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1961 foreign document certification treaty From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents, also known as the Apostille Convention, is an international treaty drafted by the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH). The Apostille Convention is intended to simplify the procedure through which a document, issued in one of the contracting states, can be certified for legal purposes in the other contracting states of the convention. A certification under the convention is called an apostille or Hague apostille (from French apostille, meaning a marginal or bottom note, derived from Latin post illa, meaning "after those [words of the text]").[2] An apostille is an international certification comparable to a notarisation, and may supplement a local notarisation of the document. If the Convention applies between two states, an apostille issued by the state of origin is sufficient to certify the document, and removes the need for further certification by the destination state.
Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents | |
---|---|
Signed | 5 October 1961 |
Location | The Hague, Netherlands |
Effective | 24 January 1965 |
Condition | Ratification by 3 signatories[1] |
Parties | 127 |
Depositary | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands |
Languages | French (prevailing in case of divergence) and English |
Full text | |
Apostille Convention at Wikisource |
Many states require the verification of the authenticity of foreign documents in a procedure called legalization, for the document to be legally valid there. This legalization is generally a chain of certifications, by one or more authorities of the state where the document was issued and of the destination state. The first authority certifies the issuer of the document, and each subsequent authority certifies the previous one, until the final certification is made by an authority of the destination state that can be recognized by the final user there.[3] For example, to be accepted in Thailand, a document from the U.S. state of Maryland not issued by a government official must be certified by a notary public, who must then be certified by the clerk of the circuit court in the notary's county, who must then be certified by the Maryland Secretary of State, who must then be certified by the U.S. Department of State, which must finally be certified by the Embassy of Thailand in the United States.[4][5]
In many cases, the legalization procedure is simplified or exempted altogether. For example, some states have agreements eliminating the legalization requirement for certain documents issued by each other, such as between Argentina and Italy,[6] between Brazil and France,[7] between parties of the Convention on the Issue of Multilingual Extracts from Civil Status Records,[8][9] and between parties of the Convention on Legal Assistance and Legal Relations of the Commonwealth of Independent States.[10][11] The European Union also has a regulation eliminating the legalization requirement for certain documents of its member states to be accepted by each other.[12] Some states such as Canada, Japan, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States generally accept documents from any state without any certification.[13][14][15][16][17]
The Apostille Convention, drafted by the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), is intended to simplify the legalization procedure by replacing it with a certification called an apostille, issued by an authority designated by the state of origin. Ideally the apostille would be the only certification needed, but in some cases additional certifications in the state of origin may be required before the apostille is issued. In any case, after the apostille, no certification by the destination state is required.[3]
The Convention permits certain states to sign and ratify the convention, becoming contracting states.[a] For each of these states, or for an extension to one of its territories, the Convention enters into force 60 days after the deposit of its ratification or territorial extension. Other states are also permitted to become contracting states by acceding to the convention, but without signing it. For each of these states, during the period of six months after it deposits its accession, the other contracting states may object to it, and the Convention enters into force 60 days after this period, between the acceding state and all other contracting states that did not object to it.[1] Later, if a contracting state withdraws its objection, the Convention enters into force between these two states at that time. A successor state of a previous contracting state may declare to continue to be bound by the Convention without a waiting period or accede later as a new state.
As of October 2024[update], 127 states are contracting states of the Apostille Convention.[19][20]
State | Signed | Deposited | Entered into force |
---|---|---|---|
Albania[b] | — | 3 September 2003 | 9 May 2004 |
Andorra | — | 15 April 1996 | 31 December 1996 |
Antigua and Barbuda[c] | — | 1 May 1985 | 1 November 1981 |
Argentina[d] | — | 8 May 1987 | 18 February 1988 |
Armenia | — | 19 November 1993 | 14 August 1994 |
Australia[e] | — | 11 July 1994 | 16 March 1995 |
Austria[f] | 5 October 1961 | 14 November 1967 | 13 January 1968 |
Azerbaijan[g] | — | 13 May 2004 | 2 March 2005 |
Bahamas[c] | — | 30 April 1976 | 10 July 1973 |
Bahrain | — | 10 April 2013 | 31 December 2013 |
Bangladesh[h] | — | 29 July 2024 | 30 March 2025 |
Barbados[c] | — | 11 August 1995 | 30 November 1966 |
Belarus[i] | — | 16 June 1992 | 31 May 1992 |
Belgium | 10 March 1970 | 11 December 1975 | 9 February 1976 |
Belize | — | 17 July 1992 | 11 April 1993 |
Bolivia | — | 6 September 2017 | 7 May 2018 |
Bosnia and Herzegovina[j] | — | 23 August 1993 | 6 March 1992 |
Botswana[c] | — | 16 September 1968 | 30 September 1966 |
Brazil | — | 2 December 2015 | 14 August 2016 |
Brunei[k] | — | 23 February 1987 | 3 December 1987 |
Bulgaria | — | 1 August 2000 | 29 April 2001 |
Burundi[l] | — | 10 June 2014 | 13 February 2015 |
Canada | — | 12 May 2023 | 11 January 2024 |
Cape Verde[m] | — | 7 May 2009 | 13 February 2010 |
Chile | — | 16 December 2015 | 30 August 2016 |
China[n] | — | 8 March 2023 | 7 November 2023 |
Colombia | — | 27 April 2000 | 30 January 2001 |
Cook Islands | — | 13 July 2004 | 30 April 2005 |
Costa Rica | — | 6 April 2011 | 14 December 2011 |
Croatia[j] | — | 23 April 1993 | 8 October 1991 |
Cyprus | — | 26 July 1972 | 30 April 1973 |
Czech Republic | — | 23 June 1998 | 16 March 1999 |
Denmark[o] | 20 October 2006 | 30 October 2006 | 29 December 2006 |
Dominica[c] | — | 22 October 2002 | 3 November 1978 |
Dominican Republic[p] | — | 12 December 2008 | 30 August 2009 |
Ecuador | — | 2 July 2004 | 2 April 2005 |
El Salvador | — | 14 September 1995 | 31 May 1996 |
Estonia[f] | — | 11 December 2000 | 30 September 2001 |
Eswatini[c] | — | 3 July 1978 | 6 September 1968 |
Fiji[c] | — | 29 March 1971 | 10 October 1970 |
Finland[f] | 13 March 1962 | 27 June 1985 | 26 August 1985 |
France[q] | 9 October 1961 | 25 November 1964 | 24 January 1965 |
Georgia[r] | — | 21 August 2006 | 14 May 2007 |
Germany[s][f] | 5 October 1961 | 15 December 1965 | 13 February 1966 |
Greece | 5 October 1961 | 19 March 1985 | 18 May 1985 |
Grenada[k] | — | 17 July 2001 | 7 April 2002 |
Guatemala | — | 19 January 2017 | 18 September 2017 |
Guyana[k] | — | 30 July 2018 | 18 April 2019 |
Honduras | — | 20 January 2004 | 30 September 2004 |
Hungary | — | 18 April 1972 | 18 January 1973 |
Iceland | 7 September 2004 | 28 September 2004 | 27 November 2004 |
India[t] | — | 26 October 2004 | 14 July 2005 |
Indonesia | — | 5 October 2021 | 4 June 2022 |
Ireland | 29 October 1996 | 8 January 1999 | 9 March 1999 |
Israel | — | 11 November 1977 | 14 August 1978 |
Italy | 15 December 1961 | 13 December 1977 | 11 February 1978 |
Jamaica | — | 2 November 2020 | 3 July 2021 |
Japan | 12 March 1970 | 28 May 1970 | 27 July 1970 |
Kazakhstan | — | 5 April 2000 | 30 January 2001 |
Kosovo[u] | — | 6 November 2015 | 14 July 2016 |
Kyrgyzstan[v] | — | 15 November 2010 | 31 July 2011 |
Latvia[f] | — | 11 May 1995 | 30 January 1996 |
Lesotho[c] | — | 24 April 1972 | 4 October 1966 |
Liberia[w] | — | 24 May 1995 | 8 February 1996 |
Liechtenstein | 18 April 1962 | 19 July 1972 | 17 September 1972 |
Lithuania[f] | — | 5 November 1996 | 19 July 1997 |
Luxembourg | 5 October 1961 | 4 April 1979 | 3 June 1979 |
Malawi | — | 24 February 1967 | 2 December 1967 |
Malta | — | 12 June 1967 | 3 March 1968 |
Marshall Islands | — | 18 November 1991 | 14 August 1992 |
Mauritius[c] | — | 20 December 1968 | 12 March 1968 |
Mexico | — | 1 December 1994 | 14 August 1995 |
Moldova[x] | — | 19 June 2006 | 16 March 2007 |
Monaco | — | 24 April 2002 | 31 December 2002 |
Mongolia[y] | — | 2 April 2009 | 31 December 2009 |
Montenegro[j] | — | 30 January 2007 | 3 June 2006 |
Morocco[z] | — | 27 November 2015 | 14 August 2016 |
Namibia | — | 25 April 2000 | 30 January 2001 |
Netherlands[aa] | 30 November 1962 | 9 August 1965 | 8 October 1965 |
New Zealand[ab] | — | 7 February 2001 | 22 November 2001 |
Nicaragua | — | 7 September 2012 | 14 May 2013 |
Niue | — | 10 June 1998 | 2 March 1999 |
North Macedonia[j] | — | 20 September 1993 | 17 November 1991 |
Norway | 30 May 1983 | 30 May 1983 | 29 July 1983 |
Oman | — | 12 May 2011 | 30 January 2012 |
Pakistan[ac] | — | 8 July 2022 | 9 March 2023 |
Palau | — | 17 October 2019 | 23 June 2020 |
Panama | — | 30 October 1990 | 4 August 1991 |
Paraguay[ad] | — | 10 December 2013 | 30 August 2014 |
Peru[ae] | — | 13 January 2010 | 30 September 2010 |
Philippines[af] | — | 12 September 2018 | 14 May 2019 |
Poland[f] | — | 19 November 2004 | 14 August 2005 |
Portugal[m][f] | 20 August 1965 | 6 December 1968 | 4 February 1969 |
Romania[f] | — | 7 June 2000 | 16 March 2001 |
Russia[ag] | — | 4 September 1991 | 31 May 1992 |
Rwanda[ah] | — | 6 October 2023 | 5 June 2024 |
Saint Kitts and Nevis[k] | — | 26 February 1994 | 14 December 1994 |
Saint Lucia[k] | — | 5 December 2001 | 31 July 2002 |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines[c] | — | 2 May 2002 | 27 October 1979 |
Samoa | — | 18 January 1999 | 13 September 1999 |
San Marino | — | 26 May 1994 | 13 February 1995 |
São Tomé and Príncipe[m] | — | 19 December 2007 | 13 September 2008 |
Saudi Arabia | — | 8 April 2022 | 7 December 2022 |
Senegal[ai] | — | 13 July 2022 | 23 March 2023 |
