and accurate translations, besides, the certified translator undertakes full responsibility on provision of intentionally inaccurate and/or incorrect translation pursuant to Articles 300 and 302 of the Republic of Latvia Criminal Law.

Types of notary certification of translation:

Certification attached to the original document: translation is thread bound (sewn)to the original document that is certified by a certified translator whose signature is certified by the notary.

Certification attached to the copy: there is a photo-copy taken of the original document to which the translation into the relevant language by certified translator is bound; the photo-copy with the translation shall be approved by the notary only upon presentation of the original document.

For notarial certification of a document, the original document is required.

The certification is conducted in two stages: first the document is translated, and then notarized. Under the Notariate Law, a notary may certify a translation only if he or she is competent in both the source and the target languages. If the notary does not have competence in the relevant languages, the notary certifies the authenticity of the translator’s signature.

For more information, please contact us.