Understanding the Differences between Apostille and Legalisation of Documents for Cubans in the US
If you are a Cuban citizen residing in the United States and need to legalise official US documents for use in Cuba, you must understand the differences between apostille and legalisation. As Cuba is not a signatory to the Hague Convention, the country does not accept apostilles. Therefore, the legalisation process is the correct method to validate your documents.
Below, we explain how this process works and it is important to remember that Opapeleo, an agency located just 150 metres from the Cuban consulate in the US, can assist you in this procedure.
Apostille vs. Legalisation: How Are They Different?
The apostille is a simplified procedure for the legalisation of documents, designed for nations that are signatories to the Hague Convention. However, since Cuba is not a party to this convention, apostilles are not valid for documents to be used in the country. Instead of apostille, it is required to submit the documents to a legalisation process.
The Three-Step Legalisation Process
IMPORTANT: Two documents must always be legalised: the original and its corresponding translation, which must benotarizedd and certified.
The process of legalisation of documents for use in Cuba consists of three distinct stages.
Legalisation in the Issuing State
At this initial stage, you must legalise your documents in the State where they were issued. In each State, there is an authentication office in the State department that performs the authentication. This office will attach a document in which the Secretary of State certifies the authenticity of the document. To achieve this, the signature of the notary or the person who signed the document is verified.
Office of Authentication of the Federal Department of State
Once the documents have been legalised at the state level, they must be sent to the Authentication Office of the Federal Department of State. At this point, verification of the authenticity of the signature of the state official who performed the pre-legalisation is carried out.
Cuban Consulate
Finally, after going through the Authentication Office, the documents must be presented at the Cuban Consulate in the United States. A final review and legalisation process is performed at this consulatetoo ensure that the documents meet the requirements for use in Cuba.
Opapeleo Assistance: Facilitating the Process
Opapeleo is an agency located in Washington D.C. that understands the complexities of the document legalization process for Cuban nationals in the United States. We provide support at every stage of the legalisation processtoo avoid problems and delays.
You can get in touch with us as follows:
- By calling 202-800-4141
- Opening hours: 8 am to 8 pm, Monday to Saturday and Sundays 8 am to 2 pm
In short, if you are a Cuban citizen and you need to legalise documents for use in Cuba, the apostille is not a valid option. Instead, it is necessary to follow the legalisation process in three stages: state legalisation, federal authentication and consular legalisation. Opapeleo is here to help you successfully and efficiently manage this process.
Don’t let the differences in legalisation systems overwhelm you, Opapeleo is there for you to help you every step of the way!
About Us
Opapeleo is your agency for procedures 100% online orby telephone. We are in Washington DC 150 meters away from the Cuban Consulate. We provide services for the Extension and Renewal of Cubanpassportst, Legalisations, Powers of attorneyofn all kinds, Authorisations for minors to leave the country, DVT, Visas to Cuba, Top-ups, applications for Cuban certificates, delivery of official documents and all kinds of procedures related to Cuba.
