Apostille

Apostille

Apostille is a special stamp placed on official documents, thereby confirming their validity in the territories of the member states of the 1961 Hague Convention (115 countries, including the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland). In countries that are not parties to this convention, the apostille has no legal force but consular legalization of the document is required.

This stamp is affixed either directly on the document or on a separate sheet, in the form of a 9x9 cm square, containing the heading “Apostille” and information about the Hague Convention in French.

Depending on the type of documents, the apostille is affixed by the corresponding government authority. For example, marriage certificates may be affixed by the Civil Registry Office, diplomas and education certificates by the Ministry of Education, birth certificates by the Ministry of Justice. It is important. Each country has its own rules regarding where and on which document the apostille is placed.

An apostille may be required on the following documents:

• birth certificates, name change documents, marriage certificates, divorce certificates, death certificates;
• notarial documents;
• education documents - diplomas, certificates;
• medical certificates;
• employment record books;
• court decisions, certificates of no criminal record;
• other documents issued in another country, necessary for document processing in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Documents with apostille and sworn translation may be required in government institutions of Great Britan for:

• residence permit applications;
• citizenship applications;
• admission to universities or other educational institutions;
• employment;
• receiving social assistance from government agencies;
• in other private cases.