Did you know that the official language in Ghana is English? As a result, you won’t need to translate your documents when transacting in the country. And it takes one thing off your list of things to do. But what about an apostille Ghana? Will you need one to authenticate your documents? We explain the authentication process in Ghana, highlighting why you need it and how to go about it correctly:
The Importance Of Document Authentication For Travel To Ghana
Suppose you want to get married in Ghana. What would you need to present? You would likely need a single status affidavit, a divorce decree, or any other document establishing your marriage eligibility. And while these documents may be valid in the U.S., they might not be acceptable in Ghana. After all, the officials handling the documents do not know the organizations or entities that issued the documents. They thus cannot certify if the signatures, seals, and stamps are authentic. And there lies a challenge.
Countries have solved this problem in two ways:
- The Apostille: This certification is acceptable in countries party to the 1961 Hague Convention. It is a document that certifies the stamps, seals, and signatures on documents. Moreover, it highlights who signed the document, their capacity, and where and when you got the apostille. Unfortunately, this process only applies to countries part of the Hague Convention. And Ghana is not. So, getting an apostille Ghana is not possible.
- Authentication and Legalization: Like the apostille, this process asserts the integrity of the stamps, seals, and signatures on official documents. And it does so in two steps. The first stage (authentication) falls under the purview of the U.S. Department of State. It verifies the authenticity of the signatures, stamps, and seals on documents. And if they check out, the officials issue an authentication certificate. The second stage (legalization) takes place at the Ghana Embassy. Here, the officials assert the contents of the authentication certificate and issue a legalization stamp. The stamp allows you to use your official documents for transactions in Ghana.
Thus, authentication and legalization are the equivalents of an apostille Ghana. They help you in the following ways:
- They make your documents acceptable in foreign transactions in Ghana,
- They are a legal requirement in some cases, and having them eases the process, and
- They establish trust by verifying the authenticity of the stamps, seals, and signatures.
Kindly note that authentication and legalization processes verify the signatures, seals, and stamps but not the contents of documents. Even so, the U.S. Department of State will not process documents that contain misleading or illegal information.
How To Get Your U.S. Documents Authenticated For Travel To Ghana
Having your documents authenticated and legalized is like getting an apostille Ghana (if Ghana was part of the 1961 Hague Convention). However, it involves more steps than getting an apostille. And you must follow them all to get approval as follows:
- Document Requirements: Documents eligible for authentication fall into various categories: those issued by the state, those issued by the federal government, and those issued by other recognized entities. All these documents should meet the minimum requirements outlined by the U.S. Department of State. For example, those issued by the state should have raised or stamped seals from the Department of Vital Records or the Court. They should also be on agency letterheads and be executed by U.S. federal agencies. You should thus check what requirements apply to your document type based on the organization that issued it.
- Document Notarization: A notary public must notarize all documents due for authentication. The exception is only applicable to FBI background checks. Any other document without notarization will not get authenticated.
- Document Certification: The seals and signatures on documents must be original. You should certify your documents before a notary public to make them acceptable as true certified copies. But in cases of court and federal documents, this process should take place at the Secretary of State.
- Document Authentication: You should mail your request to the Office of Authentications: U.S. Department of State and include your application fee. The officials will review the documents and process them in about eight weeks. You should get an authentication certificate if everything checks out.
- Document Legalization: You must legalize your documents at the Ghana Embassy by sending them with the authentication certificate. You will receive a legalization stamp, allowing you to use the documents for official transactions.
Any errors in the process will result in starting and paying the application fee again. You must thus ensure you comply with all the requirements.
Benefits Of Using Our Document Authentication Service For Ghana
Authenticating and legalizing documents is crucial to official transactions in Ghana. But the process comes encumbered with long waiting times, several complexities, and many grey areas. Travel Visa Pro, a professional document authentication service, provides authentication and legalization services across 50 states. Moreover, it eases the process by providing the following services:
- Authentication at the U.S. Department of State,
- Legalization at the Ghana Embassy,
- Consultation services for help with what to authenticate and how to meet the authentication requirements,
- Attestation services, and
- Notarization services.
As such, you can fulfill your document authentication needs in one go. And here is how the process works:
- You submit an authentication request. In the form, you will include the document type, where you will use it (i.e., Ghana), and when you need it. Our processing periods fall into two categories – rush and standard. If you need fast processing, choose the rush processing that takes only days.
- We review your authentication and legalization order and inform you what you should present to our office. You can send or drop off your documents at the nearest TVP office to commence the processing.
- You get an authentication certificate and legalization stamp delivered to your address.
The process is easy, simple, convenient, fast, and error-free. Get started on your document authentication journey today and get the equivalent of an apostille Ghana.