Introduction:
When dealing with international paperwork, you may hear both terms: apostille and legalisation. While they sound similar, they refer to different processes depending on the country of use.
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Apostille – If your destination country is part of the Hague Convention, a single apostille stamp is enough to make your documents valid abroad.
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Legalisation – If your destination country is not a Hague Convention member, additional steps are required. This usually involves authentication by the Foreign Office and certification by the relevant embassy or consulate.
Example:
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Moving to Spain? → Apostille only.
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Moving to the UAE? → Apostille plus embassy legalisation.
Conclusion:
Understanding the difference helps avoid costly mistakes. Our team at The Hague Apostille guides you through the correct process based on your destination country.