Foreign authorities and courts generally only recognize a public document if its authenticity can be verified. This can usually be done through a legalization or an apostille.
Whether a legalization or an apostille is required depends on the country where you plan to use the document. If you’re unsure which one you need, you can check the official government website of the country that issued your document.
For use in Costa Rica, an apostille is sufficient.
Typical documents for which an apostille may be required are:
Legalization means that a consular officer of the country where the document will be used (for example, Costa Rica) confirms the authenticity of the signature and the authority of the issuing office in Germany.
In many cases, however, legalization is no longer required because Germany has signed an international agreement with many countries – including Costa Rica – known as the Hague Convention.
This agreement allows for a simpler form of authentication called an Apostille.
The Apostille also certifies the authenticity of the document, but it is issued by a competent authority in the country where the document originates (for example, a German regional court).
In short:
For a public document to be recognized abroad, its authenticity must be officially verified.
This verification is done either through an Apostille or a Legalization, depending on the country where the document will be used.
Both confirm:
the authenticity of the signature
the authority of the issuing office
In many countries — for example, Costa Rica — an Apostille under the Apostille Convention is sufficient.