What is document legalization?
Document legalization is a procedure performed to make a document legally valid in another country, after which this document may be applied to foreign public bodies.
For example, a document, issued in the Russian Federation, has legal force only on the territory of this country. If it is necessary for the international use in a public body abroad, it must be officially recognized by another country. Legalization leads to the confirmation of the fact that this document, issued by the authorities of the country or made jointly with the authorities, complies with the law, and the signatures of the official and seals of the competent authority on the document are authentic.

Document legalization is always performed on the territory of the country, where it was issued and/or drawn up.

Types of legalization
There are two main types вof document legalization – apostille and consular legalization. The legalization type depends in each case on the country where the document is to be submitted:

Apostille – document legalization procedure to apply to public bodies of the Hague Convention signatory countries;
Consular legalization – document legalization procedure to apply to public bodies of other countries.
No legalization is required in the following cases
1. If the authority (institution), where it is planned to apply the document, does not require its legalization.
2. If this type of document is not subject to legalization. These documents include:

Passports or their substitutes;
Documents, directly related to commercial or customs transactions;
Documents, contradicting Russian laws or those that may damage interests of the Russian Federation.
3. If there is an executed international treaty between Russia and the country where it is planned to use the document on the legal mutual assistance, according to which there is a simplified document flow between these countries, terminating the need of legalization.