Document certification and identity verification services

An increasing number of businesses are moving their operations online, facilitating an increase in global collaboration led by video conferencing and online marketplaces. Such marketplaces like Upwork, Fiverr, and Trustiics allow businesses to connect with trusted professionals that would otherwise be out of reach. This shift creates unique international business opportunities for many small and medium sized businesses. 

With the rise of international business, these marketplaces are becoming even more popular, especially during the current pandemic. Rather than travelling across the world to speak with management teams, authenticate documents and verify the identity of potential partners, everything can be done from the comfort of your own home office. 

On that note, Trustiics is excited to announce the introduction of our newest service: Document certification and ID verification.

What are document certification and identity verification services?

In many international transactions, companies or their counsel may require documents submitted by the foreign party to be authenticated, or for scanned copies of documents to be certified as the true copies of the original. This process is also common for individuals when making arrangements to live or study in another country. 

If you are considering working with a new client in your home country, you may be able to verify their identity and documents yourself or with the help of an apostille or legalization service. However, if the other party is in a foreign country like China, the process can be much more inconvenient, especially if you are unable to visit.

In some situations, Chinese authorities may require filing documents of foreign parties (e.g. a Canadian company) to be authenticated by a public notary (who can be a lawyer in Canada) in the company’s home country, then certified by the Chinese consulate before accepting them. Such authentication can be provided by either a public notary or a licensed lawyer. 

Whether you are working with a new client in your home country or doing business in China, our document certification and identity verification services can help you certify that a document is a true copy of the original and verify the identity of an individual or business. 

Witnessing the signing of a legal document

Beyond document certification and identity verification, our lawyers can also witness your client’s signing of legal or transactional documents. Witnessing the signing of legal documents sometimes happens at the same time as document certification and ID verification, or independently for the purposes of giving legal effectiveness of certain documents or providing better protection against potential disputes.

How do document certification services work?

Like all other services available through Trustiics, getting started is as easy as signing up and placing an order. Here’s how it works:

1. Sign up for a free Trustiics account.
2. Click submit a request to begin your order.
3. Click on document certification services and fill out all fields.
4. Receive proposals from our top-rated lawyers.
5. Select your preferred lawyer, then submit details about your request.
6. Your lawyer will meet with your client and verify documents and/or identity.

What are document certification services used for?

Document certification and identity verification services can be useful in a number of situations. Here are some examples:

Example 1

You are interested in starting a dropshipping business in Canada and have identified a manufacturer in China that you are interested in working with. You are considering placing a large order with them, and have requested a copy of their qualification and license issued by the relevant government agency.   

In order to be confident that the copies they provided are the same as their original documents, you can submit a document certification request on Trustiics. After doing so, a registered lawyer will meet with the manufacturer, verify the original documents and certify that the materials provided are the true copies of the original license issued by the government.

Example 2

You are a Canadian real estate agent who is in the process of helping your Shanghai-based client sell their home in British Columbia. In order to finalize the transaction, the buyer’s mortgage lender requires your client’s verification and signature of various documents.

Rather than asking your client to fly to Canada to verify and sign the documents, you could use Trustiics to find a Shanghai-based lawyer that can meet with your client. They can arrange a visit to witness signatures, confirm the identity of your client, and verify any necessary documents to finalize the transaction.

What types of documents can be certified or authenticated?

There are a number of legal, personal and business circumstances in which document certification, notarization and identity verification services may be necessary:

• Criminal history records
• Business licenses
• Bank account certificates
• Tax registrations
• Organization and enterprise codes
• Import/export licenses
• Product test reports
• ISO certificates
• Sales contracts
• Personal IDs
• Financial statements
• Power of attorney for real estate transactions
• Passports or Visas
• And many more

Bottom line

From imports and exports to financial services and beyond, there are an endless number of business opportunities in China. Armed with the right resources, the Chinese market is accessible to individuals, small businesses, and large corporations looking to expand their existing operations or embark on a new venture. 

While it can be intimidating to do business in a foreign country that you are unfamiliar with or unable to visit, Trustiics is here to help. Rather than flying all the way to meet your client, you can place an order on our platform and your selected lawyer can visit the client for you to witness the signing of any necessary documents, verify the client’s ID document and/or certify a document as you need. In addition to our document translation services, this service can help eliminate roadblocks that could slow your business down.