When Your Business Document Is Going Overseas 🌏 📃🖋️

Notary with client.

Your client is overseas.

Your vendor is overseas.

Your next project is overseas.

And now someone has told you:

“We need this document authenticated.”

What happens next?

Start With the Destination

International documents don't all follow one procedure.

Before doing anything, determine:

Where is the document going, and what does the receiving organization require?

Depending on the circumstances, a document may require notarization followed by an apostille, another authentication procedure, or a different process altogether.

Don't Assume More Stamps Are Better

Getting something notarized unnecessarily doesn't automatically make it more official.

Likewise, an apostille and notarization aren't interchangeable.

Starting with the receiving party's requirements can prevent unnecessary steps.

International Business Is Still Business

Artists, galleries, fashion businesses, jewelers, creative studios, retailers and other companies increasingly work across borders.

Document requirements can become another small part of doing business internationally.

Knowing where to begin makes the process less intimidating.

When business crosses borders, paperwork sometimes does too.

Start with the document, the destination and the receiving authority, then determine the appropriate process.

For general informational purposes only and not legal advice. Requirements vary according to the document, destination, receiving authority and applicable law.

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