Serbia[j] | — | 26 April 2001 | 27 April 1992 |
Seychelles | — | 9 June 1978 | 31 March 1979 |
Singapore | — | 18 January 2021 | 16 September 2021 |
Slovakia | — | 6 June 2001 | 18 February 2002 |
Slovenia[j] | — | 8 June 1992 | 25 June 1991 |
South Africa | — | 3 August 1994 | 30 April 1995 |
South Korea | — | 25 October 2006 | 14 July 2007 |
Spain | 21 October 1976 | 27 July 1978 | 25 September 1978 |
Suriname[aj] | — | 29 October 1976 | 25 November 1975 |
Sweden | 2 March 1999 | 2 March 1999 | 1 May 1999 |
Switzerland | 5 October 1961 | 10 January 1973 | 11 March 1973 |
Tajikistan[ak] | — | 20 February 2015 | 31 October 2015 |
Tonga[c] | — | 28 October 1971 | 4 June 1970 |
Trinidad and Tobago | — | 28 October 1999 | 14 July 2000 |
Tunisia[al] | — | 10 July 2017 | 30 March 2018 |
Turkey | 8 May 1962 | 31 July 1985 | 29 September 1985 |
Ukraine[am][f] | — | 2 April 2003 | 22 December 2003 |
United Kingdom[an] | 19 October 1961 | 21 August 1964 | 24 January 1965 |
United States[ao] | — | 24 December 1980 | 15 October 1981 |
Uruguay | — | 9 February 2012 | 14 October 2012 |
Uzbekistan[ap] | — | 25 July 2011 | 15 April 2012 |
Vanuatu[aq] | — | 1 August 2008 | 30 July 1980 |
Venezuela | — | 1 July 1998 | 16 March 1999 |
The governments of Iran, Lebanon, Malaysia and Vietnam have expressed interest in acceding to the Apostille Convention.[79][80][81][82]
The Convention mentions four types of documents eligible for apostilles:[1]
However, the Apostille Convention does not apply to documents issued by diplomatic or consular officers, or to administrative documents dealing directly with commercial or customs operations.[1] The reason for this exclusion is that these documents are usually already exempt from legalization.[83]
Each contracting state designates one or more authorities to issue apostilles. Examples of designated authorities are ministries, courts, subnational governments, notaries and registries. In some states, each authority is designated to issue apostilles only on certain types of documents. For example, in Hungary, apostilles are issued on court documents by the Ministry of Justice, on notarial documents by the Chamber of Civil Law Notaries, and on other documents by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;[84] in Mexico, apostilles on federal documents are issued by the federal Secretariat of Governance, and on state documents by the respective state government.[85]
In general, documents issued by a government official can be certified directly with an apostille, while other documents must be certified by a notary, who may then be certified with an apostille. In some cases, additional intermediate certifications may be required; for example, for notarized or municipal documents in some U.S. states, the notary or municipal official must be certified by the respective county or court, which may then be certified by the respective state with an apostille.[4][86][87]
The fee for issuing an apostille varies widely by state. In 2016, the HCCH compiled fees of 54 states and calculated an average of 15.43 EUR.[88] Some states, such as France and Japan, do not charge a fee,[89][90] while the Cayman Islands charge 150 KYD (180 USD), one of the highest.[91] In some states, the fee also varies by location, authority, quantity, purpose or type of document. For example, in the United States, Indiana does not charge a fee for an apostille of a birth certificate,[92] while Connecticut charges US$40 for an apostille not related to adoption.[93]
State | Authority[94][95] | Fee | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
In local currency | EUR | USD | |||
Albania | Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs | 200 ALL | 2.01 | 2.25 | 200 ALL for Albanian nationals; reciprocity fee for foreign nationals.[96] |
Andorra | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 8.58 EUR | 8.58 | 9.58 | [97] |
Antigua and Barbuda | Registry of the High Court | 35 XCD | 11.61 | 12.96 | May also be paid as 12 GBP, US$15, 15 CAD or 15 EUR.[98] |
Argentina[ar] | Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship | 4,500 ARS | 4.19 | 4.68 | [99] |
College of Notaries of the City of Buenos Aires | 29,000 ARS | 27.01 | 30.15 | [102] | |
College of Notaries of Buenos Aires Province | 24,000 ARS | 22.35 | 24.95 | [103] | |
College of Notaries of Catamarca | 20,500 ARS | 19.09 | 21.31 | 20,500 ARS normal or 26,000 ARS urgent, for documents from this province; 31,500 ARS normal or 44,500 ARS urgent, for documents from other jurisdictions.[104] | |
College of Notaries of Chaco | 25,000 ARS | 23.28 | 25.99 | 25,000 ARS normal, 35,500 ARS urgent or 60,000 ARS express, for notarial documents; 19,500 ARS normal, 26,500 ARS urgent or 50,000 ARS express, for administrative documents.[105] | |
College of Notaries of Chubut | 28,500 ARS | 26.54 | 29.63 | 28,500 ARS normal or 45,500 ARS urgent.[106] | |
College of Notaries of Córdoba | 24,800 ARS | 23.10 | 25.78 | 24,800 ARS normal or 43,600 ARS urgent, for notarial documents; 27,400 ARS normal or 53,200 ARS urgent, for judicial and administrative documents.[107] | |
College of Notaries of Corrientes | 12,500 ARS | 11.64 | 12.99 | 12,500 ARS for 15-day service, 19,000 ARS for 3-day service, or 28,000 ARS for 1-day service.[108] | |
College of Notaries of Entre Ríos | 20,000 ARS | 18.63 | 20.79 | 20,000 ARS normal or 30,000 ARS urgent.[109] | |
College of Notaries of Formosa | 12,000 ARS | 11.18 | 12.47 | 12,000 ARS normal or 20,000 ARS urgent, for notarial documents; 7,000 ARS for 3-day service, 10,000 ARS for 2-day service, or 15,000 ARS for 1-day service, for other documents.[110] | |
College of Notaries of Jujuy | 17,500 ARS | 16.30 | 18.19 | 17,500 ARS normal or 21,500 ARS urgent, for residents of this province; 21,000 ARS normal or 23,500 ARS urgent, for residents elsewhere.[111] | |
College of Notaries of La Pampa | 19,500 ARS | 18.16 | 20.27 | [112] | |
College of Notaries of La Rioja | 17,500 ARS | 16.30 | 18.19 | 17,500 ARS for 2-day service or 23,500 ARS for 1-day service, for documents from this province; 29,500 ARS for 5-day service or 54,500 ARS for 3-day service, for documents from other jurisdictions.[113] | |
Notarial College of Mendoza | 35,000 ARS | 32.60 | 36.38 | 35,000 ARS for notarial documents; 20,500 ARS normal or 37,300 ARS urgent, for other documents.[114] | |
Notarial College of Misiones | 21,000 ARS | 19.56 | 21.83 | 21,000 ARS for 15-day service, 42,000 ARS for 5-day service, or 63,000 ARS for next-day service, for notarial documents; 25,500 ARS for 15-day service, 51,000 ARS for 5-day service, or 76,500 ARS for next-day service, for judicial and administrative documents.[115] | |
College of Notaries of Neuquén | |||||
Notarial College of Río Negro | |||||
College of Notaries of Salta | 35,500 ARS | 33.06 | 36.90 | 35,500 ARS for 10-day service or 51,000 ARS for 4-day service.[116] | |
Notarial College of San Juan | |||||
College of Notaries of San Luis | 19,100 ARS | 17.79 | 19.85 | 19,100 ARS normal or 32,800 ARS urgent.[117] | |
College of Notaries of Santa Cruz | 9,000 ARS | 8.38 | 9.36 | 9,000 ARS normal or 14,000 ARS urgent.[118] | |
College of Notaries of Santa Fe First District | 23,300 ARS | 21.70 | 24.22 | [119] | |
College of Notaries of Santa Fe Second District | 23,300 ARS | 21.70 | 24.22 | [120] | |
Notarial College of Santiago del Estero | |||||
College of Notaries of Tierra del Fuego | 26,000 ARS | 24.22 | 27.03 | 26,000 ARS normal or 48,000 ARS urgent.[121] | |
College of Notaries of Tucumán | 15,000 ARS | 13.97 | 15.59 | [122] | |
Armenia | Ministry of Justice | 7,000 AMD | 16.16 | 18.04 | For documents submitted in Armenia, except criminal records.[123][124] |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 7,000 AMD | 16.16 | 18.04 | For documents submitted in diplomatic missions and criminal records.[123][125] | |
Australia | Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade | 98 AUD | 60.14 | 67.12 | [126][127] |
Austria | Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs | 17.50 EUR | 17.50 | 19.53 | For federal administrative and supreme judicial documents. Additional 14.30 EUR per request if made by post.[128] |
State governments | 17.50 EUR | 17.50 | 19.53 | For administrative documents from the respective state. Additional 14.30 EUR per request if made by post.[129][130] | |
Regional courts | 15 EUR | 15.00 | 16.74 | For judicial and notarial documents from the respective region.[131] | |
Embassies and consulates | 40 EUR | 40.00 | 44.64 | [132] | |
Azerbaijan | Ministry of Justice | 10 AZN | 5.27 | 5.88 | For judicial, notarial and civil registry documents.[133] |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 10 AZN | 5.27 | 5.88 | For other documents.[134] | |
Bahamas | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 100 BSD | 89.60 | 100.00 | 100 BSD for standard service, 150 BSD for same-day service, or 300 BSD for 2-hour service, per document, plus 20 BSD for uniting and sealing.[135] |
Bahrain | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 20 BHD | 47.66 | 53.19 | No fee, 1 or 10 BHD for educational documents, declaration of Islam, travel or burial permits, commercial invoices, and for medical reports or death certificates of Bahraini nationals; 20 BHD for other documents.[136] |
Bangladesh | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | ||||
Barbados | Solicitor General and Deputy Solicitor General | 50 BBD | 22.40 | 25.00 | [137] |
Registry of the Supreme Court | 50 BBD | 22.40 | 25.00 | [137] | |
Corporate Affairs and Intellectual Property Office | 50 BBD | 22.40 | 25.00 | [137] | |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade | 50 BBD | 22.40 | 25.00 | [137] | |
Belarus | Regional justice administrations | 200 BYR | 54.80 | 61.16 | For judicial and notarial documents.[138][139] |
Ministry of Education | 200 BYR | 54.80 | 61.16 | For educational documents.[138][139] | |
Department for Archives and Records Management | 200 BYR | 54.80 | 61.16 | For state archives.[138][139] | |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 200 BYR | 54.80 | 61.16 | For other documents, and any documents submitted in diplomatic missions.[138][139] | |
Belgium | Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs | 20 EUR | 20.00 | 22.32 | [140] |
Belize | General Registry | 50 BZD | 22.40 | 25.00 | [141] |
Financial Services Commission | |||||
