Originals instead of certified copies

[commonlawsponsor]

So from what I have read on here, we have to send original police certificates and NOT certified copies. Of course with a translation and affidavit that it is a true translation.

For his birth certificate, we would like to send the original, we don't need it back (it is just a piece of paper that he gets for free), with a translation and affidavit. In the guide - 3900ETOC, it says:

Any document that is not in English or French must be accompanied by:

the English or French translation; and
an affidavit from the person who completed the translation; and
a certified copy of the original document.

We are assuming if send the original we don't need to get a copy certified, however all this stuff stresses me out and I would rather be 100% sure.


Thanks in advance!

 

[OhCanadiana]

So from what I have read on here, we have to send original police certificates and NOT certified copies. Of course with a translation and affidavit that it is a true translation.

For his birth certificate, we would like to send the original, we don't need it back (it is just a piece of paper that he gets for free), with a translation and affidavit. In the guide - 3900ETOC, it says:

Any document that is not in English or French must be accompanied by:

the English or French translation; and
an affidavit from the person who completed the translation; and
a certified copy of the original document.

We are assuming if send the original we don't need to get a copy certified, however all this stuff stresses me out and I would rather be 100% sure.


Thanks in advance!

That's probably correct. I don't know what country you're from but in Mexico, for example, what people call "originals" really are certified copies. The thinking is that the original is in a record book somewhere and the certificates you get are all certified copies. So if that's similar to your situation, the original government-issued document is likely enough.

 

[commonlawsponsor]

My boyfriend is from Italy and what you are saying makes sense.

But I think that is different from certified copies. I'm a Canadian and recently applied for Hungarian citizenship, and our birth certificates (long version) costs some money, so you want to keep the originals. So I had to make certified copies...literally a photocopy, with some stamps, so that is why I was confused.

 

[OhCanadiana]

My boyfriend is from Italy and what you are saying makes sense.

But I think that is different from certified copies. I'm a Canadian and recently applied for Hungarian citizenship, and our birth certificates (long version) costs some money, so you want to keep the originals. So I had to make certified copies...literally a photocopy, with some stamps, so that is why I was confused.

Each country is a bit different. Italy is (somewhat) unique in that it's free so you can celebrate the small victories.