Consular Documentation

Consular Documentation in International Trade

Meaning of Consular Documentation, according to the Dictionary of International Trade (Global Negotiator): Documents and forms that have been presented to a consulate, usually of the buyer's country and usually in the country from which a shipment originates. While each country requiring consulate documentations establishes its own fee schedule and procedures, commercial invoices, certificates or origin and/or copies of transport documents are commonly used. Typically, importers in countries with such regulations are required to present the consularized documents to their authorities in order to clear customs. It is important to carefully prepare documents for consularization, since corrections are often both time consuming and expensive. Further, consulates are normally closed on their national holidays as well as holidays of their host country. Also called visaed or legalized documentation. See also letter of correction.