Bolivia | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 70 BOB | 9.08 | 10.13 | 70, 130 or 300 BOB depending on the type of document, or 1,000 BOB for ADSIB certificate.[142] |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Municipal and basic courts | 20 BAM | 10.23 | 11.41 | [143] |
Botswana | Permanent Secretaries | ||||
District Commissioners | |||||
Registry of the High Court | |||||
Magistrate courts | |||||
Brazil[as] | General Inspectorates of Justice and court directors | Only for judicial documents.[144] | |||
Notaries and registries in Acre | 63.90 BRL | 10.54 | 11.77 | [147][148] | |
Notaries and registries in Alagoas | 51.29 BRL | 8.46 | 9.45 | [149] | |
Notaries and registries in Amapá | 71.82 BRL | 11.85 | 13.23 | [150] | |
Notaries and registries in Amazonas | 69.16 BRL | 11.41 | 12.74 | [151] | |
Notaries and registries in Bahia | 108.26 BRL | 17.86 | 19.94 | [152] | |
Notaries and registries in Ceará | 75.69 BRL | 12.49 | 13.94 | [153] | |
Notaries and registries in Espírito Santo | 70.70 BRL | 11.67 | 13.02 | [154] | |
Notaries and registries in the Federal District | 60.64 BRL | 10.01 | 11.17 | [155] | |
Notaries and registries in Goiás | 84.12 BRL | 13.88 | 15.49 | [156] | |
Notaries and registries in Maranhão | 127.03 BRL | 20.96 | 23.39 | [157] | |
Notaries and registries in Mato Grosso | 114.45 BRL | 18.89 | 21.08 | [158][159] | |
Notaries and registries in Mato Grosso do Sul | 115 BRL | 18.98 | 21.18 | [160] | |
Notaries and registries in Minas Gerais | 172.78 BRL | 28.51 | 31.82 | [161] | |
Notaries and registries in Pará | 145.27 BRL | 23.97 | 26.75 | [162][163] | |
Notaries and registries in Paraíba | 94.50 BRL | 15.59 | 17.40 | [164] | |
Notaries and registries in Paraná | 71.57 BRL | 11.81 | 13.18 | [165] | |
Notaries and registries in Pernambuco | 112.34 BRL | 18.54 | 20.69 | [166][167] | |
Notaries and registries in Piauí | 68.61 BRL | 11.32 | 12.64 | [168] | |
Notaries and registries in Rio de Janeiro | 119.98 BRL | 19.80 | 22.10 | [169] | |
Notaries and registries in Rio Grande do Norte | 97.66 BRL | 16.11 | 17.99 | [170] | |
Notaries and registries in Rio Grande do Sul | 82.90 BRL | 13.68 | 15.27 | [171] | |
Notaries and registries in Rondônia | 48.32 BRL | 7.97 | 8.90 | [172] | |
Notaries and registries in Roraima | 72.50 BRL | 11.96 | 13.35 | [173] | |
Notaries and registries in Santa Catarina | 62.78 BRL | 10.36 | 11.56 | [174] | |
Notaries and registries in São Paulo | 151.05 BRL | 24.92 | 27.82 | [175] | |
Notaries and registries in Sergipe | 85.62 BRL | 14.13 | 15.77 | [176] | |
Notaries and registries in Tocantins | 77.93 BRL | 12.86 | 14.35 | [177] | |
Brunei | Registry of the Supreme Court | 2 BND | 1.39 | 1.55 | [178] |
Registry of subordinate courts | 2 BND | 1.39 | 1.55 | [178] | |
Bulgaria | Ministry of Justice | 5 BGN | 2.56 | 2.85 | For judicial and notarial documents.[179] |
Provincial governments | 5 BGN | 2.56 | 2.85 | For municipal documents.[180] | |
National Center for Information and Documentation | 7.50 BGN | 3.83 | 4.28 | For educational and professional documents. Fee is 7.5 BGN for apostille issued electronically; 15 BGN if requested electronically but issued on paper, or requested on paper with 3-day service; 22.50 BGN if requested on paper with 2-day service; or 30 BGN if requested on paper with 8-hour service.[181] | |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 15 BGN | 7.67 | 8.56 | For other documents. Fee is 15 BGN for 4-day service, 22.50 BGN for next-day service, or 30 BGN for same-day service.[182] | |
Burundi | Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation | ||||
Canada | Global Affairs Canada | – | 0.00 | 0.00 | For documents from the federal government, Atlantic provinces, Manitoba, and territories.[183] |
Ministry of Justice of Alberta | 10 CAD | 6.59 | 7.35 | For documents from this province.[184] | |
Ministry of the Attorney General of British Columbia | 20 CAD | 13.18 | 14.71 | For documents from this province.[185] | |
Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery of Ontario | 32 CAD | 21.08 | 23.53 | For documents from this province. Fee is 16 CAD for notarial documents or 32 CAD for other documents.[186] | |
Ministry of Justice of Quebec | 65 CAD | 42.82 | 47.79 | For documents from this province.[187] | |
Ministry of Justice and Attorney General of Saskatchewan | 50 CAD | 32.94 | 36.76 | For documents from this province.[188] | |
Cape Verde | General Directorate of Registries, Notary and Identification | 800 CVE | 7.26 | 8.10 | Fee may be waived due to financial hardship.[189][190] |
General Directorate of Consular Affairs and Migrations | 800 CVE | 7.26 | 8.10 | May also be paid as 8 EUR.[191] Fee may be waived due to financial hardship.[189][190] | |
Chile | Ministry of Justice and Human Rights | – | 0.00 | 0.00 | For judicial and notarial documents.[192][193] |
Ministry of Education | – | 0.00 | 0.00 | For educational documents.[192][193] | |
Ministry of Health | – | 0.00 | 0.00 | For medical documents.[192][193] | |
Civil Registry and Identification Service | – | 0.00 | 0.00 | For civil registry documents.[192][193] | |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs | – | 0.00 | 0.00 | [192][193] | |
China | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 50 CNY | 6.35 | 7.09 | For documents from mainland China. Fee is 50 CNY for personal documents or 100 CNY for commercial documents, for Chinese nationals, or reciprocal fee for foreign nationals, for 4-day service; additional fee of 50 CNY for 2-day service.[194][195] |
Anhui Foreign Affairs Office | For documents from this province. | ||||
Chongqing Foreign Affairs Office | 50 CNY | 6.35 | 7.09 | For documents from this municipality. Fee is 50 CNY for personal documents or 100 CNY for commercial documents, for 5-day service; additional fee of 50 CNY for 3-day service.[196] | |
Fujian Foreign Affairs Office | For documents from this province. | ||||
Gansu Foreign Affairs Office | For documents from this province. | ||||
Guangdong Foreign Affairs Office | For documents from this province. | ||||
Guangxi Foreign Affairs Office | For documents from this region. | ||||
Guizhou Foreign Affairs Office | For documents from this province. | ||||
Hainan Foreign Affairs Office | For documents from this province. | ||||
Hebei Foreign Affairs Office | 50 CNY | 6.35 | 7.09 | For documents from this province. Fee is 50 CNY for personal documents or 100 CNY for commercial documents, for 4-day service; additional fee of 50 CNY for 2-day service.[197] | |
Heilongjiang Foreign Affairs Office | For documents from this province. | ||||
Henan Foreign Affairs Office | 50 CNY | 6.35 | 7.09 | For documents from this province. Fee is 50 CNY for personal documents or 100 CNY for commercial documents, for 4-day service; additional fee of 50 CNY for 2-day service.[198] | |
Hubei Foreign Affairs Office | For documents from this province. | ||||
Hunan Foreign Affairs Office | For documents from this province. | ||||
Inner Mongolia Foreign Affairs Office | 50 CNY | 6.35 | 7.09 | For documents from this region. Fee is 50 CNY for personal documents or 100 CNY for commercial documents.[199] | |
Jiangsu Foreign Affairs Office | 50 CNY | 6.35 | 7.09 | For documents from this province. Fee is 50 CNY for personal documents or 100 CNY for commercial documents, for 4-day service; additional fee of 50 CNY for 2-day service.[200] | |
Jiangxi Foreign Affairs Office | For documents from this province. | ||||
Jilin Foreign Affairs Office | For documents from this province. | ||||
Liaoning Foreign Affairs Office | For documents from this province. | ||||
Shaanxi Foreign Affairs Office | For documents from this province. | ||||
Shandong Foreign Affairs Office | For documents from this province. | ||||
Shanghai Foreign Affairs Office | For documents from this municipality. | ||||
Shanxi Foreign Affairs Office | For documents from this province. | ||||
Sichuan Foreign Affairs Office | For documents from this province. | ||||
Yunnan Foreign Affairs Office | For documents from this province. | ||||
Zhejiang Foreign Affairs Office | For documents from this province. | ||||
Changchun Foreign Affairs Office | For documents from this city. | ||||
Harbin Foreign Affairs Office | For documents from this city. | ||||
Jinan Foreign Affairs Office | For documents from this city. | ||||
Ningbo Foreign Affairs Office | For documents from this city. | ||||
Qingdao Foreign Affairs Office | 50 CNY | 6.35 | 7.09 | For documents from this city. Fee is 50 CNY for personal documents or 100 CNY for commercial documents, for 4-day service; additional fee of 50 CNY for 2-day service.[201] | |
Shenzhen Foreign Affairs Office | For documents from this city. | ||||
Registry of the High Court of Hong Kong | 125 HKD | 14.36 | 16.03 | For documents from this region.[202] | |
Secretariat for Administration and Justice of Macau | – | 0.00 | 0.00 | For documents from this region.[203] | |
Colombia | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 36,000 COP | 7.77 | 8.67 | In consulates, may also be paid as 8 EUR or US$11. Plus 2,380 COP if paid by credit card.[204] |
Cook Islands | Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration | 20 NZD | 11.20 | 12.50 | [205] |
Costa Rica | Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship | 625 CRC | 1.08 | 1.20 | [206] |
Croatia | Municipal courts | 6.64 EUR | 6.64 | 7.41 | 6.64 EUR for original documents; 7.96 EUR for translations.[207] |
Cyprus | Ministry of Justice and Public Order | 5 EUR | 5.00 | 5.58 | [208] |
Czech Republic | Ministry of Justice | 300 CZK | 11.95 | 13.33 | For judicial documents.[209] |
Notarial Chamber | 363 CZK | 14.46 | 16.13 | For notarial documents. Fee includes value added tax of 21%.[210] | |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 300 CZK | 11.95 | 13.33 | For other documents.[211] | |
Denmark | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 230 DKK | 30.83 | 34.41 | [212] |
Dominica | Ministry of National Security and Legal Affairs | 15 USD | 13.44 | 15.00 | Equivalent to 40.50 XCD.[213] |
Dominican Republic | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 620 DOP | 9.26 | 10.33 | Plus 100 DOP for consular documents.[214] |
Ecuador | Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility | 30 USD | 26.88 | 30.00 | For applicants over age 65, the fee is reduced to US$15. Disabled applicants are exempt from the fee.[215] |
El Salvador | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | – | 0.00 | 0.00 | [216] |
Estonia | Notaries | 26.82 EUR | 26.82 | 29.93 | [217] |
Eswatini | Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation | ||||
