Q. What is an Apostille?
An Apostille is a form
of verification issued by Competent Authority in the country
verifying the signature and seal of a notary or other public
officer, so that the document bearing his/her signature and
seal can take effect in countries which have ratified the
Hague Convention for the Abolition of Consular Legalisation of
1961. It is normally possible to obtain the Apostille on a
same day or next day basis.
Every two months, one
of the bank's employee will be available for the meetings in
Paris, Luxembourg, Bucharest, (....) and possibly
other cities. In that case you don't need to get the
apostille for the signature sample if you want to apply for
Nordic One bank. We can arrange for an
appointment for you if you want.
Q. Where can I get an Apostille?
Q. Why do I need one?
As you open a bank account
by mail, you are not visiting the bank personally.
The
people who process your application in the bank will not meet
you in person and have to make sure that submitted documents
are legally recognized in Latvia and your account application
is legal according to the Latvian law.
To make legalization process simpler, many countries signed
"Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization
for Foreign Public Documents".
It allows members of this convention use standard form of
verification, so-called Apostille, for the public documents
intended to be used abroad:
- documents issued by a state court;
- administrative documents;
- documents executed before a notary public;
- official certificates which are placed on documents
signed by persons in their private capacity, such as
official certificates recording the registration of a
document or the fact that it was in existence on a certain
date and official and notarial authentications of
signatures.
Q. Can I visit The Bank personally?
Yes, you can.
In this case, you do not require either notary public or
Apostille for opening an account.
For opening a business account personally in the Bank,
please make sure that you have originals of the corporate
documents, which contain an Apostille.
HAGUE CONVENTION ABOLISHING THE REQUIREMENT OF
LEGALIZATION FOR FOREIGN PUBLIC DOCUMENTS
DISCLAIMER: THE INFORMATION IN THIS CIRCULAR RELATING
TO THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS OF SPECIFIC FOREIGN COUNTRIES IS
PROVIDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY. QUESTIONS INVOLVING
INTERPRETATION OF SPECIFIC FOREIGN LAWS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED
TO FOREIGN COUNSEL.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What countries follow the Hague
Legalization Convention?
Q. Who is the foreign central
authority for a particular country?
Q. In the United States, who can put
the Hague Legalization Convention "apostille" certificate on
a document?
Learn About the Hague Legalization Convention
Q. I have a document which has the seal of a notary,
state or federal official in the United States. What do I
need to do to be able to use this document overseas?
A. The document must be authenticated for use abroad.
This is also called legalization of the document.
Authentication means that a seal is placed on the document
which will be recognized in the foreign country where the
document will be used.
Q. How do I get the document authenticated or
legalized?
A. That depends on whether the country where the document
will be used in a party to a treaty on this subject called
the "Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of
Legalization for Foreign Public Documents".
Q. What procedures should be followed if the Hague
Legalization Convention does not apply?
A. If the country is not a party to the Hague Convention,
see our general information on
Authentication of Documents for Use Abroad available via
our home page, or obtain a copy of that document via our
autofax service (document #1046) or by mail.
Q. What is a Public Document under the Hague
Legalization Convention?
A. For the purposes of the Convention, public documents
include:
a. documents issued by a state court;
b. administrative documents;
c. documents executed before a notary public;
d. official certificates which are placed on documents
signed by persons in their private capacity, such as
official certificates recording the registration of a
document or the fact that it was in existence on a
certain date and official and notarial authentications
of signatures.
Q. Where does the Hague Legalization Convention apply?
A. The Hague Legalization Convention
is in force in the following countries. But see the next
question regarding how the change of status of a country
affects treaty obligations. Click on the name of the country
for specific information about the competent authority to
issue apostille certificates and other details on how the
Hague Legalization Convention works in that country.
