Apostille - Legalisation of Documents
What
is an Apostille?
Why have an Apostille certificate?
What type of document can
be certified by an Apostille?
What information is contained
on the Apostille?
How long does it take?
Which
countries recognise the Apostille certificate?
How
do I place an order for an Apostille Certificate?
How much
does it cost?
What is an Apostille?
Put
simply an Apostille certificate authenticates the signature
of the public official who has signed the document. The
Apostille certificate confirms the person that signed the
document has the authority to do so and that the document
should therefore be recognised as legal without further
evidence in another member state. A member state being any
country which has joined the Hague Convention. Many countries
which have not joined the Convention also recognise Apostille
Certificates.
Why have an
Apostille certificate?
Prior
to the introduction of Apostille certificates the burden
on international courts and authorities to judge foreign
documents as authentic was quite considerable. On the 5
October 1961 the
Hague Convention abolished the requirement of legalisation
for foreign public documents. The Convention reduces all
of the formalities of legalisation to the simple delivery
of a certificate in a prescribed form entitled "Apostille".
This certificate, placed on the document, is dated, numbered
and registered. The verification of its registration can
be carried out without difficulty by means of a simple request
for information addressed to the authority which delivered
the certificate.
What type of
document can be certified by an Apostille?
Virtually
any document can
be legalised through the Apostille process. Follow the link
to a list of the most popular documents.
If the document you want legalised for use overseas is not
listed please email us the details.
What information
is contained on the Apostille?
The
certificate contains the following information:
- Country
of origin
-
Name of signatory on the document
- The
capacity in which that signatory has acted
- If
the document has been sealed/stamped instead of signed
then the
- details
of the authority
- Place
of certification
- Date
of certification
- Issuing
authorities details
- Certificate
number
- Stamp
of issuing authority
- Authorised
signature of authority
How long does
it take?
We aim
to have your Apostille certificate issued within ten working
days from receipt of your documents and payment. Delivery
time is dependant on the delivery service you order. Usually
you will receive your Apostille certificate within two weeks
of us receiving the documents from you. How do I use your
Apostille service?
Which
countries recognise the Apostille certificate?
The
following states are all members of the Hague Convention
and an Apostille Certificate will be legally recognised
in these countries without further legalisation.
Member
Countries
A Albania, Andora, Antigua
& Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan
(from 02/03/2005)
B Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium,
Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam,
Bulgaria
C Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic
D Dominica
E El Salvador
F Fiji, Finland, France, Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia
G Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guyana
H Honuras, Hong Kong (SAR), Hungary
I Ireland, Israel, Italy
J Japan
K Kazakhstan, Kiribati
L Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein,
Lithuania, Luxembourg
M Macau (SAR), Malawi, Malta, Marshall
Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco,
N Netherlands (including Aruba; Netherlands
Antilles), New Zealand, Niue, Norway
P Panama, Portugal (including Madeira)
R Romania, Russian Federation
S Samoa, Serbia and Montenegro, St Kitts
& Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines,
San Marino, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands,
South Africa, Spain (including the Canary Islands), Sri
Lanka, Surinam, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland
T Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey,
Tuvalu
U Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland, United States of America (including
Puerto Rico)
V Vanuatu, Venezuela
Y Yugoslavia
The
following countries have also adopted the Apostille Certificate
as proof of legalisation and in most situations the certificate
will be accepted. We recommend you consult the entity you
intend to present the document to before ordering our Apostille
service.
Other
Countries
A
Affars and the Issas, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Aruba
B Bermuda, Brazil, British Antarctic Territory,
British Virgin Islands
C Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, China,
Comoros Islands
D Denmark, Djibouti
E Egypt, Estonia
F Falkland Islands, French Guiana, French
Polynesia
G Georgia, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Guernsey
(Bailiwick of), Guyana
I Iceland
J Jersey, Jordan
M Malaysia, Martinique, Montserrat , Morocco,
Mozambique
N New Caledonia
S Sri Lanka, St. Georgia and South Sandwich
Islands, St. Helena, St. Pierre and Miquelon,
T Turks and Caicos
V Virgin Islands
W Wallis and Futuna
If
the country you intend to present the documents in is not
listed please check with the entity you intend to accept
the apostille. They very often recognise an Apostille certificate.
How
do I place an order for an Apostille Certificate?
Please
contact us by phone, email or post to place an order. One
of our advisers will discuss the service you require based
on the type of document. Payment can be made by credit or
debit card, UK cheque or transfer to our UK account.
Discounts
can be offered for multiple orders at the same time. We
will also advise on whether multiple documents can be legalised
under one apostille to avoid excess charges.
Return
to Company
Formation home page
Any questions or to order now - Contact us
Company Formation - Company
Registration - Scottish
Company Formation - Limited
Company Formation - Company
Formation UK - Off the
Shelf Company - Registered
Office - Company Secretary
- Limited Liability Partnership
- Company Limited
by Guarantee - Company
Seal - Apostille -
Links
Apostille
Legalisation - Online Formation - Business
Advice