Fiji | Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation | ||||
Finland | Digital and Population Data Services Agency | 36 EUR | 36.00 | 40.18 | [218] |
France | Courts of appeal | – | 0.00 | 0.00 | For documents from the respective court area.[89] |
Georgia | Service Agency | 20 GEL | 6.56 | 7.33 | For criminal records and driving licenses.[219] Fee is 20 GEL for 5-day service, or 50 GEL for 1-day service, plus 20 GEL for translation.[220] |
National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement | 20 GEL | 6.56 | 7.33 | For educational documents.[219] | |
Public Service Development Agency | 30 GEL | 9.85 | 10.99 | For other documents.[219] Fee is 30 GEL for 8-day service, 60 GEL for 4-day service, 120 GEL for 2-day service, or 150 GEL for same-day service, if applied in person in Georgia; 50 GEL if applied with electronic signature, or 55 GEL if applied by video, for 3-day service; US$10 if applied at a consulate, for 8-day service; plus 30 GEL per page for translation in Georgia or US$10 at a consulate.[221] | |
Germany | Federal Foreign Office | 25 EUR | 25.00 | 27.90 | For federal documents, except patents.[222] |
German Patent and Trade Mark Office | 25 EUR | 25.00 | 27.90 | For patents.[223] | |
State Ministries of Justice and courts | 25 EUR | 25.00 | 27.90 | For judicial and notarial documents from the respective state or court area.[224] | |
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of Baden-Württemberg | 13 EUR | 13.00 | 14.51 | For school documents from this state.[225] | |
Ministry of Science, Research and Arts of Baden-Württemberg | 13 EUR | 13.00 | 14.51 | For university documents from this state.[226] | |
Regional councils of Baden-Württemberg | 15 EUR | 15.00 | 16.74 | For administrative documents from the respective region. Fee is 15 EUR for individuals or 30 EUR for companies. No fee for adoption documents.[227] | |
Regional governments of Bavaria | 20 EUR | 20.00 | 22.32 | For administrative documents from the respective region.[228] | |
State Office for Civil and Regulatory Affairs of Berlin | 19 EUR | 19.00 | 21.21 | For administrative documents from this state.[229] | |
Ministry of the Interior of Brandenburg | 31 EUR | 31.00 | 34.60 | For administrative documents from this state.[230] | |
Senator for the Interior and Sport of Bremen | 20 EUR | 20.00 | 22.32 | For administrative documents from this state.[231] | |
Department of the Interior and Sport of Hamburg | 13.50 EUR | 13.50 | 15.07 | For administrative documents from this state. Fee is 13.50 EUR if collected in person, or 34 EUR by mail.[232] | |
Regional councils of Hesse | 25 EUR | 25.00 | 27.90 | For administrative documents from the respective region.[233] | |
Police departments of Lower Saxony | 15 EUR | 15.00 | 16.74 | For administrative documents from the respective department area.[234] | |
Ministry of the Interior of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania | 15 EUR | 15.00 | 16.74 | For administrative documents from this state. Fee is 12 EUR per document if the request is for multiple documents.[235] | |
Regional Government of Arnsberg | 20 EUR | 20.00 | 22.32 | For administrative documents from this region. Fee is 20 to 65 EUR.[236] | |
Regional Government of Cologne | 25 EUR | 25.00 | 27.90 | For administrative documents from this region. Fee is 25 to 50 EUR, or 10 EUR for copies, for individuals; 40 to 70 EUR, or 20 EUR for copies, for businesses.[237] | |
Regional Government of Detmold | 35 EUR | 35.00 | 39.06 | For administrative documents from this region. Fee is 35 to 45 EUR for individuals, or 60 to 70 EUR for businesses.[238] | |
Regional Government of Düsseldorf | 25 EUR | 25.00 | 27.90 | For administrative documents from this region. Fee is 25 to 40 EUR for individuals, or 60 to 75 for businesses.[239] | |
Regional Government of Münster | 30 EUR | 30.00 | 33.48 | For administrative documents from this region. Fee is 30 to 70 EUR.[240] | |
Supervisory and Service Directorate of Rhineland-Palatinate | 29 EUR | 29.00 | 32.37 | For administrative documents from this state. Fee is reduced to 27, 25, 23 and 21 EUR per document after the first 10, 50, 100 and 200 documents, respectively, with the same signature intended for the same state. Fee is increased by 4 EUR for multilingual certification.[241] | |
State Administration Office of Saarland | 25 EUR | 25.00 | 27.90 | For administrative documents from this state. Fee is 30 EUR for urgent requests in person.[242] | |
State Directorate of Saxony | 22 EUR | 22.00 | 24.55 | For administrative documents from this state.[243] | |
State Administration Office of Saxony-Anhalt | 10 EUR | 10.00 | 11.16 | For administrative documents from this state. Fee is 10 to 50 EUR.[244] | |
Ministry of the Interior of Schleswig-Holstein | 20 EUR | 20.00 | 22.32 | For administrative documents from this state.[245] | |
State Administration Office of Thuringia | 22 EUR | 22.00 | 24.55 | For administrative documents from this state.[246] | |
Greece | Courts of first instance | 13 EUR | 13.00 | 14.51 | For judicial and notarial documents from the respective court area. Fee consists of 10 EUR plus stamp of 3 EUR.[247] |
Regional governments | For documents from the respective regional government. | ||||
Decentralized administrations | – | 0.00 | 0.00 | For other documents from the respective administration area.[247] | |
Grenada | Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Export Development | 8 USD | 7.17 | 8.00 | Plus US$10 for expedited service, plus US$75 for return postage if abroad.[248] |
Guatemala | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 10 GTQ | 1.16 | 1.29 | [249] |
Guyana | Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation | 20 EUR | 20.00 | 22.32 | Fee is 20 EUR, plus 15 EUR for return postage, at the Embassy of Guyana in Brussels,[250] and 35 GBP at the High Commission of Guyana in London.[251] |
Honduras | Secretary of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation | 150 HNL | 5.42 | 6.05 | [252] |
Hungary | Ministry of Justice | – | 0.00 | 0.00 | For judicial documents.[84] |
Chamber of Civil Law Notaries | 5,000 HUF | 12.73 | 14.20 | For notarial documents.[253] | |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 5,500 HUF | 14.00 | 15.63 | For other documents.[254] | |
Iceland | Ministry for Foreign Affairs | 2,700 ISK | 17.79 | 19.85 | Plus 2,000 ISK for postage.[255] |
India | Ministry of External Affairs | 137 INR | 1.47 | 1.64 | 134 INR per document plus 3 INR per page.[256] |
Indonesia | Ministry of Law and Human Rights | 150,000 IDR | 8.84 | 9.87 | [257] |
Ireland | Department of Foreign Affairs | 40 EUR | 40.00 | 44.64 | 40 EUR per document in general; 10 EUR per document related to export of goods; 100 EUR per adoption dossier regardless of the number of documents.[258] |
Israel | Ministry of Justice and civil courts | 38 ILS | 9.01 | 10.05 | For notarial documents.[259] |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 38 ILS | 9.01 | 10.05 | For other documents.[260] | |
Italy | Public prosecutors at courts | – | 0.00 | 0.00 | For judicial and notarial documents from the respective court area.[261] |
Prefectures | – | 0.00 | 0.00 | For other documents from the respective province.[262] | |
Jamaica | Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade | 3,500 JMD | 19.97 | 22.29 | 3,500 JMD for 5-day service or 5,000 JMD for 1-day service, if applied in Jamaica; US$30, US$55, 40 CAD, 25 GBP or 20 EUR, if applied through a consulate.[263] |
Japan | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | – | 0.00 | 0.00 | [90] |
Kazakhstan | Ministry of Justice | 1,846 KZT | 3.45 | 3.85 | For administrative and notarial documents.[264][265] |
Ministry of Science and Higher Education | 1,846 KZT | 3.45 | 3.85 | For higher education documents.[266][265] | |
Ministry of Education | 1,846 KZT | 3.45 | 3.85 | For primary, secondary and vocational education documents.[266][265] | |
Ministry of Internal Affairs | 1,846 KZT | 3.45 | 3.85 | For documents from this ministry.[267][265] | |
Ministry of Culture and Information | 1,846 KZT | 3.45 | 3.85 | For state archives.[268][265] | |
Judicial Administration | 1,846 KZT | 3.45 | 3.85 | For judicial documents.[269][265] | |
Ministry of Finance | 1,846 KZT | 3.45 | 3.85 | For documents from this ministry.[270][265] | |
General Prosecutor's Office | 1,846 KZT | 3.45 | 3.85 | For prosecution and investigation documents.[271][265] | |
Ministry of Defense | 1,846 KZT | 3.45 | 3.85 | For documents from this ministry.[272][265] | |
Kosovo | Ministry of Internal Affairs | 10 EUR | 10.00 | 11.16 | For civil registry and civil status documents.[273] |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora | 10 EUR | 10.00 | 11.16 | For other documents.[273] | |
Kyrgyzstan[at] | Ministry of Justice | 1,340 KGS | 14.26 | 15.91 | For documents from this ministry and notarial documents.[274] Fee is 1,340 KGS for 2-day service, 3,760 KGS for 1-day service, or 8,460 KGS for 3-hour service.[277] |
State Committee on National Security | 1,340 KGS | 14.26 | 15.91 | For documents from this committee.[274] Fee is 1,340 KGS for 2-day service, 3,760 KGS for 1-day service, or 8,460 KGS for 3-hour service.[277] | |
General Prosecutor's Office | 1,340 KGS | 14.26 | 15.91 | For documents from this office.[274] Fee is 1,340 KGS for 2-day service, 3,760 KGS for 1-day service, or 8,460 KGS for 3-hour service.[277] | |
Court Department | 1,340 KGS | 14.26 | 15.91 | For judicial documents.[274] Fee is 1,340 KGS for 2-day service, 3,760 KGS for 1-day service, or 8,460 KGS for 3-hour service.[277] | |
Ministry of Internal Affairs | 1,340 KGS | 14.26 | 15.91 | For documents from this ministry.[274] Fee is 1,340 KGS for 2-day service, 3,760 KGS for 1-day service, or 8,460 KGS for 3-hour service.[277] | |
Latvia | Notaries | 25.34 EUR | 25.34 | 28.28 | [278] |
Lesotho | Attorney General | ||||
Permanent Secretaries | |||||
Registry of the High Court | |||||
Magistrate courts | |||||
Liberia | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 25 USD | 22.40 | 25.00 | [279] |
Ministry of Justice | |||||
Supreme and Circuit Courts | |||||
Liberia Maritime Authority and its special agents | |||||
Liechtenstein | Government Chancellery | 30 CHF | 31.59 | 35.25 | [280] |
Lithuania | Notaries | 18.15 EUR | 18.15 | 20.26 | Including value added tax of 21%.[281][282] |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 20 EUR | 20.00 | 22.32 | Only for documents submitted by consular posts and courts.[283] | |
