Regulation reduces document-authentication steps

IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? An EU regulation that took effect Saturday removes cumbersome authentication procedures for documents issued in one EU country and submitted to the authorities of another EU country.

What does the change mean? Applicants submitting documents issued by an EU member state, such as records relating to birth, marriage, death, divorce and criminal background, no longer need to have them apostilled by the issuing authority. The regulation also abolishes the requirement of submitting a certified copy with an official translation.

• Implementation time frame: Immediate.
• Visas/permits affected: Public records issued by an EU member country for purposes of recognition in another EU country.
• Business impact: The rules reduce bureaucracy and ease requirements for applicants intending to work or reside within the EU.
• Next steps: Applicants may now submit documents issued by an EU country to authorities in another EU country without obtaining an apostille stamp verifying that they are authentic. Additionally, documents that need to be translated no longer need a certified translation, and a standard EU translation form may be used instead. The full regulation including the list of affected documents may be viewed here.

Background: The rules were adopted by the EU in June 2016 under Regulation 2016/1191 and EU member states had until Feb. 15, 2019 to adopt them. Approximately 17 million EU citizens live in an EU country other than their own.

Analysis & Comments: The rules simplify procedures and reduce the number of steps in the document-gathering process. The regulations apply to all foreign nationals, including EU nationals and third-country nationals, who are submitting documents that were originally issued by another EU country.

Source: Deloitte LLP. Deloitte LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC303675 and its registered office at 1 New Street Square, London EC4A 3HQ, United Kingdom.