ANDORRA
ANGOLA
ANGUILLA
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
ARGENTINA
ARMENIA
ARUBA
AUSTRALIA
AUSTRIA
BAHAMAS
BARBADOS
BELARUS
BELGIUM
BELIZE
BERMUDA
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA
BOTSWANA
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
BRUNEI
BULGARIA
CAYMAN ISLANDS
CHINA (Hong Kong SAR (Special
Administrative Region) ONLY)
CHINA
(Macau SAR (Special Administrative
Region) ONLY)
COLOMBIA
COMOROS ISLANDS
CROATIA
CYPRUS
CZECH REPUBLIC
DJIBOUTI
DOMINICA
EL SALVADOR
ESTONIA
FALKLAND ISLANDS
FIJI
FINLAND
FRANCE
Extended to:
NEW CALEDONIA
WALLIS AND FUTUNA
FRENCH POLYNESIA
GERMANY
GIBRALTAR
GREECE
GRENADA
GUERNSEY
HONG KONG SAR (China, Hong Kong SAR)
HUNGARY
IRELAND
ISLE OF MAN
ISRAEL
ITALY
JAPAN
JERSEY
KAZAKHSTAN
LATVIA
LESOTHO
LIBERIA
LIECHTENSTEIN
LITHUANIA
LUXEMBOURG
MACAU SAR (China, Macau SAR)
MACEDONIA
MALAWI
MALTA
MARSHALL ISLANDS
MAURITIUS
MEXICO
MONTSERRAT
MOZAMBIQUE
NAMIBIA
NETHERLANDS
Extended to:
ARUBA
NETHERLANDS ANTILLES (Curacao,
Bonaire, St. Martin, St. Eustatius and Saba)
SURINAME
NEW ZEALAND
NIUE
NORWAY
PANAMA
PORTUGAL
Extended to:
ANGOLA
MOZAMBIQUE
ROMANIA
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
ST. CHRISTOPHER (Kitts) AND NEVIS
ST. GEORGIA AND SOUTH SANDWICH
ISLANDS
ST. HELENA
ST. LUCIA
ST. PIERRE AND MIQUELON
ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
SAMOA
SAN MARINO
SEYCHELLES
SLOVAKIA
SLOVENIA
SOLOMON ISLANDS
SOUTH AFRICA
SPAIN
SURINAME
SWAZILAND
SWEDEN
SWITZERLAND
TONGA
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
TURKEY
TUVALU
UNITED KINGDOM
Extended to:
JERSEY
GUERNSEY
ISLE OF MAN
ANTIGUA
BAHAMAS
BARBADOS
BERMUDA
BRUNEI
CAYMAN ISLANDS
DOMINICA
FALKLAND ISLANDS
FIJI
GIBRALTAR
GRENADA
HONG KONG
MAURITIUS
MONTSERRAT
ST. HELENA
ST. KITTS
NEVIS
ANGUILLA
ST. LUCIA
ST. VINCENT
SEYCHELLES
TURKS AND CAICOS
VIRGIN ISLANDS, BRITISH
UNITED STATES
Extended to:
50 STATES
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
AMERICAN SAMOA
GUAM (TERRITORY OF)
NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS (COMMONWEALTH OF)
PUERTO RICO
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
VANUATU
VENEZUELA
YUGOSLAVIA
Q. Where can I find the text of the Convention?
A. See 527 U.N.T.S. 189, T.I.A.S. 10072, 20 I.L.M.
1405, 1407, Martindale-Hubbell Law Director, Law Digest
Volume, Selected International Conventions or see
the
web site for the Hague Convention on Private International
Law.
Q. How can I keep track when new countries join the
Hague Legalization Convention?
A. The easiest way to find out whether a new
country has become a party to the Hague Legalization
Convention is to check out the web site on the Internet for the Hague Conference on
Private International Law at http://www.hcch.net/ for up
to date information about recent accessions to the
Convention. The U.S.
Department of State Consular Affairs home page http://travel.state.gov (topic: Judicial Assistance) and
U.S. State Department
Authentications Office home page,
http://www.state.gov/www/authenticate/apostill.html are
updated periodically after the Government of the Netherlands
notifies the United States that a new country has deposited
its instruments of accession to the Convention.
Q. Does a change of status of a country affect whether
the Hague Legalization Convention is still in force?
A. This is a complex question. The following notes
may assist you in understanding how the change of status of
a country can affect treaty obligations.