Luxembourg | Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs | 20 EUR | 20.00 | 22.32 | [284] |
Malawi | Attorney General and Solicitor General | ||||
Permanent Secretaries | |||||
Registry of the High Court | |||||
Department of the Registrar General | |||||
Government agents | |||||
Notaries | |||||
Magistrate courts | |||||
Malta | Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade | 12 EUR | 12.00 | 13.39 | No fee for adoption documents, 12 EUR for other personal documents, or 20 EUR for other documents.[285] |
Marshall Islands | Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade | ||||
Office of the Attorney General | |||||
Clerk and Deputy Clerk of the High Court | |||||
Register of Corporations | |||||
Office of the Maritime Administrator and its special agents | |||||
International Registries office in Switzerland | |||||
Mauritius | Defence and Home Affairs Division of the Prime Minister's Office | 100 MUR | 1.96 | 2.18 | 100 MUR for personal documents of Mauritian citizens, or 500 MUR for other documents.[286] |
Mexico | Secretariat of Governance of Mexico | 1,959.54 MXN | 90.50 | 101.01 | For federal documents.[287] |
General Secretariat of Government of Aguascalientes | 545 MXN | 25.17 | 28.09 | For documents from this state.[288] | |
General Secretariat of Government of Baja California | 1,008.52 MXN | 46.58 | 51.99 | For documents from this state.[289] | |
General Secretariat of Government of Baja California Sur | 536 MXN | 24.76 | 27.63 | For documents from this state.[290] | |
Secretariat of Government of Campeche | 759.99 MXN | 35.10 | 39.17 | For documents from this state.[291][292] | |
General Secretariat of Government of Chiapas | 1,166 MXN | 53.85 | 60.10 | For documents from this state.[293] | |
General Secretariat of Government of Chihuahua | 1,511 MXN | 69.79 | 77.89 | For documents from this state.[294] | |
Secretariat of Government of Coahuila | 495 MXN | 22.86 | 25.52 | For documents from this state.[295] | |
General Secretariat of Government of Colima | 235 MXN | 10.85 | 12.11 | For documents from this state.[296] | |
General Secretariat of Government of Durango | 304 MXN | 14.04 | 15.67 | For documents from this state.[297][292][298] | |
Secretariat of Government of Guanajuato | 147 MXN | 6.79 | 7.58 | For documents from this state.[299] | |
General Secretariat of Government of Guerrero | 429.94 MXN | 19.86 | 22.16 | For documents from this state.[300][292] | |
Secretariat of Government of Hidalgo | 423.42 MXN | 19.56 | 21.83 | For documents from this state.[301][292] | |
General Secretariat of Government of Jalisco | 260 MXN | 12.01 | 13.40 | For documents from this state. Fee is 260 MXN for 4-day service, 520 MXN for 1-day service, or 780 MXN for 6-hour service.[302] | |
Secretariat of Government of Mexico City | 117 MXN | 5.40 | 6.03 | For documents from this city.[303] | |
General Secretariat of Government of Mexico State | 412 MXN | 19.03 | 21.24 | For documents from this state.[304] | |
Secretariat of Government of Michoacán | 127 MXN | 5.87 | 6.55 | For documents from this state. Fee is 127 MXN normal, 254 MXN urgent or 381 MXN extraurgent, for documents in general; 385 normal, 770 MXN urgent or 1,155 MXN extraurgent, for diplomas and professional titles; 1,012 MXN normal, 2,024 MXN urgent or 3,036 MXN extraurgent, for curricula.[305] | |
Secretariat of Government of Morelos | 651 MXN | 30.07 | 33.56 | For documents from this state. Fee is 651 MXN for normal service or 1,303 MXN for urgent service.[306] | |
General Secretariat of Government of Nayarit | 340 MXN | 15.70 | 17.53 | For documents from this state.[307] | |
General Secretariat of Government of Nuevo León | 108.57 MXN | 5.01 | 5.60 | For documents from this state. Fee is 108.57 MXN for documents in general, 217.14 MXN for secondary school certificates or criminal records, 434.28 MXN for warrants, 542.85 MXN for notarial documents or technical certificates, 1,139.99 MXN for higher education certificates, or 1,682.84 MXN for professional titles.[308][292] | |
Secretariat of Government of Oaxaca | 1,070.07 MXN | 49.42 | 55.16 | For documents from this state.[309][292][310] | |
Secretariat of Governance of Puebla | 370 MXN | 17.09 | 19.07 | For documents from this state.[311] | |
Secretariat of Government of Querétaro | 651.42 MXN | 30.09 | 33.58 | For documents from this state.[312][292] | |
Secretariat of Government of Quintana Roo | 651.42 MXN | 30.09 | 33.58 | For documents from this state.[313][292] | |
General Secretariat of Government of San Luis Potosí | 629.71 MXN | 29.08 | 32.46 | For documents from this state.[314][292] | |
General Secretariat of Government of Sinaloa | 119.43 MXN | 5.52 | 6.16 | For documents from this state. Fee is 119.43 MXN for documents in general or 298.57 MXN for professional titles.[315][292] | |
Secretariat of Government of Sonora | 676 MXN | 31.22 | 34.85 | For documents from this state.[316] | |
Secretariat of Government of Tabasco | 325.71 MXN | 15.04 | 16.79 | For documents from this state.[317][292] | |
General Secretariat of Government of Tamaulipas | 543 MXN | 25.08 | 27.99 | For documents from this state.[318] | |
Secretariat of Government of Tlaxcala | 217 MXN | 10.02 | 11.19 | For documents from this state.[319] | |
Secretariat of Government of Veracruz | 1,191.43 MXN | 55.03 | 61.41 | For documents from this state.[320][292][321] | |
General Secretariat of Government of Yucatán | 228 MXN | 10.53 | 11.75 | For documents from this state.[322] | |
General Secretariat of Government of Zacatecas | 432 MXN | 19.95 | 22.27 | For documents from this state.[323] | |
Moldova | Ministry of Justice | 100 MDL | 5.12 | 5.71 | For documents requested by individuals and companies. Fee is 100 MDL for individuals or 150 MDL for companies, for 5-day service. For 3-day service, additional fee of 30 MDL, or 15 MDL for disabled applicants.[324] |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration | – | 0.00 | 0.00 | For documents requested by the government.[325] | |
Monaco | Directorate of Judicial Services | 5 EUR | 5.00 | 5.58 | [326] |
Mongolia | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 22,500 MNT | 5.93 | 6.62 | 22,500 MNT for 3-day service or 42,500 MNT for 1-day service.[327] |
Montenegro | Ministry of Justice | 4 EUR | 4.00 | 4.46 | For criminal records. Fee is 2 EUR per request plus 2 EUR per document.[328] |
Basic courts | 12 EUR | 12.00 | 13.39 | For other documents.[329] | |
Morocco | Ministry of Justice | – | 0.00 | 0.00 | For documents from this ministry.[330][331] |
Court of Cassation | – | 0.00 | 0.00 | For documents from this court.[330][331] | |
Courts of first instance | – | 0.00 | 0.00 | For other judicial and notarial documents.[330][331] | |
Regional, provincial and prefectural governments | – | 0.00 | 0.00 | For administrative documents from the respective government.[330][331] | |
Namibia | Registrar of the Supreme and High Court | 50 NAD | 2.55 | 2.84 | Only for judicial and notarial documents.[332] |
Ministry of Justice | 150 NAD | 7.64 | 8.52 | 100 NAD for Namibian citizens intending to study abroad, 150 NAD for other Namibian citizens, or 200 NAD for foreign nationals, if applied in Namibia; 250 NAD if applied at a diplomatic mission.[333] | |
Netherlands | District courts | 25 EUR | 25.00 | 27.90 | For judicial documents from the respective court and other documents from the European Netherlands.[334] |
Lieutenant Governor and Acting Lieutenant Governor of Bonaire | For documents from this island. | ||||
Department of Civil Affairs of Bonaire | For documents from this island. | ||||
Governor and Acting Governor of Saba | For documents from this island. | ||||
Government Commissioner and Deputy Government Commissioner of Sint Eustatius | For documents from this island. | ||||
Department of Legislation and Legal Affairs of Aruba | For documents from this island. | ||||
Ministry of Administration, Planning and Services of Curaçao | 15 ANG | 7.51 | 8.38 | For documents from this island.[335] | |
Ministry of General Affairs of Sint Maarten | 25 ANG | 12.51 | 13.97 | For documents from this island.[336] | |
New Zealand | Department of Internal Affairs | 32 NZD | 17.92 | 20.00 | 32 NZD for the first document; 15 NZD per additional document in the same request.[337] |
Nicaragua | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | – | 0.00 | 0.00 | [338] |
Niue | Financial Secretary | ||||
Crown Law Office | |||||
Companies Office | |||||
Registry of the High Court | |||||
Secretary to Government | |||||
North Macedonia | Ministry of Justice | 100 MKD | 1.62 | 1.81 | For judicial and notarial documents. Fee is 100 MKD for the first document; 50 MKD per additional document in the same request.[339] |
Basic courts | 300 MKD | 4.87 | 5.43 | Except for criminal records.[339][340] | |
Norway | County governors | – | 0.00 | 0.00 | [341] |
Oman | Foreign Ministry | 10 OMR | 23.30 | 26.01 | 10, 20 or 30 OMR depending on the type of document, for personal documents; 20 to 150 OMR depending on the type or value of document, for commercial documents.[342] |
Pakistan | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 3,000 PKR | 9.67 | 10.79 | 3,000 PKR for personal, educational and professional documents, 4,500 PKR for legal documents, or 12,000 PKR for commercial documents.[343] |
Palau | Ministry of State | ||||
Clerk of Courts of the Supreme Court | |||||
Panama | Secretary of the Supreme Court of Justice | – | 0.00 | 0.00 | For judicial documents.[344] |
Ministry of Government | For notarial documents. | ||||
Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 2 PAB | 1.79 | 2.00 | Plus stamp fee of up to 8 PAB.[345] | |
Paraguay | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 215,300 PYG | 24.73 | 27.60 | [346] |
Peru | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 31 PEN | 7.41 | 8.27 | 31 PEN if issued on paper, or 18 PEN if issued electronically.[347] |
Philippines | Department of Foreign Affairs | 100 PHP | 1.61 | 1.80 | 100 PHP for 5-day service or 200 PHP for 2-day service, for paper apostille; 200 PHP for electronic apostille.[348] |
Poland | National Agency for Academic Exchange | 60 PLN | 14.04 | 15.67 | For university documents.[349][350] |
Ministry of Culture and National Heritage | For art school documents.[349] | ||||
Ministry of National Education | For documents from Polish schools located abroad or supplementing foreign education.[349][351] | ||||
Education offices | – | 0.00 | 0.00 | For school documents from the respective area.[352] | |
