Did you know that the main language in Myanmar (Burma) is Burmese? That’s why many people traveling for official reasons translate their documents into Burmese. It eases transactions by breaking down communication barriers. But translating your documents is not enough – you must also validate them. While many people think that getting an apostille Myanmar is the way to go, we show you why this might not be the right move. Moreover, we guide you through how to authenticate your documents:
Why Document Authentication Is Essential For Travel To M.anmar
Before determining whether you can get an apostille Myanmar, let’s uncover why you must validate your documents. It all comes down to establishing trust and verifying your identity in a foreign country. When you present your documents in Myanmar, there should be confirmation of their integrity by a competent authority. And there are two ways that this happens:
a) An Apostille: This certification results from the 1961 Hague Convention, which sought to abolish time-consuming legalization processes. Thus, you submit your documents to the Secretary of State or the U.S. Department of State, and they issue you with an apostille. Once you have affixed this to your official document, the person receiving it can trace its data, such as when and where the apostille was issued. It thus validates your official documents.
Can you get an apostille Myanmar? No. The apostille is only acceptable in countries party to the Hague Convention. While the U.S. is part of this agreement, Myanmar is not. Thus, getting an apostille Myanmar is not only impossible but unnecessary.
b) Authentication and Legalization: The equivalent of getting an apostille Myanmar is authenticating and legalizing your documents. Authentication verifies the integrity of the document, thus making it valid. And in the U.S., the authority mandated to authenticate documents is the U.S. Department of State. Successful authentication processes result in authentication certificates. But unlike an apostille which only has one stage, authentication precedes legalization, a process that takes place at the Myanmar Embassy. Here, the embassy officials verify the authentication stamp. And when everything checks out, they issue you with a legalization stamp which asserts the authority of the person who signed the document.
The two processes are essential to verify the validity of official documents.
How is Legalization Different from Getting an Apostille Myanmar?
There are two key disparities between the two processes:
- Acceptability: Myanmar can only accept authenticated and legalized documents as it is not part of the 1961 Hague Convention. So, getting an apostille Myanmar is not an option.
- Use: An apostille is valid in all countries party to the Hague Convention. But legalization from the Myanmar Embassy only validates the documents for use in Myanmar and not any other country.
So, while legalization may be the apostille Myanmar equivalent, the two are not interchangeable.
The Process of Document Authentication for Myanmar
The process of authenticating and legalizing documents for use in Myanmar involves many steps to follow to the letter. What are they?
1. Meeting authentication requirements: Documents fall into different categories, and you must ensure you abide by the conditions attached to each as follows:
- State-issued documents, e.g., death certificates, should be original or certified and feature a raised or stamped seal from the Department of Vital Records or the court. Moreover, they can only be certified in the state where they were issued. E.g., a birth certificate from New York should get certified in New York,
- Federal-issued documents, e.g., trademarks, should be on agency letterheads and must have execution from a U.S. federal agency, and
- Documents from other organizations, e.g., school transcripts, must get certified by a notary public and the Secretary of State where they were issued.
2. Notarization: You must ensure you notarize each document you need to be authenticated. However, you should not notarize FBI background checks.
3. Certification: This process will depend on the nature of the document and the issuing authority. For example, you cannot certify federal documents at a notary public. Instead, the process should take place at the Secretary of State.
4. Translation: The official language in Myanmar is Burmese. Thus, translating your documents from English will ease your transactions. Please note that only true translations from certified translators are acceptable. Travel Visa Pro offers translation services from English to Burmese.
5. Authentication: You should mail your documents to the Office of Authentications: U.S. Department of State. You should get a response in about eight weeks. However, the process can take longer.
6. Legalization: For the authenticated document to be valid in Myanmar, you must submit it to the Myanmar Embassy for legalization. The Embassy officials will verify the signatures, seals, and stamps and provide a legalization stamp if everything checks out.
Kindly note that mistakes can derail the process, forcing you to apply for authentication services again. Thus, hiring professional authentication service providers is always advisable to avoid such delays and added costs.
Secure and Efficient Apostille Services for Myanmar
Getting your documents authenticated and legalized for Myanmar can be a lengthy process. But when you delegate it to Travel Visa Pro, it is a cakewalk. We provide the following services under one roof:
- Authentication and legalization services,
- Translation services,
- Attestation services, and
- Notarization services.
Besides these, we offer consultation services to help you understand what you need to authenticate and legalize before heading to Myanmar. And the process? – It only takes three steps as follows:
- You submit your authentication and legalization request by filling in an order form. You will let us know the document type, where you will use it (i.e., Myanmar), and your preferred processing timeline (rush or processed).
- Our team will review your order and advice you on what documents need authentication, how to send them, and any other services that may be necessary. Once you have fulfilled these instructions, the authentication and legalization processes will begin.
- You will receive your authentication certificate and legalization stamp at your provided address.
And just like that, you will have completed the document authentication and legalization processes!