postilles

Postilles refer to the apostille, a certificate that authenticates the origin of an official document for international use under the Hague Convention of 1961. The apostille/postille certifies the signature, the capacity of the signer, and the seal or stamp on the document, so that the document will be recognized in other contracting states without further legalization.

Used on documents such as civil status records (birth, marriage, death certificates), court documents, notarial acts, and certain government records. Some private documents may require additional steps.

Typically, the apostille is issued by a designated authority in the country of origin, such as the ministry of foreign affairs or a competent notarial or court office. The certificate is attached to the document or affixed as a stamp; it contains the country, the authority, the signer’s name and capacity, and the date and place of issue, along with the official seal or signature of the issuing office.

Not all countries are party to the Hague Convention; in non-member states or for documents that fall outside the scope of the convention, legalization by the receiving country’s embassy or consulate may be required. Some jurisdictions now use electronic apostilles. In all cases, translations may be required by the receiving party.

The term postille can appear in some languages or contexts as a synonym or misnomer for apostille, but the internationally standardized term is apostille. Some languages distinguish postille as an annotation or note rather than a legalization mark; the term’s usage varies by country.

See also: Hague Apostille Convention; legalization; document authentication; translation.