In both business and personal procedures, it is common practice to ask for certified copies of your documents. In other words, you’ll have to present an identical version of an official document. Now, it’s important to understand that it can’t be a photocopy or anything similar.
It must be officially certified, guaranteeing that the document in question is unequivocally identical to the original. As you can imagine, this is an official procedure that has to be carried out in a specific place, in a specific manner. That’s why we’d like to take this time to explain to you how to do it properly.
Where can you get certified copies of your documents?
This first question will help you understand some of the key aspects. First of all, the institution requesting the documents is particularly relevant. For example, if it is a private institution, they will most likely be the ones to take care of getting the certified copies. Sometimes, you might find that you need to visit a notary’s office, but that’s it.
On the other hand, however, things change when it’s a public organization. In cases like this, you’ll have to turn to public institutions. It will all depend on the type of document requested, since you might have to go to, for example, your university, the public employment service, or the tax office. Generally speaking, the institution that issued the document in question will also be responsible for providing a certified copy. That being said, however, as we’ve mentioned before, it will depend on what kind of document you’ve been asked for.
How can you get a certified copy of your document?
Once you’ve figured out where you need to go, you should consider the specific task at hand.
You’ll need the original document as well as your ID card or passport and, unless told otherwise, you can go directly to the place in question. Once there, the institution will provide you with a certified copy, as long as everything is in order, of course. That is, you need to make sure that your ID card or passport is not expired and that the document is still valid.
Today, there are other options available to carry out this procedure online. To do so, you’ll need your electronic signature.
Finally, if for any reason none of the previous options suit your situation, there’s still one resource left. This procedure can be done at the post office, since it is a state organization that can get in touch, in an official capacity, with the institutions that are able to provide certified copies of your documents. So, while it might take a little longer, this option is always available.
As you can see, getting a certified copy of a document is a straightforward process that might be necessary in several situations. Remember, if you need any other support with your paperwork, our translation team can help with any requests.
In conclusion, getting a certified copy of a document is easy and will be essential on many occasions. That’s why it’s important to know how and where you can do it. Remember, if you need to get an official translation of any of your documents, all you need to do is get in touch with us. Our team will take care of your certified translations. Give us a call!
This post is also available in: Español (Spanish) Français (French) Nederlands (Dutch) Deutsch (German)