1. When the Hague Legalization Convention first entered
into force, many countries declared that the treaty also
applied in foreign dependencies which have since declared
independence We have requested the assistance of the Hague
Conference on Private International Law to confirm whether
these countries continue to consider themselves bound by the
treaty.
2. In accordance with Article 34(1) of the Vienna
Convention on Succession of States in Respect of Treaties,
the U.S. view is that when a country which is a party to a
multilateral treaty or convention has dissolved, the
successor state(s) inherit the treaty obligations of the
former government, consistent with Article 34 of the Vienna
Convention on Succession of States in Respect of Treaties.
However, as a practical matter, the custom is for
depositaries to expect a notice of succession to confirm
that the new entity is performing its treaty obligations.
Many newly independent states may not really be implementing
such conventions at this time in that they may not be
performing the functions set forth in the Convention. We
continue to work with these governments and the depositories
to obtain confirmation that the respective successor state
is complying with treaty obligations.
3. On September 4, 1991, the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics (USSR) deposited an instrument of accession to the
Convention. The Convention was to have entered into force
for the USSR on April 1, 1992. Prior to that date, the USSR
dissolved. Three members of the Newly Independent States
(NIS), the Russian Federation, the Belarus Republic and
Armenia have informed the depositary for the Convention that
the Convention applies in those jurisdictions. We have
requested the assistance of the Hague Conference on Private
International Law in ascertaining from the other NIS
countries whether they are applying the Convention. Even if
other NIS countries were to consider the Convention to
apply, it may not be operational. Each jurisdiction must
designate an authority competent to issue the Convention
certificate (apostille) before the Convention can be
operational. It may be wise to have documents prepared for
use in jurisdictions which have not yet designated an
authority competent to affix the Convention apostille in two
sets, one using the apostille and one using the chain
authentication method, including the seal of the foreign
embassy or consulate if possible. Local authorities in such
jurisdictions may question the validity of the apostille due
to lack of familiarity with the certificate. In addition,
the some states, for example, the Russian Federation, have
declined to affix the Convention apostille to administrative
or commercial documents. Such documents would have to be
authenticated using the chain authentication method.
4. Former Yugoslavia was a party to the Convention.
Slovenia, Macedonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia have
informed the depositary that they consider the Convention to
apply and have designated a competent authority to issue the
Convention certificate (apostille). The names of the
competent authorities designated by the remaining segments
of former Yugoslavia (Serbia-Montenegro) continue to be
listed in this flyer as a point of reference.
Q. How does the Hague Legalization Convention make
dealing with documents between countries easier?
A. The Convention simplifies the old "chain"
authentication procedure which requires multiple seals to be
place on documents, by eliminating many links in the chain.
Documents which have the special Hague Legalization
Certificate are acceptable in other countries where the
treaty is in force without any other authentication.
Q. What certificate is used under the Hague
Legalization Convention?
A. If you have a document you want legalized for
use in another country which is also a party to the treaty,
a special certification called an "apostille" must be
affixed to the document by a competent authority. The
apostille is a pre-printed form prescribed by the
Convention. See a copy of the apostille certificate in
Volume 7, Department of State, Foreign Affairs Manual,
Section 847.2 (Exhibit) on the State Department Freedom
of Information Act (FOIA) site. On that site, select Foreign
Affairs Regulations, and then, 7 FAM - Consular Affairs. You
may also go to
the web site for the Hague Convention on Private
International Law. See also, Digest, United States
Practice in International Law, 1981-1988, Office of the
Legal Adviser, U.S. Department of State, Vol 2, 1548 (1994);
Ristau, International Judicial Assistance, Civil and
Commercial, International Law Institute, Vol 1, Section
6-2-6 (1995).
Q. Is there a fee for the Apostille Certificate?
A. Fees vary depending on where the certificate is
issued. Fees are subject to change without notice. For
federal documents authenticated by the U.S. Department of
State, the fee is $5.00 (effective January 1, 1997). See
references to fees under specific countries and U.S. states
noted below.
Q. Who are the U.S. "Competent Authorities" to issue
the apostille certificate?
