|
•
|
Under the e-APP, it is suggested that Competent Authorities use readily available and already widely used PDF
technology and digital certificates to issue e-Apostilles. Indeed, digital certificates can now be used within Adobe®
PDF (as well as in Microsoft® Word 2007) to secure sensitive documents from unauthorized tampering. In addition,
PDF technology now supports an optional XML layer of data that can be used to secure and transmit data in a
human-readable format.
|
|
•
|
For a Competent Authority to be able to issue e-Apostilles as suggested under the e-APP, it has to acquire a valid
license to the Standard or Professional version of Adobe 7.0 or greater.
|
|
•
|
The recipient of the e-Apostille will be able to view the e-Apostille using the free Adobe Reader.
|
|
•
|
PDF documents that have been created with Adobe 8.0 Professional can be digitally signed using the free version
of Adobe Reader 8.0. This means that for large Competent Authorities with several officials who issue e-Apostilles,
only one licensed version of Adobe Professional 8.0 is required (for example, a head of the Competent Authority
may acquire the Professional version and allow other officials to digitally sign e-Apostilles using the free Reader
only).
|
|
•
|
The use of PDF technology is a suggestion only and Competent Authorities can develop or use comparable
proprietary software to issue e-Apostilles.
|