When people are not traveling to Angola to go on safaris or gaze at its waterfalls, they do so for work, business, and academic purposes. And in all these cases, you must comply with Angola’s legal stipulations. One of these is the need to have authentication for your documents. While other countries would accept an apostille, you cannot get an apostille Angola. Instead, you must authenticate and legalize your documents before leaving the U.S. The other requirement is to translate your documents into Portuguese, which is the official language of this country. We explain why you cannot get an apostille Angola, what you can get instead, and what documents are eligible for the authentication process.
Guide to U.S. Document Authentication for Angola
Many people traveling to Angola think they can authenticate their documents using an apostille Angola. However, that is not the case. An apostille is a certification agreed on by countries participating in the 1961 Hague Convention. The countries would use one standard certification to certify stamps, seals, and signatures on official documents per this agreement. The U.S. is a party to this agreement. Thus, travelers from participating countries use apostilles to validate their documents for official use in the U.S. and other participating countries. A key reason behind using an apostille was to abolish the legalization and authentication procedures prevalent before 1961.
But not all countries agreed to this treaty. And Angola is one such country that does not follow the apostille process. So, instead of getting an apostille Angola, you undergo document authentication. It is similar to an apostille as it verifies an official document’s signature, seal, and stamp. But unlike the apostille, the authentication requires legalization by the Angola Embassy for it to be valid in Angola.
Why is authentication important? When you transact in foreign territories, people receiving your documents have no way of gauging the authenticity of your documents. Thus, authentication bridges this gap and fosters trust by certifying the integrity of the seals, stamps, and signatures on your documents.
The Authentication Process
Anyone who wants to get authentication for use in Angola must follow the process below:
1. Confirm you need authentication: The authentication certificate is the equivalent of an apostille Angola. You will need it when using public records such as marriage certificates in official transactions. But some documents are not eligible for authentication. You can always consult TVP for advice on what you must authenticate to avoid leaving out important documents.
2. Requirement Checks: The competent authority which issued your document will determine the conditions you must meet to get an authentication certificate.
- All state and local-issued documents should feature raised or stamped seals and get certified in the state where they were issued. For example, if you need to authenticate a birth certificate issued in Denver, the certification should take place in Denver. Also, note that states can delegate this role to other ranks in the state, such as Deputy Secretaries of State.
- Federal-issued documents should feature legible seals and signatures and must be executed by U.S. federal agencies. Those issued by other authorities, e.g., transcripts, should feature certification by a notary public and the Secretary of State.
- Other requirements may also arise based on the nature of the document. TVP can advise you on what to follow for your specific application.
3. Notarization: Before submitting your authentication request, you must notarize all the documents that need authentication. Please note that incorrect notarization amounts to no notarization, and will result in the disqualification of your request. So, ensure you notarize your document properly. TVP offers notarization services alongside authentications, and we can ensure your document meets the authentication requirements.
4. Certification: You must present true certified copies when requesting an authentication. You can only get this from the Secretary of State when handling federal-issued documents. But for most other documents, the certification can occur in front of a notary public.
5. Translation: Did you know that the official language in Angola is Portuguese? Translating your documents to Portuguese will not only ease your interactions but could also be a requirement in some institutions. We provide translation services and can get you a true certified translation to go alongside your authentication.
6. Authentication: You will request an authentication certificate by mailing the certified documents to the Office of Authentications: U.S. Department of State. The process takes six to eight weeks but can take longer if there are backlogs in the office.
7. Legalization: The final step is to legalize the document at the Angola Embassy by submitting the authentication certificate and the documents being authenticated.
You will receive a document with an Angola Embassy legalization stamp, enabling you to use your authenticated documents in Angola for official reasons.
Commonly Required Documents for Angola Travel Authentication
You can authenticate all sorts of documents, including state, local, federal, school, and business. These include:
- Birth Certificates,
- Divorce Decrees,
- Trademarks,
- FBI Background Checks,
- Marriage Certificates,
- Diplomas, and Transcripts.
While document authentication is broad, you cannot get all documents authenticated. If you’re unsure if your documents qualify for authentication, you can always consult our team.
Benefits of Choosing a Professional Authentication Service
The process does not have to be long or complex. Travel Visa Pro offers a shortcut that includes only three steps. How does it work?
- You submit your authentication request using our website ordering system. Here, you will include the type of document you need to be authenticated, where you will use it, and your preferred processing time.
- We will review your order and advise you on where to present the documents and what conditions you should meet. Once you fulfill these requirements, we will submit and expedite the order.
- You will get your authentication certificate and legalization stamp in a few days. And we will deliver them to your address!
As a plus, we offer consultation services to help you make the right authentication choices. Moreover, we offer translation, notarization, and attestation services across 50 states under one roof. So, no matter your location, you can authenticate your documents!