A. There are three levels of U.S. competent
authorities, one for Federal agencies, one for U.S.
(federal) courts, and one for state documents, including
documents executed before notaries.
1. Federal Executive and Administrative Agencies: Authentications Office, Department of State, 518 23rd St.,
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20520, (202) 647-5002 Fee: $5.00. For
additional information, call the Federal Information Center:
1-800-688-9889, and choose option 6 after you press 1 for
touch tone phones. Walk-in service is available from the
Authentications Office from 8 a.m. to 12 noon Monday-Friday,
except holidays. Walk-in service is limited to 15 documents
per person per day (documents can be multiple pages).
Processing time for authentication requests sent by mail is
5 working days or less. See also,
the State Department home
page: http://www.state. See also in general, 22 C.F.R.
131.
2. U.S. Courts: Clerks and Deputy Clerks of the
Federal Court System. Fee: $5.00.
For the purposes of the Convention, clerks and deputy
clerks of the U.S. Courts shall include the clerks and
deputy clerks of the following: The Supreme Court of the
United States, the Courts of Appeals for the First through
the Eleventh Circuits and the District of Columbia Circuit,
the United States District Courts, the United States Court
of Claims, the United States Court of Customs and Patent
Appeals, the United States Court of International Trade, the
United States District Court for the District of the Canal
Zone, the District Court of Guam, the District Court of the
Virgin Islands, and the District Court for the Northern
Mariana Islands.
3. States, Territories and Other Jurisdictions: Each state and other jurisdiction in the United States
(District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, U.S.
Virgin Islands, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands, Guam)
Q. How can I contact that Competent Authorities to
issue the Apostille Certificate in Each State or other
Jurisdiction in the United States?
A. Click here for the name,
address and telephone number of the Competent authority and
fee information.
Q. Where Can I Read More About the Hague Legalization
Convention?
A. This is a selected list of references which may
be helpful.
Administrative Office of the United States Courts,
Addendum (Section 4, paragraphs 304.1-304.7) to Guide to
Judiciary Policies and Procedures (Vol. IV, Ch. 3).
American Bar Association, The Hague Convention Abolishing
the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents
(Report of the Committee on the International Unification of
Private Law, with Action by the Section of International Law
and the House of Delegates); 9 International Lawyer, No. 4,
755 (l975).
Amram, Toward Easier Legalisation of Foreign Public
Documents; 60 American Bar Association Journal, 310, (1974).
Apostilles: Jet-Age Authentication, Nat'l Notary Mag.,
10, 14 (July 1996).
Apostilles: Authenticating Documents for Use in Foreign
Countries, Am. Notary, 7 (Apr. - June 1997).
Authentication: Proving Your Powers: The Time-Saving
"Apostille", The National Notary, 24-25, January (1990)
Clerk's Manual, United States Disrict Courts,Vol 1,
Section 17.06 - Apostilles.
Deukmejian, United States: State of California Attorney
General's Opinion on the Hague Convention Abolishing the
Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents, 21
I.L.M. 357, 362 (1982)
Deukmejian, California Attorney General's Opinion No.
88-802, January 5, 1989, 89 Daily Journal D.A.R. 148
(recordability of an apostille in the French language).
Griew, Hague Draft Convention on the Legalisation of
Foreign Documents and the Form of Wills, 8 Int'l and Comp.
L.Q. 559 (1959).
Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement for
Legalization of Foreign Public Documents, Patent and
Trademark Review 39, January (l982).
Harvey, The United States and The Hague Convention
Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign
Public Documents, 11 Harv. Int'l. L.J. 476 (1970).
Lowry, Doc. 6, Critical Documents Sourcebook Annotated,
International Commercial Law and Arbitration 157 (1991).
Meszaros, Notarial Services Provided by U.S. Consuls, 33
American Notary, No. 2, 1, 9 (1998).
Nash-Leich, The Hague Convention Abolishing the
Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents, 76
Am. J. Int'l L. 182 (1982).
Pfund, P.H., Chapter, "Legalization of Documents for Use
Abroad" in The International Lawyer's Deskbook, edited by
Lowe, Norton and Drory, ABA (Section of International Law
and Practice) 1996, ISBN 1-57073-166-7.
