For overseas visa applications and procedures, you may be asked to submit official documents.
At that time, you may be told that "the translated document needs to be notarized or to have an apostille." Notarization refers to certification at a notary office; an apostille is certification by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Many of our customers wonder, "What exactly should I do?"
What to Bring to the Notary Office Depends on "Who Goes"
At a notary office, the items and documents you need to prepare differ significantly depending on "who goes to the notary office."
If even one required document is missing, the procedure cannot proceed. This is also a common cause of delays, so it is important to check in advance.
Three Patterns for Obtaining Notarization
There are mainly three patterns for obtaining notarization on a document translated by a translation company:
- Only the translation is requested from the translation company. The customer themselves goes to the notary office.
- Only the translation is requested from the translation company. A representative appointed by the customer goes to the notary office.
- Both translation and notarization are requested from the translation company.
Items / Documents by Pattern
The table below summarizes the items and documents required for each case. Please check the pattern that fits your situation.
| Scope of request to translation company | Person visiting the notary office | Items to bring | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Translation only | The customer |
|
|
| Translation only | A representative appointed by the customer |
|
|
| Translation + notarization | The translator |
|
Payment of a notarization handling fee to the translation company is required. |
What to Do If You Have Doubts at the Notary Office
If you are visiting the notary office yourself and they tell you that "a power of attorney from the translator is required," we recommend checking with another notary office.
We can also call the notary office on your behalf—please feel free to ask.
Trouble with Notarization Procedures?
"I cannot find the time to visit the notary office." "I am uneasy about the procedure itself." If that sounds like you, please rest assured.
We provide one-stop handling for everything from translation to notarization.
This can minimize the customer's effort and burden. If you have any questions about obtaining notarization for translated documents, please feel free to contact us.
