Brazil, Chile and Morocco recently joined “the Hague Convention of 5 of October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents” (the “Apostille Convention”) and will accept documents that have been apostilled (legalized) in any country that is subscribed to the Convention.  This agreement will simplify the legalization of documents for expatriates from the member countries who intend to work (or currently are working) in Brazil, Chile and Morocco, and need to present government documents from their country of origin.  

Pursuant to the Apostille Convention, government documents originating from a signatory country (country of origin) may be accepted by another member country (host country) if an apostille is affixed on the document by the country of origin.  The apostille process eliminates the requirement to legalize the document in the embassy or consulate in the host country where the document will be presented.  Affixing an apostille will, therefore, be the only required formality.  The apostille will certify that the signature, seal or stamp on a government document was affixed by a public official acting under the authority of the country of origin and, thus, the document should be deemed valid in any country subscribed to the Convention. 

The full list of Apostille Convention members can be accessed here.