Certificate of Good Standing

The Registrar of Companies can issue a Certificate of Good Standing which states according to the documents on the file at the Companies Registration Office, the company has been in continuous and unbroken existence since the date of its incorporation.

No action is currently being taken by the Registrar of Companies for striking the company off the register and dissolving it as defunct, and as far as the Registrar is aware:

• The company is not in liquidation or subject to an administration order
• No receiver or manager of the company's property has been appointed

• All annual returns and accounts are filed up to date

Legalisation

Legalisation simply means confirming that a signature, seal or stamp appearing on a document is genuine.

Why documents need to be legalised

The signatures or seals of Irish public officials such as solicitors, notaries public, registrars on certain documents like Powers of Attorney and Certificates of Good Standing from Ireland have to be confirmed before those documents can be accepted overseas.

Authenticating and legalising documents

The Consular Section, Department of Foreign Affairs can authenticate documents executed for use in other countries. Authenticating a document means verifying the signature of the person and/or the seal or stamp it bears. Legalising the document means authenticating it for the purpose of making it acceptable in a court.

The apostille or legalisation certificate attached to the document confirms that the signature, seal or stamp on the document is genuine.

Certificate of Authentication

Only validates the signature of a notary public or certain local or state officers. The Certificate of Authentication does not validate the contents, completeness, or accuracy of the notarised or issued document. The authentication process includes matching signature and seal with the information on file.

Authentications

Foreign governments may request bearers of documents to have them authenticated by the Department of Foreign Affairs or by embassies or missions overseas. The authentication verifies the identity of the signature and/or seal or stamp which the document bears.

A Certificate of Authentication only validates the signature of a notary public, local or state officer. The Certificate of Authentication does not validate the contents, completeness, or accuracy of the notarised or issued document. The authentication process includes matching signature and seal with the information on file.