Ristau, International Judicial Assistance (Civil and
Commercial), Vol. 1, International Law Institute,
Washington, D.C., Sec. 6.1-1 - 6-2-7, 241-256 (1995).
Sherry, Old Treaties Never Die, They Just Lose Their
Teeth: Authentication Needs of a Global Community Demand
Retirement of the Hague Public Documents Convention, 31 John
Marshall Law Review 1045 (1998).
Sinnott, A Practical Guide to Document Authentication:
Legalization of Notarized and Certified Documents 464
(1997).
Untangling the Red Tape of Authentication, The National
Notary, 34-35, January/February (1981).
Zamora and Brand, II Basic Documents of International
Economic Law, 845-854, (1990).
Q. Who Can I Talk to If I Have Questions About the
Hague Legalization Convention?
A. Responsibility for the Hague Legalization
Convention is shared by various offices in the U.S.
Department of State. Contact the office responsible for the
issue in which you are interested.
1. How to Authenticate a Federal Document in the
United States - U.S. Department of State,
Authentications Office: 1-800-688-9889 (Option #6).
2. How to Get a Foreign Document Authenticated for Use
in the United States - U.S. Department of State,
Overseas Citizens Services, American Citizens Services and
Crisis Management - (202) 647-5225.
3. How to interpret the Hague Legalization Convention
- U.S. Department of State, Overseas Citizens Services,
Office of Policy Review and Inter-Agency Liaison, (202)
647-3666.
4. Negotiation History - U.S. Department of State,
Office of the Legal Adviser, Private International Law.
Q. Where Can I Find The State Department's
Publications About the Hague Legalization Convention?
A. We have information available via our home page
on the Internet, our automated fax service and by mail.
Internet Resources
U.S. State Department
Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov
Authentications Office
home page at http://www.state.gov/
Office of the Legal Adviser,
Private International Law
home page at http://www.state.gov/
Office of the Legal Adviser,
Treaty Affairs home page
at http://www.state.gov/
Q. Where can I find the Hague Conference on Private
International Law information about the Hague Legalization
Convention?
A. Hague Conference on Private International Law
home page on the Internet is http://www.hcch.net/
Autofax Service: Use the phone on your fax
machine equipped with a telephone jack. Dial (202)
647-3000 and follow the prompts.
Mail: Send a stamped self-addressed envelope
to Overseas Citizens Services, Department of State, Room
4817 N.S., 2201 C Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20520.
Please write "Hague Legalization Convention Flyer" on
the outside of the outer envelope.
State Authentication Authorities
Alabama
Office of the Secretary of State
Authentication Section
State Capitol, Room E-204
600 Dexter Ave.
Montgomery, AL 36104
334-242-7210
http://www.sos.state.al.us/authenticate/index.htm
Fee: $5.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State
Alaska
Notary Administrator
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
P.O. Box 110015
Juneau, AK 99811- 0015
907-465-3509
http://www.gov.state.ak.us/ltgov/notary/authentications.htm
Fee: $2.00
Designated Authority: Lieutenant Governor; Attorney General;
Clerk of the Supreme Court
Arizona
Office of the Secretary of State
Business Services Division, Notary Section
1700 W. Washington, 7th Floor
Phoenix, AZ 85007-2888
602 542-4086/ 602 542-4758
http://www.sosaz.com/notary
Fee: $3.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Assistant
Secretary of State.
Arkansas
Office of Secretary of State
Corporations Division
State Capitol
Little Rock, AR 72201-1094
501-682-3409
http://www.sosweb.state.ar.us/business.html
Fee: $10.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Chief Deputy
Secretary of State.
California
Office of the Secretary of State
Business Programs Division
Notary Public Section
P.O. Box 942877
Sacramento, CA 94277-0001
916-653-3595
http://www.ss.ca.gov/business/notary/notary.htm
Fee: $20.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; any Assistant
Secretary of State; any Deputy Secretary of State.
