What is an Apostille and Legalisation?
  • olddocks October 2010

    An Apostille is basically a certification which basically authenticates its origin. It can be a birth certificate, marriage or death certificate or company documents.

    Certain documents say your birth certificates, incorporation documents, passport copy or marksheets originating from one country, cannot just simply valid and acceptable in another country. For this, you would be asked to obtain legalisation or apostille on the documents. Only then it is considered valid. Note that simple notarisations is not acceptable in those countries where the documents are used.

    Legalisation is usually a lengthy time consuming process and you have to follow a chain of procedures step by step. To minimise the hardwork involved, countries formed a network and signed an agreement called HAGUE AGREEMENT OF 1961 ABOLISHING THE REQUIREMENT FOR LEGALIZATION FOR PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. Together they came up to issue a certificate called 'APOSTILLE' which greatly simplifies the procedural task, and once issued in one country, it is automatically considered valid and acceptable in within all hague member countries. Thus, Apostille is a 'super' Legalisation.

    If your country does not participate in Hague convention, then you should contact the nearest embassy or foreign office in your country for legalisation.

    Official Website of Hague Convention: http://www.hcch.net
    Hague Apostille Section: http://www.hcch.net/index_en.php?act=text.display&tid=37
    Apostille Informatin (from HCCH in PDF): http://www.hcch.net/upload/abc12e.pdf

  • Alsace83 January 2011

    Have a look at this link for more information about apostille in Russia.

  • Apostille123 March 2011

    We specialize in apostilles and embassy legalization services please visit us at www.apostille123.info

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