Regional examination commissions | – | 0.00 | 0.00 | For certificates issued by the respective commission.[353] | |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 60 PLN | 14.04 | 15.67 | For other documents.[349] | |
Portugal | Office of the Attorney General of the Republic | 10.20 EUR | 10.20 | 11.38 | For documents from any region.[354] Fee may be waived due to financial hardship.[355] |
Regional Attorney General Offices of Porto, Coimbra and Évora | 10.20 EUR | 10.20 | 11.38 | For documents from the respective region, and in some cases from other regions.[354] Fee may be waived due to financial hardship.[355] | |
County Attorney Offices of Azores and Madeira | 10.20 EUR | 10.20 | 11.38 | For documents from the respective region, and in some cases from other regions.[354] Fee may be waived due to financial hardship.[355] | |
Court of Appeal of Guimarães | 10.20 EUR | 10.20 | 11.38 | For documents from the respective region, and in some cases from other regions.[354] Fee may be waived due to financial hardship.[355] | |
Romania | County courts and Court of Bucharest | 20 RON | 4.03 | 4.49 | For judicial documents from the respective court area. Fee is 10 RON per request plus 10 RON per document.[356] |
Chambers of Notaries Public | 59.50 RON | 11.98 | 13.37 | For documents executed by a notary from the respective chamber. Fee includes value added tax of 19%.[357] | |
Offices of the prefects | – | 0.00 | 0.00 | For other documents.[358] | |
Russia | Ministry of Internal Affairs | 2,500 RUB | 24.19 | 27.00 | For criminal records.[359][360] |
Ministry of Defense | 2,500 RUB | 24.19 | 27.00 | For military documents.[359][360] | |
Office of the Prosecutor General | 2,500 RUB | 24.19 | 27.00 | For documents from this office.[359][360] | |
Federal Archival Agency | 2,500 RUB | 24.19 | 27.00 | For federal archives.[359][360] | |
Archival agencies of federal subjects | 2,500 RUB | 24.19 | 27.00 | For archives of the respective federal subject.[359][360] | |
Directorates of civil registry of federal subjects | 2,500 RUB | 24.19 | 27.00 | For civil status documents.[359][360] | |
Ministries of education of federal subjects | 2,500 RUB | 24.19 | 27.00 | For educational documents.[359][360] | |
Ministry of Justice | 2,500 RUB | 24.19 | 27.00 | For other documents.[359][360] | |
Rwanda | Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation | 10,000 RWF | 6.64 | 7.41 | [361] |
Saint Kitts and Nevis | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 55 XCD | 18.25 | 20.37 | [362] |
Attorney General's Office and Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs | |||||
Legal Department of Nevis | |||||
Ministry of Finance of Nevis | |||||
Saint Lucia | Ministry of External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation and Diaspora Affairs | 50 XCD | 16.59 | 18.52 | [363] |
Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and the Youth Economy | |||||
Registry of Companies and Intellectual Property | |||||
Registry of the Supreme Court | |||||
Solicitor General | |||||
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade | ||||
Registry of the High Court | |||||
Ministry of Legal Affairs | – | 0.00 | 0.00 | [364] | |
International Financial Services Authority | |||||
Samoa | Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade | 30 USD | 26.88 | 30.00 | [365] |
San Marino | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 3 EUR | 3.00 | 3.35 | 3 EUR for documents issued by a public official, or 5 EUR for documents issued by a lawyer or notary.[366] |
São Tomé and Príncipe | Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Communities | ||||
Saudi Arabia | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 30 SAR | 7.17 | 8.00 | [367] |
Senegal | Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad | 2,000 XOF | 3.05 | 3.40 | [368] |
Serbia | Ministry of Justice | ||||
Basic courts | 2,090 RSD | 17.83 | 19.90 | For documents from the respective court area.[369] Fee is 190 RSD per request plus 1,900 RSD per document; 490 RSD to certify translation.[370][371] | |
Seychelles | Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism | ||||
Office of the Attorney General | |||||
Secretary of State for Cabinet Affairs | |||||
Registry of the Supreme Court | 250 SCR | 17.10 | 19.08 | [372] | |
Singapore | Singapore Academy of Law | 10.70 SGD | 7.43 | 8.29 | 87.20 SGD for notarial documents, or 10.70 SGD for other documents.[373] |
Slovakia | Ministry of Justice | 10 EUR | 10.00 | 11.16 | For judicial documents.[374][375] |
Regional courts | 10 EUR | 10.00 | 11.16 | For notarial documents from the respective region.[374][375] | |
Ministry of the Interior | 10 EUR | 10.00 | 11.16 | For citizenship, personal status and license documents.[374][375] | |
District offices | 10 EUR | 10.00 | 11.16 | For civil registry and residence documents.[374][375] | |
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport | 10 EUR | 10.00 | 11.16 | For educational documents, except medical.[374][375] | |
Ministry of Health | 10 EUR | 10.00 | 11.16 | For medical educational documents.[374][375] | |
Ministry of Defence | 10 EUR | 10.00 | 11.16 | For military documents.[374][375] | |
Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs | 20 EUR | 20.00 | 22.32 | For other documents.[374][375] | |
Slovenia | Ministry of Justice | 3 EUR | 3.00 | 3.35 | For notarial documents.[376] |
District courts | 2.46 EUR | 2.46 | 2.75 | 2.46 EUR for documents in Slovene; 5 EUR for documents in other languages.[377] | |
South Africa | Magistrates' courts | ||||
Registries of superior courts | |||||
Department of Justice and Constitutional Development | |||||
Department of International Relations and Cooperation | – | 0.00 | 0.00 | [378] | |
South Korea | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | ||||
Overseas Koreans Agency | – | 0.00 | 0.00 | For administrative documents. No fee if requested electronically, or 1,000 KRW if requested in person or by mail.[379] | |
Ministry of Justice | – | 0.00 | 0.00 | For judicial and notarial documents. No fee if requested electronically, or 1,000 KRW if requested in person or by mail.[379] | |
National Court Administration | |||||
Spain | Ministry of Justice | – | 0.00 | 0.00 | For administrative and judicial documents, except from the Supreme and National courts.[380][381] |
Governance secretaries of the high courts of justice | – | 0.00 | 0.00 | For administrative and judicial documents, except from the Supreme and National courts.[380][381] | |
Governance secretaries of the Supreme Court and National Court | For documents from the respective court. | ||||
Notarial College of Andalusia | For administrative and notarial documents. | ||||
Notarial College of Aragon | For administrative and notarial documents. | ||||
Notarial College of Asturias | For administrative and notarial documents. | ||||
Notarial College of the Balearic Islands | For administrative and notarial documents. | ||||
Notarial College of the Basque Country | 18.15 EUR | 18.15 | 20.26 | For administrative and notarial documents. Fee is 18.15 EUR for normal service or 39.93 EUR for urgent service.[382] | |
Notarial College of the Canary Islands | For administrative and notarial documents. | ||||
Notarial College of Cantabria | For administrative and notarial documents. | ||||
Notarial College of Castile and León | For administrative and notarial documents. | ||||
Notarial College of Castile-La Mancha | For administrative and notarial documents. | ||||
Notarial College of Catalonia | 20 EUR | 20.00 | 22.32 | For administrative and notarial documents. Fee is 20 EUR for normal service or 35 EUR for urgent service.[383] | |
Notarial College of Extremadura | For administrative and notarial documents. | ||||
Notarial College of Galicia | For administrative and notarial documents. | ||||
Notarial College of La Rioja | For administrative and notarial documents. | ||||
Notarial College of Madrid | 18 EUR | 18.00 | 20.09 | For administrative and notarial documents. Fee is 18 EUR for normal service or 37 EUR for urgent service.[384] | |
Notarial College of Murcia | For administrative and notarial documents. | ||||
Notarial College of Navarre | For administrative and notarial documents. | ||||
Notarial College of Valencia | For administrative and notarial documents. | ||||
Suriname | Registry of the Court of Justice | 10 SRD | 0.30 | 0.33 | [385] |
Sweden | Notaries | 350 SEK | 30.75 | 34.31 | Fee varies by notary, at least from 350 to 1,000 SEK.[386][387] A municipal employee notary does not charge a fee.[388] |
Switzerland | Federal Chancellery | 20 CHF | 21.06 | 23.50 | For federal documents.[389] |
Identification Center of Aargau | 40 CHF | 42.12 | 47.00 | For documents from this canton.[390] | |
Cantonal Chancellery of Appenzell Ausserrhoden | 25 CHF | 26.32 | 29.38 | For documents from this canton.[391] | |
Council Chancellery of Appenzell Innerrhoden | 20 CHF | 21.06 | 23.50 | For documents from this canton.[392] | |
State Chancellery of Basel-Landschaft | 20 CHF | 21.06 | 23.50 | For documents from this canton.[393] | |
Justice and Security Department of Basel-Stadt | 20 CHF | 21.06 | 23.50 | For documents from this canton.[394] | |
State Chancellery of Bern | 25 CHF | 26.32 | 29.38 | For documents from this canton.[395] | |
State Chancellery of Fribourg | 5 CHF | 5.26 | 5.88 | For documents from this canton. Fee is 5 CHF for civil status documents, or 10 to 30 CHF for notarial documents.[396][397] | |
Cantonal Office of Population and Migrations of Geneva | 30 CHF | 31.59 | 35.25 | For documents from this canton. Additional fee of 8 CHF per signature after the first signature in the same document.[398] | |
State Chancellery of Glarus | 25 CHF | 26.32 | 29.38 | For documents from this canton.[399] | |
State Chancellery of Grisons | 10 CHF | 10.53 | 11.75 | For documents from this canton. Fee is 10 CHF for civil status and educational documents, driving license, life, death and residence certificates, and invitation of foreigners; 20 to 35 CHF for other documents.[400] | |
Passport and Legalisation Office of Jura | 30 CHF | 31.59 | 35.25 | For documents from this canton. Fee is 30 CHF for personal documents, or 36 CHF for commercial documents. Maximum fee of 150 CHF for set of documents regarding adoption or deceased person.[401] | |
State Chancellery of Lucerne | 30 CHF | 31.59 | 35.25 | For documents from this canton. Fee is 30 CHF per document in general, or 10 CHF per document regarding adoption or child support.[402] | |
