Notarized or Certified True Copy? What is the difference and why do I need one?

A certified true copy is a photocopy of an original document asserted as being a true copy by affixing a signature, seal and statement to that effect on the copy itself. Normally if a certified true copy is required, it must be certified or notarized by a notary public hence it is often referred to as a Notarized Copy.
In many situations you may be required to provide important documents such as your passport, birth certificate, identification card, academic records, proof of citizenship and residence as supporting documents for an application. Rather than submitting the original document, in most cases a certified true copy (“notarized copy”) will suffice. This in many cases saves you risking your original documents which may be expensive and quite time consuming to replace. The recipient of the copy can be reasonably assured that the copy is genuine, because of the certification by the Notary.