In this article, we’re taking a look at “what is a certified copy?”
Not surprisingly, it is a copy of an original document that has been certified. That said, depending on the type of document you’re copying, the purpose of the certification, and even the countries involves, the type of certification can vary widely.
In this article, we’ll explore each of these nuances to ensure you have the best information possible when it comes to the type of certified copies you need.
Feel free to use the table of contents to jump ahead to the sections most relevant to you.
Table of Contents
- What Is a Certified Copy?
- Certified Copies vs True Copies
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Ready to Explore Your Options?
What Is a Certified Copy?
A certified copy is a copy of an original document that has been endorsed by an acceptable authority, often a lawyer or public notary. The purpose of the certification is to confirm that the copy is in fact a true copy of the original. In providing certified copies, individuals and businesses can avoid providing original copies of important documents.
In the context of banking and financial products (like mortgages), the type of certification can often vary depending on the countries involved. This can be especially challenging (and costly) to navigate if you are sourcing documents in one country and sending them to another country, both of which use different forms of certification.
For example, if you are sourcing documents from Canada and sending them to the UK, you may run into difficulties. This is because the UK is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention and Canada is not. Therefore, any documents from Canada for use in Hague member countries, need to go through diplomatic channels to receive authentication.
Of course, this is just one example of the many differences that exist in terms of the type of authentication and the countries involved when it comes to certified copies of documents.
In the following sections of the article, we’ll answer common questions related to certified copies and explain the differences between certified and true copies.
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Certified Copies vs True Copies
The main difference between certified copies and true copies is that certified copies have been endorsed by a recognized official as an exact copy of a document. On the other hand, a true copy may be accurate but it does not have anyone officially saying this is true. Importantly, when sending documents overseas in support of bank account opening, most banks do require authenticated documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are two of the most common questions that we receive from people looking into what is a certified copy of a document. If you have further questions you would like answered, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us directly.
What Is a Certified Copy of a Document Mean?
A certified copy of a document means a copy of a document that an acceptable authority sees as an exact copy, often a lawyer or a notary public. Importantly, the specific country where a document is going can impact the type of certification. With this in mind, prior to certifying documents, you should always confirm the exact form of certification that is acceptable. Otherwise, you could end up spending considerably more to have documents certified more times than you need.
Who Can Certify Documents in USA?
In the USA, you can get documents certified by the secretary of state. This is true whether you are looking to authenticate a document or obtain an apostille, which you may need if you are sending documents internationally to other countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention.
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