Malaysia presents numerous opportunities for U.S. citizens in academic, business, and social settings. Planning a trip here can help you explore these and more options. However, you must undertake some groundwork before heading to this nation. First, you should translate your documents into Malay, the official Malaysian language. Otherwise, using English documents can get in the way of smooth official transactions. Secondly, you should validate your documents by getting them authenticated. We discuss the right way to go about this and whether you require an apostille Malaysia.
Why You Need Document Authentication for Malaysia
Using documents across borders for official reasons requires authentication. This process proves they are legitimate and makes them suitable for official use. There are two ways to go about document authentication:
- The Apostille: This certification applies to countries like the U.S., which are part of the 1961 Hague Convention. It certifies that the signatures, stamps, and seals on documents are real and not forged. Moreover, it details the document’s origin, who signed it, and when and where you got an apostille. However, since it only applies to countries privy to this convention, you cannot get an apostille Malaysia as Malaysia is not a party to it.
- Authentication and Legalization: Countries that do not use an apostille rely on authentication and legalization processes. Authentication asserts that document signatures, seals, and stamps are authentic and not fake. It takes place under the U.S. Department of State. Legalization takes place under the embassy of the country where you will use the documents. So, in the case of Malaysia, Malaysian embassy officials review if documents have been authenticated. And they issue a legalization stamp, allowing you to use the documents for official use in Malaysia. Thus, the authentication and legalization process is like getting an apostille in Malaysia.
The key difference between an apostille and authentication is acceptability. While both validate the signatures, stamps, and seals on documents, only the apostille can be used in several countries simultaneously. For example, if you get an apostille for use in Malawi, it is still acceptable in Morocco. But authentication and legalization are specific to a country. So, if you get a legalization stamp from Malaysia, the documents are only viable in Malaysia.
Despite this small difference, these processes serve the purposes below:
- They prove a document’s stamps, signatures, and seals are valid. It makes the document suitable for official transactions where legitimacy is important.
- They are essential in legal proceedings. When you use official documents for business and legal dealings, you must prove they are legitimate. Having authenticated and legalized documents is akin to an apostille Malaysia and thus allows you to proceed without facing hurdles.
The premise of authentication and legalization is to establish trust among the people involved in the transactions. You can thus rely on these processes to legitimize the following records:
- Vital records such as marriage certificates, divorce decrees, birth certificates, and death certificates,
- Business papers like incorporation documents and trademarks,
- Academic documents like university degrees, and
- Any other documents required in official transactions.
Our team is always here to assist you with deciding whether a document requires authentication and legalization.
U.S. Document Authentication Process for Malaysia
Authentication and legalization processes take place under different authorities. Thus, You must follow the steps below to avoid errors that can delay or disqualify your application.
a) Gauging the eligibility of your documents: The U.S. Department of State will only issue an apostille Malaysia equivalent to documents that meet the minimum criteria. State-issued documents must feature raised or stamped seals from the Department of Vital Records or the court. Federal documents should be on agency letterheads and have a signature from a federal officer. Submitting documents that fall short of these criteria is not acceptable.
b) Notarizing your documents: Unless you’re authenticating an FBI background check, you should notarize your documents before a notary public.
c) Certifying your documents: Only true certified copies can get authenticated. A notary public can do the certification. However, only the Secretary of State can certify the following documents:
- Birth certificates,
- Death certificates,
- Marriage certificates,
- Divorce decrees,
- Court documents, and
- Federal documents.
d) Translating your documents: Malaysia uses Malay as its official language. Getting true certified translations of your English documents will smooth official transactions significantly.
e) Submitting your documents for authentication: You should mail the documents to the Office of Authentications under the U.S. Department of State. Review processes often take a few weeks, with most authentications averaging twelve weeks.
f) Getting the authenticated documents legalized: Once the documents have been authenticated, you should have them legalized by the Malaysian embassy. They will issue a legalization stamp equivalent to an apostille Malaysia.
Only legal documents can go through the authentication and legalization processes. The U.S. Department of State will not authenticate documents with illegal or misleading details.
Benefits of Using Travel Visa Pro Document Authentication Service for Malaysia
Authentication and legalization processes can take months to complete. And because of their complexities, erring is easy. We eliminate these barriers to legalization by providing a simple 3-step process to getting the equivalent of an apostille in Malaysia. Here is how it works:
A. STEP 1: You submit an order, detailing your name, address, preferred processing timeline, and document type. Also, include that you will use the document in Malaysia.
B. STEP 2: Our team will receive and review the order before contacting you on where to send your document.
C. STEP 3: We will process the authentication and legalization within your preferred timeline, enabling you to conduct official business in Malaysia.
See? It takes only three steps. You can count on us for the following perks:
- Convenience: We offer authentication and legalization services across 50 states. And given our office coverage, you will have a TVP office near you where you can send or drop off your documents.
- Speed: Unlike standard authentication and legalization processes that take months, we offer processing periods ranging from days to weeks.
Moreover, we offer notarization, certification, translation, document review, attestation, and consultation services under one roof!