When making application for permanent residency or citizenship in Portugal, foreign documents will need authentication. This certification is accomplished via an “Apostille” which is an international confirmation comparable to notarisation in national law used when sharing domestic documentation abroad. The verification seal designates the corroboration of documents for legal purposes in one of the signatory countries of the Apostille Convention for recognition in all other signatory states. This agreement currently has 112 co-signers and is in force in all European Union members as well as most parties to the Hague Conference on Private International Law.