Job Discussion Forums

[Gregor]

I hope the mods make this a sticky. It is SO important in Mexico.
Here is a link that tells you what an apostille IS, and points you in the right direction toward getting one:

http://www.juliaferguson.com/apostille.html

Canadians, note: Your country doesn't do this. You need to go to the Mexican Embassy (or a consulate) to find out what to do...because you HAVE TO do something. Immigration, once you get to Mexico, doesn't care that your country doesn't do this. It's up to YOU.

I'm a director of studies at an English school in Oaxaca and this is a hassle SO often because teachers come in looking for work and they don't have this. This information needs to get out. PLEASE make this a sticky so people don't have to do a search. It's too important for that.

[Samantha]

Since not all teachers are from the USA (or Canada) here is a page from the Hague Convention website which addresses the world. Click on the first link in "How to get an apostille"

http://www.hcch.net/index_en.php?act=text.display&tid=37

Canadians start with the DFAIT website (Department of Foreign Affairs). You can use the mail to get step number one, the authentication process, completed.

http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/common/authentication_documents-en.asp

Step two for Canadians is contacting the nearest Mexican Consular office to complete the required paperwork.

NOTE: DFAIT, by request, will forward your documents on when they are done with them, if you decide this is a more convenient. From DFAIT website "If you requested that we forward your documents to a foreign embassy, high commission or consulate after authentication, please contact them to determine if they have your documents prior to contacting us."

[MELEE]

I've compiled the following information from using the search function here on Dave's, all of this information in already here on Dave's in other old threads.

Apostille Information

http://hcch.e-vision.nl/index_en.php?act=text.display&tid=1

Apostilles
If the country belongs to the 1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents, the apostille is used. The Convention provides for the simplified certification of notarized documents by use of a special form called an "apostille" in certifying the document. The apostille does not need to be ribboned onto the document being certified. With the certification by The Hague Convention apostille, the document is entitled to recognition in the country of intended use, and no additional authentication or legalization is required.

Our friend Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostille

List of countries party to the Hague Convention
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hague_Convention_Abolishing_the_Requirement_for_Legalisation_for_Foreign_Public_Documents

United States
If the document in question was issued by a state, for example a Degree or a birth certificate, then the Apostille is issued by the Secretary of State of each state.
If you are in the state that issued your degree, no problem. If you are not in that state you can still (probably) have the state you are in do an Apostille, but it will be an Apostille on a notarized copy. Have a Notary Public make a notarized copy (they sign that this is a true copy of an original document) then take that to the Secretary of State�s office, who will check their records to confirm that this is really the signature of a Licensed Notary Public and affix an Apostille.

United Kingdom
Foreign and Commonwealth Office, just off Trafalgar Square
The Legalisation Office
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
Old Admiralty Building
The Mall
London SW1A 2LG

020 7008 1111
(For your info)
http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029391440
You first must have your copy certified by a solicitor there is one just around the corner where you can have that done: Creighton and Partners Solicitors, 1 Great Scotland Yard
Countries not party to the Convention must have their documents legalized

Australia
Office of Foreign Affairs and Trade

New Zealand
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

South Africa
Ministry of Education (for Apostilles of degrees only)

Canada
Canada is not a party to the Hague Convention so Canadian documents must be Legalized instead see
http://www.embamexcan.com/CONSULAR/LegalizationDoctos.shtml#legalization

[melisssssa]

Canadians,
just to let you know that the consulado in Montreal authenticated my documents without having a prior authentication from DFAIT. I asked about this point explicitly. I have heard it's different in the consulado in Ottawa. This was a pleasant surprise because I was prepared to get on a bus to have it done right away in Ottawa. Instead of 1 working day at the Ottawa consulate, it's 3 in Montreal.

[Gregor]

Cool. Apostille information.

NOW, let's get this thing locked, if possible, before the thread gets bogged down with a lot of negativity or TOO MUCH information. I'm hoping this thread doesn't turn into discussion. I'd like to point people toward this thread for information on getting the apostille, and if there's too much here, it loses its usefulness.

[MELEE]

But if someone could please expand on the information for Australia, New Zealand and Ireland (and other countries should they come up).

[vaca_loca]

Here's a link to some New Zealand specific information from the
Department of Internal Affairs website.

http://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/wpg_URL/Services-Apostille-Certification-Index?OpenDocument