Peru and the Hague Agreement

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Updated 26 March 2016

Apostillisation can take some time if you aren't able to go to the offices in person. Please plan ahead as it can take a couple months. Some people use a company to help them get documents apostillised. Fees vary widely so contact a few of them to get an idea of prices. Here are some popular companies people use.

Documents for Peru
The Hague Apostille Agreement took effect in Peru on September 30, 2010. You can read about it in Spanish at Apuntes Peruanos and Ministero de Relacciones Exteriores. You can see it in English at the Official Hague Agreement website. What this means is that using foreign documents in Peru or using Peruvian documents abroad has been made easier. This article is about using foreign documents abroad. If you want to use Peruvian documents abroad, please see, Using Peruvian Documents Abroad.

Before you had to have the document notarised, then legalised by the Peruvian consulate in your country, then legalised again at RREE (Ministerio de Relacciones Exteriores) in Lima. Now, all you have to do is get the apostillisation. NB: Apuntes Peruanos says that this is NOT true for Canadian, German, or Greek documents. Please check with the embassy in your home country before getting an apostillisation.

US State and Local Documents 
Examples of state and local documents are: birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, divorce certicates, state background checks, or degrees. For federal documents, please see the following section. You can mail or take the documents in person. I mailed things. Total time is about one month.

TIP: Get many copies apostillised. They're good for life and you won't have to go through this again. I had ten copies of my degree apostillised.

1. Use the original document OR copy your document and get the copy notarised. Birth certificates are a perfect example of using originals. These are often already notarised by the emitting office, ex. the county clerk. If it is not already notarised, you will have to send it to the emitting office to get it notarised. It is often faster, cheaper, and better to copy your orginal. Photocopy the original. Take the original and the photocopy to a notary. The notary will examine both documents and the notarise the copy. In the US, it can often be done for free at your local library or bank. If you're not in the US and need something notarised, try Sign Now. It's accepted in all 50 states and much cheaper than going to the embassy.
2. Put your original in a safe place. You won't have to mail it anywhere, BUT you might want to bring the original to Peru just in case.
3. Get your documents apostillised. You will have to send your documents to the Secretary of State. Contact them and ask how much it is to get documents apostillised. It should be between $5 and $20. If you are using copies you do NOT send the original. Just send the notarised copies. If you are using orginals, you will have to send the original. This usually takes two weeks.

What You Will Have: You will have another document attached to your copy (or original). It should have a seal and special corner at the top. Mine have a gold sticker-seal and a blue paper at the top in the corner. Do NOT separate these documents or you will render them invalid.

US Federal Documents
An example of federal checks: FBI background checks. You will probably not need this, but it might help you in the future. See the next section for how to get an FBI check.

1. Use the original document FBI background checks are a perfect example of using originals. These are often already notarised by the emitting office, ex. the FBI, IF you tell them that you will be using the documents abroad.
2. Send it to the Department of State. It should cost less than $10 and take two to three weeks. You can also go in person if you live near Washington DC. You now need to have a notarised copy of your license or passport as well as a notarised request letter.  If you're not in the US and need something notarised, try Sign Now. It's accepted in all 50 states and much cheaper than going to the embassy.

What You Will Have: You will have another document attached to your original. It should have a seal and special corner at the top. Do NOT separate these documents or you will render them invalid.

How to Get an FBI Check

• Plan ahead. The FBI website states that "processing times may take up to 12 weeks." See number 9 on the FAQs on the FBI website. Bad news is that many countries only accept FBI checks that are less than 6 months old, so planning is key!
• Legible fingerprints are critical. You can use the forms from the FBI site or the ones at the police station. They recommend submitting multiple fingerprint cards.

You Need

• Applicant Information Form
• Standard Fingerprint Form (FD-258)
• Credit Card Information Form if paying by credit card
• To pay the fee via money order or credit card
• A letter stating that you will use the FBI check in a foreign country and need the FBI (CJIS division) to place its official seal and signature on the document so that you can submit it to the Department of State for an apostille. See: FBI FAQs, number 9.

Here's what you need to do. You can also find the steps and the checklist on the FBI website.

1. Get fingerprinted.
2. Send all docs to the FBI. Look at the checklist to make sure that you've included everything. Have it sent back to your parents or family or friends in the US. It's recommended to send it via certified mail so that you can track it. FBI CJIS Division – Record Request, 1000 Custer Hollow Road, Clarksburg, WV 26306
3. Your family or friends in the US get the form, then send it to the US Dept of State in Washington DC, not the Sec of State in your state. It's a federal document, so has to go to the Dept of State in Washington. The FBI puts a seal on the crb at the request of applicants and tthen you can send it to the Department of State, not the Secretary of State. see: http://www.state.gov/m/a/auth/ (FYI: If you want to send it to the Sec of State, then you could also do that, but it’s a hassle. First you need to get it notarized, then send it to the Secretary of State.)
4. They get the FBI check and then mail it to you.

Canadian Documents
Please see the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada website for more information.

British Documents
Please see the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website for more information.