State Chancellery of Neuchâtel | 25 CHF | 26.32 | 29.38 | For documents from this canton.[403] | |
State Chancellery of Nidwalden | 25 CHF | 26.32 | 29.38 | For documents from this canton.[404] | |
State Chancellery of Obwalden | 20 CHF | 21.06 | 23.50 | For documents from this canton.[405] | |
State Chancellery of Sankt Gallen | 50 CHF | 52.64 | 58.75 | For documents from this canton.[406] | |
State Chancellery of Schaffhausen | 40 CHF | 42.12 | 47.00 | For documents from this canton.[407] | |
State Chancellery of Schwyz | 25 CHF | 26.32 | 29.38 | For documents from this canton. Plus 8 CHF for postage.[408] | |
State Chancellery of Solothurn | 30 CHF | 31.59 | 35.25 | For documents from this canton.[409] | |
Cantonal Identification Office of Thurgau | 40 CHF | 42.12 | 47.00 | For documents from this canton. Additional fee of 10 CHF per document, for 5 or more documents requested on the same day.[410] | |
State Chancellery of Ticino | 18 CHF | 18.95 | 21.15 | For documents from this canton. Fee is 18 CHF for civil status documents, 35 CHF for notarial documents, or 30 CHF for other documents.[411] | |
State Chancellery of Uri | 20 CHF | 21.06 | 23.50 | For documents from this canton.[412] | |
State Chancellery of Valais | 30 CHF | 31.59 | 35.25 | For documents from this canton.[413] | |
Legalisation Office of Lausanne District | 30 CHF | 31.59 | 35.25 | For documents from Vaud.[414] | |
State Chancellery of Zug | 30 CHF | 31.59 | 35.25 | For documents from this canton.[415] | |
State Chancellery of Zürich | 23 CHF | 24.22 | 27.03 | For documents from this canton. Fee is 23 CHF for civil status documents, or 30 CHF for other documents.[416] | |
Tajikistan | Ministry of Justice | 98.26 TJS | 8.27 | 9.23 | For civil registry, judicial and notarial documents. Fee is 45 TJS plus the equivalent of US$5 in TJS for individuals, or 90 TJS plus the equivalent of US$10 in TJS for companies.[417][418][419] |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 98.26 TJS | 8.27 | 9.23 | For other documents. Fee is 45 TJS plus the equivalent of US$5 in TJS for individuals, or 90 TJS plus the equivalent of US$10 in TJS for companies.[417][418][419] | |
Tonga | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | ||||
Trinidad and Tobago | Registrar General's Department | – | 0.00 | 0.00 | [420] |
Ministry of Education | |||||
Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs | |||||
Tunisia | Notaries | 20 TND | 5.91 | 6.60 | 10 TND for notarial documents, or 20 TND for other documents.[421] |
Turkey | Provincial and district governments | – | 0.00 | 0.00 | For administrative documents. For apostilles issued electronically, the fee is 80 TRY for civil registry documents.[422][423] |
Presidencies of judicial commissions in locations with high criminal courts | – | 0.00 | 0.00 | For judicial documents. For apostilles issued electronically, the fee is 80 TRY for criminal records or 160 TRY for court decisions.[422][423] | |
Ukraine | Ministry of Education and Science | 51 UAH | 1.11 | 1.23 | For educational documents. Fee is 51 UAH for individuals or 85 UAH for companies, plus 240 to 1,290 UAH for expedited service.[424] |
Ministry of Justice | 51 UAH | 1.11 | 1.23 | For judicial, civil status and notarial documents. Fee is 51 UAH for individuals or 85 UAH for companies.[425] | |
Ministry of Internal Affairs | For criminal records.[426] | ||||
State Migration Service | For migration documents.[426] | ||||
State Tax Service | For tax documents.[426] | ||||
Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 150 UAH | 3.25 | 3.63 | For other documents. Fee is 150 UAH for individuals or 450 UAH for companies, for 10-day service; or 300 UAH for individuals or 900 UAH for companies, for 5-day service.[427] | |
United Kingdom | Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | 45 GBP | 53.69 | 59.92 | For documents from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Fee is 45 GBP for standard service, 40 GBP for next-day business service, or 100 GBP for same-day business service, for paper apostille; 35 GBP for electronic apostille.[428] |
Office of the Governor of Anguilla | 60 XCD | 19.91 | 22.22 | For documents from this territory.[429] | |
Parliamentary Registry of Bermuda | 56 BMD | 50.18 | 56.00 | For documents from this territory.[430] | |
Polar Regions Department | For documents from the British Antarctic Territory. | ||||
Office of the Deputy Governor of the British Virgin Islands | 50 USD | 44.80 | 50.00 | For documents from this territory.[431] | |
Passport and Corporate Services Office of the Cayman Islands | 150 KYD | 161.28 | 180.00 | For documents from this territory. Fee is 150 KYD for normal service, or 200 KYD for express service.[91] | |
Chambers of the Attorney General of the Falkland Islands | 36 FKP | 42.95 | 47.94 | For documents from this territory.[432] | |
Civil Status and Registration Office of Gibraltar | 15 GIP | 17.90 | 19.97 | For documents from this territory. Fee is 15 GIP for normal service, or 30 GIP for same-day service.[433] | |
Greffe of the Royal Court of Guernsey | 40 GBP | 47.72 | 53.26 | For documents from this dependency. Fee is 40 GBP for normal service, or 81 GBP for immediate service.[434] | |
Courts of Justice of the Isle of Man | 29.50 GBP | 35.20 | 39.28 | For documents from this dependency. Fee is 29.50 GBP for 2-day service, or 99.70 GBP for 90-minute service.[435] | |
Legalisation Office of Jersey | 30 GBP | 35.79 | 39.95 | For documents from this dependency. Fee is 30 GBP for standard service, or 75 GBP for same-day service.[436] | |
Record Office of Montserrat | 50 XCD | 16.59 | 18.52 | For documents from this territory.[437] | |
Office of the Governor of Saint Helena | For documents from this territory. | ||||
Office of the Administrator of Ascension Island | For documents from this territory. | ||||
Office of the Administrator of Tristan da Cunha | For documents from this territory. | ||||
Office of the Commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | For documents from this territory. | ||||
Office of the Registrar General of the Turks and Caicos Islands | 100 USD | 89.60 | 100.00 | For documents from this territory.[438] | |
United States | United States Department of State | 20 USD | 17.92 | 20.00 | For federal administrative documents.[439] No fee for consular documents.[440] |
Supreme Court of the United States | For documents from this court. | ||||
United States courts of appeals | 50 USD | 44.80 | 50.00 | For documents from the respective court.[441] | |
United States district courts | 50 USD | 44.80 | 50.00 | For documents from the respective court.[442] | |
United States Court of Federal Claims | 50 USD | 44.80 | 50.00 | For documents from this court.[443] | |
United States Court of International Trade | For documents from this court. | ||||
Alabama Secretary of State | 5 USD | 4.48 | 5.00 | For documents from this state.[444] | |
Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Alaska | 5 USD | 4.48 | 5.00 | For documents from this state.[445] | |
Office of the Secretary of American Samoa | 25 USD | 22.40 | 25.00 | For documents from this territory.[446] | |
Arizona Secretary of State | 3 USD | 2.69 | 3.00 | For documents from this state. Additional fee of US$25 for expedited service, per request up to 6 documents.[447] | |
Arkansas Secretary of State | 10 USD | 8.96 | 10.00 | For documents from this state.[448] | |
California Secretary of State | 20 USD | 17.92 | 20.00 | For documents from this state. Additional fee of US$6 for expedited service in person, per official whose signature will be authenticated.[449] | |
Colorado Secretary of State | 5 USD | 4.48 | 5.00 | For documents from this state.[450] | |
Office of the Secretary of the State of Connecticut | 40 USD | 35.84 | 40.00 | For documents from this state. Fee is US$40 for documents in general, or US$15 for documents related to adoption.[93] | |
Delaware Department of State | 30 USD | 26.88 | 30.00 | For documents from this state. Fee is US$30 per request, regardless of the number of documents, for personal use; or US$30 per document, for commercial use.[451] | |
Office of the Secretary of the District of Columbia | 15 USD | 13.44 | 15.00 | For documents from this district.[452] | |
Florida Department of State | 10 USD | 8.96 | 10.00 | For documents from this state. Fee is US$10 for documents in general, or US$20 for documents certified by the clerk of a county court.[453] | |
Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority | 3 USD | 2.69 | 3.00 | For documents from this state.[454] | |
Guam Department of Administration | 50 USD | 44.80 | 50.00 | For documents from this territory.[455] | |
Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii | 1 USD | 0.90 | 1.00 | For documents from this state. Additional fee of US$3 for notarial documents.[456][457] | |
Idaho Secretary of State's Office | 10 USD | 8.96 | 10.00 | For documents from this state.[458] | |
Office of the Illinois Secretary of State | 2 USD | 1.79 | 2.00 | For documents from this state.[459] | |
Indiana Secretary of State | 2 USD | 1.79 | 2.00 | For documents from this state. No fee for birth or death certificates, adoption documents, student transcripts or diplomas.[92] | |
Iowa Secretary of State | 5 USD | 4.48 | 5.00 | For documents from this state.[460] | |
Kansas Secretary of State | 7.50 USD | 6.72 | 7.50 | For documents from this state.[461] | |
Office of the Kentucky Secretary of State | 5 USD | 4.48 | 5.00 | For documents from this state. Additional fee of US$5 for notarial documents.[462][463] | |
Louisiana Secretary of State | 20 USD | 17.92 | 20.00 | For documents from this state. Fee is US$20 for documents in general, or US$10 for documents related to adoption.[464] | |
Department of the Secretary of State of Maine | 10 USD | 8.96 | 10.00 | For documents from this state.[465] | |
Maryland Secretary of State | 5 USD | 4.48 | 5.00 | For documents from this state. Additional fee of US$1 for notarial documents.[4][466] | |
Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts | 6 USD | 5.38 | 6.00 | For documents from this state.[467] | |
Michigan Department of State | 1 USD | 0.90 | 1.00 | For documents from this state.[468] | |
Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State | 5 USD | 4.48 | 5.00 | For documents from this state.[469] | |
Mississippi Secretary of State's Office | 5 USD | 4.48 | 5.00 | For documents from this state.[470] | |
