Hi
The local municipality has the following as a requirement and I wondered if you could help clear it up for me:
Certificado de soltería por el Cónsul peruano del país de origen y apostillado por RREE en el Perú.
Would this be the US consulate in Lima or the Peruvian consulate in the US?
Thanks
The local municipality has the following as a requirement and I wondered if you could help clear it up for me:
Certificado de soltería por el Cónsul peruano del país de origen y apostillado por RREE en el Perú.
Would this be the US consulate in Lima or the Peruvian consulate in the US?
Thanks
Connor
- This commment is unpublished.@Connor Hello Connor,
This requirement is strange and partly wrong on so many levels.
First of all, I assume (!) it should mean “Certificado de soltería legalizado por el Cónsul peruano del país de origen …”.
So, you need the certificate proving that you are single (free to marry) authenticated /legalized by the Peruvian consul in the country where it was issued (consular legalization).
In some countries, it’s impossible to get an official public document corresponding to the Peruvian Certificate of being single that can go through the official process. And even if, it’s a lengthy process to get the consular legalization as for that the certificate needs a signature and seal of the issuing authority, then usually has to get authenticated by at least two or more higher authorities and only then can get the consular legalization by the Peruvian consul in the country where it was issued. The whole process is to prove the authenticity of the document and to ensure that only authorized persons signed it.
After that the municipality says “… y apostillado por RREE en el Perú”. That’s more than strange as RREE (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs) can only put an Apostille on a document that is issued in Peru. So, I assume they mean “legalizado”. So, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs checks that the seal and the signature of the Peruvian consul on your certificate is correct and, if so, puts another signature and seal on it confirming the document is ok. And what the municipality forgot, if the certificate isn’t in Spanish, it must be translated by a certified translator in Peru.
Anyway, now the thing is, the above explanation is the traditional method for authenticating documents to be used abroad, so the process of a traditional legalization. However, if the country where your certificate was issued signed the Hague Apostille Convention, this traditional method, which needs the signature and seals of the issuing authority, other higher authorities, and the Peruvian consulate of the country where it was issued is not needed anymore to prove the legitimacy, genuineness, and origin of a document. Then only an Apostille is needed.
So, the certificate is issued by the responsible authority of a country, then usually only has to be authenticated by one higher authority (may vary depending on country) and then by the authority in charge of apostilling in the country where it was issued. That’s it, usually just two steps in the country where the document was issued and no Peruvian consulate involved. Once in Peru, it only has to be translated by a certified translator and is officially accepted.
You find more detailed info about the Apostille in our glossary entry “Apostille”.
In case your home country doesn't officially issue a Certificate of being single or something similar which makes the legalization/Apostille process impossible or if you want to avoid the process of legalization/Apostille in your home country, I would go back to the municipality and ask if there is any other option to prove that you are single. You could offer a sworn statement issued by a notary in Peru or a sworn statement that your embassy in Peru officially signs and seals (then this document has to be legalized by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and, if not in Spanish, be translated by an official translator).
Greetings
Eva