Apostille before translation: the right order
Doing these two steps in the wrong order is one of the most expensive small mistakes in an international file.
The usual order
- Obtain the original or issue the document.
- Notarize it if it is a private document.
- Obtain the apostille.
- Translate both the document and the apostille.
Why translation comes last
The apostille becomes part of what the foreign reviewer reads. A translation prepared without it leaves the certificate in English and may be refused, which means paying again.
Sworn and certified translations
For Spain, offices commonly ask for a traductor jurado appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For Portugal, certification rules differ by office and may involve a Portuguese notary, lawyer or consulate.
The exception
A translation that is itself being notarized and apostilled in the U.S. follows a different sequence. Ask your receiving office before arranging one.