Missouri Secretary of State | 10 USD | 8.96 | 10.00 | For documents from this state. Maximum fee of US$100 for set of documents related to adoption.[471] | |
Montana Secretary of State | 10 USD | 8.96 | 10.00 | For documents from this state.[472] | |
Nebraska Secretary of State | 10 USD | 8.96 | 10.00 | For documents from this state.[473] | |
Nevada Secretary of State | 20 USD | 17.92 | 20.00 | For documents from this state. Additional fee of 75, 125, 500 or US$1,000 for expedited service in 24, 4, 2 or 1 hour, respectively, per notary to be authenticated.[474] | |
New Hampshire Secretary of State's Office | 10 USD | 8.96 | 10.00 | For documents from this state. Additional fee of US$25 for expedited service for every 10 documents.[475] | |
Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services of New Jersey | 26 USD | 23.30 | 26.00 | For documents from this state. Fee is US$25 for standard service or US$40 for expedited service, plus US$1 if paid by electronic check or US$2.50 by credit card, for documents in general; or US$5 for standard service or US$20 for expedited service, for documents related to adoption.[476] | |
New Mexico Secretary of State | 3 USD | 2.69 | 3.00 | For documents from this state.[477] | |
New York Department of State | 10 USD | 8.96 | 10.00 | For documents from this state. Additional fee of 3 or US$5 for county, municipal or notarial documents.[86][478][479][480][481] | |
North Carolina Secretary of State | 10 USD | 8.96 | 10.00 | For documents from this state. Fee is US$10 for documents in general, or US$5 for duplicate documents related to adoption if requested at the same time.[482] | |
North Dakota Secretary of State | 15 USD | 13.44 | 15.00 | For documents from this state. Fee is US$10 per document plus US$5 per official whose signature will be authenticated.[483] | |
Office of the Attorney General of the Northern Mariana Islands | 50 USD | 44.80 | 50.00 | For documents from this territory.[484][485] | |
Ohio Secretary of State | 5 USD | 4.48 | 5.00 | For documents from this state.[486] | |
Oklahoma Secretary of State | 25 USD | 22.40 | 25.00 | For documents from this state. Fee is US$25 for documents in general, or US$10 for documents related to adoption.[487] | |
Oregon Secretary of State | 10 USD | 8.96 | 10.00 | For documents from this state.[488] | |
Pennsylvania Department of State | 15 USD | 13.44 | 15.00 | For documents from this state.[489] | |
Department of State of Puerto Rico | 3 USD | 2.69 | 3.00 | For documents from this territory.[490] | |
Rhode Island Department of State | 5 USD | 4.48 | 5.00 | For documents from this state.[491] | |
South Carolina Secretary of State's Office | 5 USD | 4.48 | 5.00 | For documents from this state.[492] | |
South Dakota Secretary of State | 25 USD | 22.40 | 25.00 | For documents from this state. Additional fee of US$50 for expedited service.[493] | |
Tennessee Secretary of State | 2 USD | 1.79 | 2.00 | For documents from this state. Additional fee of US$5 for notarial documents.[87][494] | |
Texas Secretary of State | 15 USD | 13.44 | 15.00 | For documents from this state. Fee is US$15 for documents in general; or US$10 for documents related to adoption, up to US$100 per adoption.[495] | |
Office of the Lieutenant Governor of the United States Virgin Islands | 25 USD | 22.40 | 25.00 | For documents from this territory.[496] | |
Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Utah | 20 USD | 17.92 | 20.00 | For documents from this state. Fee is US$20 for documents in general, or US$10 for documents related to adoption. Additional fee of US$35 for next-day service, or US$75 for same-day service.[497] | |
Vermont Secretary of State | 10 USD | 8.96 | 10.00 | For documents from this state.[498] | |
Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia | 10 USD | 8.96 | 10.00 | For documents from this state. Fee is US$10 for the first document, and US$5 for each additional document signed by the same official on the same day intended for the same state.[499] | |
Washington Secretary of State | 15 USD | 13.44 | 15.00 | For documents from this state. Additional fee of US$100 for expedited service.[500] | |
West Virginia Secretary of State | 10 USD | 8.96 | 10.00 | For documents from this state. Fee is US$10 for the first document, and US$5 for each additional document.[501] | |
Office of the Wisconsin Secretary of State | 10 USD | 8.96 | 10.00 | For documents from this state. Fee is US$10 for standard service or US$35 for expedited service.[502] | |
Wyoming Secretary of State | 20 USD | 17.92 | 20.00 | For documents from this state.[503] | |
Uruguay | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 711 UYU | 15.43 | 17.22 | [504] |
Uzbekistan | Regional departments of justice | 68,000 UZS | 4.80 | 5.35 | For documents from the respective judicial authorities and civil registries. Fee is 68,000 UZS if applied in person, or 61,200 UZS electronically.[505][506] |
Supreme Court | 34,000 UZS | 2.40 | 2.68 | For documents from courts. Fee is 34,000 UZS if applied at the issuing authority, 68,000 UZS at a public service center, or 61,200 UZS electronically.[505][506] | |
Prosecutor General's Office | 34,000 UZS | 2.40 | 2.68 | For prosecution and investigation documents. Fee is 34,000 UZS if applied at the issuing authority, 68,000 UZS at a public service center, or 61,200 UZS electronically.[505][506] | |
State Inspectorate for Supervision of Quality in Education | 68,000 UZS | 4.80 | 5.35 | For educational documents. Fee is 68,000 UZS if applied in person, or 61,200 UZS electronically.[505][506] | |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 34,000 UZS | 2.40 | 2.68 | For other documents. Fee is 34,000 UZS if applied at the issuing authority, 68,000 UZS at a public service center, or 61,200 UZS electronically.[505][506] | |
Vanuatu | Department of Foreign Affairs | ||||
Vanuatu Financial Services Commission | For business and financial documents. | ||||
Venezuela | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 190.36 VED | 4.63 | 5.17 | Equivalent of 0.08615936 petros in VED, if applied in Venezuela;[507][508] US$60 or 60 EUR for applicants over age 18, or no fee under age 18, if applied at a consulate;[509][510] no fee for electronic apostille.[507] |
The apostille is a stamp or printed form, placed on the document itself or attached to the document as an allonge. At the top is the title Apostille, followed by (Convention de La Haye du 5 octobre 1961) (French for "Hague Convention of 5 October 1961"). The Convention specifies that this text must be in French. After this text, the apostille contains ten numbered fields, which may be in English, French or the language of the competent authority, and may be repeated in one or more additional languages. The numbered fields contain the following information:[1][3]
Each competent authority must maintain a register of apostilles issued, for verification on request by anyone.[1]
In 2006, the electronic apostille program (also known as e-APP) was launched to support the electronic issuance and verification of apostilles around the world.[511] Since then, many contracting states have implemented electronic apostilles or electronic registers for their verification.[512]
Apostilles never expire. However, a document certified with an apostille may have an expiration date, or the destination state may require that the document be presented by a certain time.[3]
The apostille replaces the legalization requirement, but the destination state may have additional requirements for the document to be used there. For example, it may require that the document be translated into a certain language, although it must not require a translation of the apostille itself.[3]
The Apostille Convention is beneficial in cases that would otherwise require certifications by both the origin and destination states, as the Convention removes the latter requirement. However, the convention is neutral in cases that would otherwise require only a certification by the state of origin anyway, similar to an apostille, or no certification at all, and it can be disadvantageous in cases where a consular certification alone would otherwise be sufficient to legalize a document. The Convention requires that contracting states direct their embassies and consulates to no longer perform legalizations of documents where the Convention applies,[3] so in this case the apostille is the only method available to certify the document, not only an alternative to consular legalization, even if the latter would be simpler or less expensive.
For example, before Brazil acceded to the Apostille Convention, to legalize an educational document from the United States for academic use in Brazil, it was sufficient for the document to be certified by a Brazilian embassy or consulate in the United States, for a fee of 5 USD.[513] After the Convention entered into force in Brazil, its embassy and consulates in the United States no longer perform legalizations, so U.S. documents must have an apostille to be accepted in Brazil.[514] In some U.S. states, an apostille of an educational document requires more certifications or a higher fee than the Brazilian consular legalization did.[4][86][87][93]
This result is an unintended consequence, as the Convention still allows states to further simplify or eliminate the legalization requirement. The Hague Conference also encourages contracting states to eliminate the need for additional certifications before issuing an apostille, and to ensure that any fees are reasonable.[3]
The apostille only certifies that the signature, signer's capacity, and seal or stamp on the document are from the stated issuer. In other words, it only certifies the origin of the document, but it does not provide information about its content.[3] In 2008, the Hague Conference expressed serious concerns about diplomas and certificates issued by diploma mills, citing their possible use "to circumvent migration controls, possibly by potential terrorists."[515] The risk comes from the fact that the various government stamps give the document an air of authenticity without anyone having checked the underlying document. To address this concern, in 2009 the Hague Conference recommended that authorities add the following statement to apostilles: "This apostille only certifies the signature, the capacity of the signer, and the seal or stamp it bears. It does not certify the content of the document for which it was issued."[516]
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