Colorado
Office of Secretary of State
1560 Broadway, Suite 200
Denver, CO 80202
303-894-2680
http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/info_center/2001fees.htm
Fee: By Mail: $2.00 While You Wait: $17.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary
of State.
Connecticut
Office of the Secretary of State
Authentication Unit
30 Trinity St.
Hartford, CT 06106
860-509-6135
http://www.sots.state.ct.us/recordslegislativeservices/authen.html#orders
Fee: $20.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary
of State.
Delaware
Office of Secretary of State
Notary Division
401 Federal St., Suite 3
Dover, DE 19901
302- 302/739-4111
http://www.state.de.us/sos/sos.htm
Fee: $10.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Acting Secretary
of State.
District of Columbia
Office of the Secretary, D.C.
Notary Commissions & Authentications Section
441 4th St. N.W. (One Judiciary Square)
Washington, D.C.
202-727-3117
http://os.dc.gov/info/notary/notary.shtm#document
Fee: $10.00
Designated Authority: Executive Secretary; Assistant
Executive Secretary; Mayor's Special Assistant and Assistant
to the Executive Secretary; Secretary of the District of
Columbia.
Florida
Department of State
Office of International Affairs
Notary Certification/Apostille Section
The Capitol Building
Suite 1902
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250
804-488-7521
http://notaries.dos.state.fl.us/notproc7.htm
Fee: $10.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State
Georgia
Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority
Notary Division
1875 Century Boulevard, Suite 100
Atlanta, GA 30345
404-327-6023
http://www2.gsccca.org/projects/apost.html
or
Office of Secretary of State
Administrative Procedures Unit
2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Suite 820 - West Tower
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
404-656-2885
http://www.sos.state.ga.us/administration/notary.htm
Fee: $3.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Georgia Superior
Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority.
Hawaii
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
State Capitol, 5th Floor,
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
808-586-0255
http://www.state.hi.us/ltgov/page8.html
Fee: $1.00
Designated Authority: Lieutenant Governor of the State of
Hawaii.
Idaho
Office of Secretary of State
Notary Department
Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720
208- 332-2810
http://www.idsos.state.id.us/notary/apostill.htm
Fee: $10.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Chief Deputy
Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary of State; Notary Public
Clerk.
Illinois
Office of the Secretary of State
Index Department, Notaries Public Division
111 E. Monroe St.
Springfield, IL 62756
217- 217-782-7017
http://www.sos.state.il.us/departments/index/division.html
Fee: $2.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Assistant
Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary of State.
Indiana
Office of Secretary of State
Statehouse
Suite 201
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-232-6532
http://www.in.gov/sos/notary/seal.html
Fee: no charge
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary
of State
Iowa
Office of Secretary of State
Lucas Building
First Floor, Public Service
Des Moines, IA 50319
515-281-5204
http://www.sos.state.ia.us
Fee: $5.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary
of State
Kansas
Office of Secretary of State
State Capitol
Second Floor
Topeka, KS 66612
913-296-2744
http://www.kssos.org
Fee: $5.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Assistant
Secretary of State; any Deputy Assistant Secretary of State.
Kentucky
Office of Secretary of State
Capitol Building
P.O. Box 718
Frankfort, KY 40602-0178
502-564-7330
Fee: $5.00
http://www.kysos.com
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Assistant
Secretary of State.
Louisiana
Office of Secretary of State
P.O. Box 94125
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125
504-342-4981
Fee: $5.00
http://www.sec.state.la.us/comm/comm-index.htm
Designated Authority: Secretary of State.
Maine
Office of Secretary of State
Bureau of Corporations
Elections and Commissions
101 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0101
207-624-7650
http://www.state.me.us/sos/cec/rcn/notary/authapos.htm
Fee: $10.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary
of State.
Maryland
Office of Secretary of State
Statehouse
Annapolis, MD 21401
410-974-5520
http://www.sos.state.md.us/sos/certif/html/certif2c.html#apos
Fee: $5.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State.
