Why are certified copies of documents only valid for a limited period?

Overall I think we’re on the same page on this topic. I hope some of my comments were helpful.

But there is unfortunately nothing much people can do about the issues of certified copy lifespans, difficulty of getting valid certified copies, the need to carry original IDs in contexts where certified copies are not accepted for that purpose, etc. It is called a bureau-cracy precisely because offices (bureaus) have coercive power and rulership (krátos) over people.

PurpleDime:

A couple of things don’t make sense to me. I don’t understand why he has to go through a third party in the UK to make certified copies of his diploma.

Bureaucracy isn’t meant to make sense. The requesting organization, in your cousin’s husband’s case the company in the UAE and the embassy of the UAE, made decisions about how copies of documents shall be certified that their applicants must follow. Thsoe decisions may have good reasoning, are nonsense, or may have certain agendas like deals with certification bodies for financial gain.

PurpleDime:

I’m not very convinced by this argument, because I don’t see how reducing the validity period prevents fraud. I think enshittification could be a reason. It’s more profitable for those certifying the copies if there is a limitation.

After I posted my previous post, I also thought my argument doesn’t make sense. Sorry. Like you suggest it could be intended to increase bureaucratic power, including financial gain. That thought has crossed my mind several times in my past dealings with bureaucracies.

PurpleDime:

beantaco:

The lifespan of the original document: the copy may become invalid when the original document becomes invalid, for instance if it expires or was revoked or amended.

Depending on the case yes. I don’t think that every certified copy of a document that expires should automatically be invalidated once that document expires. If the original is destroyed or lost, that certified copy can be used as evidence in court for example.

I did say may become invalid and not will become invalid.