Sri Lanka has thriving tourism and agriculture industries. And in recent years, these top performers have witnessed a positive trend that has attracted people from across the world, including the U.S. But before you consider this country for work, residency, or business, you have some things to get out of the way. The first is to address the language barrier. Sri Lanka relies on Tamil and Sinhala as its official languages. While many people speak English, you will have much easier transactions if you translate your English documents into Tamil or Sinhala. The second issue is document authenticity – you must prove your documents are legitimate. And we address whether you can do this with an apostille Sri Lanka.
Why Document Authentication Is Essential For Travelers To Sri Lanka
Foreign transactions rely on goodwill. And while people in Sri Lanka would want to believe that your documents are valid, they need proof. So, how do you provide this evidence?
- The apostille: An apostille is a certification used by countries party to the 1961 Hague Convention. This document gives details about the stamps, signatures, and seals on the official document, thus verifying their legitimacy. It also points the recipient toward where you got the document, who signed it, why they signed it, when you got an apostille, and where you got it. This traceability makes it easy to present the document to foreign authorities and get through any official transactions. But can you get an apostille Sri Lanka? No. Apostilles are only acceptable in countries that participate in the 1961 Hague Convention. Since Sri Lanka does not, getting an apostille Sri Lanka is not a viable option.
- Authentication and Legalization: In the world of document verification, these processes are the equivalent of an apostille Sri Lanka. Like the apostille, authentication verifies the signature, stamps, and seals on official documents. Only the U.S. Department of State has the mandate to offer authentication. Thus, any authenticated document is deemed valid, as this authority cannot err in this regard. Legalization takes place under the embassy of the country you want to visit. So, in the case of Sri Lanka, embassy officials review the authenticated documents. And they issue a legalization stamp, showing that they have witnessed the said authentication. Once you have the stamp, you can transact in Sri Lanka without facing any hurdles arising from questions about the validity of your documents.
What kind of documents need authentication and legalization? The general rule of thumb is to get all official documents authenticated. After all, it helps you avoid questions down the line and eases official transactions. You can get an apostille Sri Lanka equivalent for documents in the following categories:
- Vital records such as marriage certificates, divorce decrees, and birth certificates,
- Business papers like trademarks and business incorporation documents,
- Academic records like high school diplomas and university degrees, and
- Federal documents like FBI background checks.
Any official documents you need for business or legal proceedings should be authenticated and legalized. Doing so helps you abide by the legal procedures in Sri Lanka, where officials need proof of document validity. It also helps you develop trust with the people with whom you transact.
How To Authenticate U.S. Documents For Travel To Sri Lanka
You will liaise with two authorities to get your documents authenticated and legalized. As such, you should follow the steps below to the letter to avoid facing delays in the process:
- Ensure your documents meet the authentication criteria: Not all documents qualify for an apostille Sri Lanka equivalent. Only state-issued documents with raised or stamped seals from the court or the Department of Vital Records can get authenticated. And only federal documents on agency letterheads with signatures from federal officers qualify.
- Notarize your documents: All documents must get notarized by a notary public. However, FBI background checks are exempt from this requirement.
- Certify your documents: You should have your documents certified by a notary public. However, the following documents should only be certified by the Secretary of State:
- Marriage certificates,
- Divorce decrees,
- Birth certificates,
- Death certificates,
- Court documents, and
- Federal records.
- Translate your documents: The official languages in Sri Lanka are Tamil and Sinhala. You will find that many people speak English. But since this is not the official language, using English documents can stall official processes. You can avoid this by getting certified translations that bear the meaning of the original documents.
- Send your documents for authentication: The Office of Authentications under the U.S. Department of State handles authentications. You should send your application by mail and include the authentication fee. Assuming no revisions are necessary, the review processes take twelve weeks on average. You should receive authenticated documents.
- Get your documents legalized: The authenticated documents require a legalization stamp before you can use them in Sri Lanka. You will get this by sending the authenticated documents to the Sri Lanka embassy.
Once you have successfully completed this process, you will have valid papers akin to an apostille Sri Lanka.
Expert Document Authentication Services For Hassle-Free Travel To Sri Lanka
The numerous steps and extended waiting times associated with document authentication can hamper your travel plans. But with Travel Visa Pro by your side, you can avoid such delays. We offer a 3-step document authentication and legalization process that will ensure you have an apostille Sri Lanka equivalent in no time.
Here is how it works:
- You submit an order through our website where you let us know your name, address, document type, where you will use the authenticated document, and your preferred processing timeline.
- Our team reviews the order and contacts you on where to send the document. We offer services across 50 states and you will have a convenient TVP location to send or drop off your document.
- We process the authentication and legalization and send the validated documents to your address within the required period.
Have we mentioned that we also offer notarization, certification, and translation services under one roof? We are your one-stop shop for all authentication matters.