Massachusetts
Secretary of the Commonwealth
Public Records Division
Commissions Section
McCormack Building, Room 1719
One Ashburton Place
Boston, MA 02108
617-727-2832
http://www.state.ma.us/sec/pre/precom/comidx.htm
Fee: $3.00
Michigan
Department of State
Office of the Great Seal
7064 Crowner Boulevard
Lansing, MI 48918
517-373-2531
http://www.michigan.gov/sos/1,1607,7-127-1638_8734---,00.html
Fee: $1.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Deputy
Secretary of State.
Minnesota
Secretary of State's Office
180 State Office Bldg.
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-296-2803
http://www.sos.state.mn.us/uccd/authinfo.html
Fee: $5.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary
of State.
Mississippi
Office of Secretary of State
P.O. Box 136
Jackson, MS 39205-0136
601-359-1615
http://www.sos.state.ms.us/busserv/notaries/notaries.html
Fee: $5.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; any Assistant
Secretary of State.
Missouri
Office of Secretary of State
Commission Division
600 West Main, Room 367
Jefferson City, MO 65102
573-751-2783
http://www.sos.state.mo.us/business/commissions/certify.asp
Fee: $10.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary
of State.
Montana
Office of Secretary of State
Room 225
Box 202801
State Capitol
Helena, MT 59602
406-444-5379
http://sos.state.mt.us/css/index.asp
Fee: $2.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Chief Deputy
Secretary of State; Government Affairs Bureau Chief.
Nebraska
Office of Secretary of State
Notary Division
Box 95104
State Capitol
Lincoln, NE 68509
402-471-2558
http://www.sos.state.ne.us/Notary/notauth.htm
Fee: $10.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary
of State.
Nevada
Secretary of State
101 N. Carson Street, #3
Carson City, NV 89701-4786
775-684-5708
http://sos.state.nv.us/notary/apostille.htm
Fee: $20.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Chief Deputy
Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary of State.
New
Hampshire
Office of Secretary of State
Statehouse
Room 204
Concord, NH 03301
603-271-3242
http://www.state.nh.us/sos/certific.htm
Fee: $5.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary
of State
New Jersey
Department of State
Notary Public Unit
Division of Commercial Recording
PO Box 452
Trenton, NJ 08625
609-530-6421
http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/revenue/dcr/programs/notary.html
Fee: Regular Service: $25.00 Expedited Service: $35.00
Designated Authority: NJ Department of the Treasury,
Division of Revenue
New
Mexico
Office of the Secretary of State
State Capitol North Annex, Suite 300
Santa Fe, NM 87503
505-827-3600
http://www.sos.state.nm.us/notary-cert.htm
Fee: $3.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State
New York
- Upstate
Counties
Miscellaneous Records
162 Washington Ave.
Albany, NY 12231
518-474-4770
http://www.dos.state.ny.us
Fee: $10.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Executive
Deputy Secretary of State; any Deputy Secretary of
State; any Special Deputy Secretary of State.
- Down State Counties
New York authorities in Albany advise that documents
issued in the nine down state counties are
authenticated under the Convention by the New York
City office. The nine down state counties are New
York, Kings, Queens, Bronx, Westchester, Nassau,
Suffolk, Rockland and Richmond. The address of the
New York Department of State, Certification Unit is
6th Floor, 270 Broadway, New York, New York 10007,
tel: 212-417-5684. Fee: $10.00
North
Carolina
Office of Secretary of State
Authentication Division
PO Box 29622
Raleigh, NC 27626-0622
919-807-2140
http://www.secretary.state.nc.us/authen
Fee: $10.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary
of State
North Dakota
Office of Secretary of State
Capitol Building
600 E Boulevard Ave., Dept 108
Bismarck, ND 58505
701-328-2900
http://www.state.nd.us/sec
Fee: $10.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Deputy
Secretary of State.
Ohio
Office of the Secretary of State
30 East Broad St.
15th Fl.
Columbus, OH 43266-0418
877-767-6446
http://www.state.oh.us/sos/authentication_of_documents_stat.htm
Fee: $5.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Assistant
Secretary of State.
Oklahoma
Office of Secretary of State
2300 N. Lincoln
Room 101
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
405-521-4211
http://www.sos.state.ok.us
Fee: $25.00 (cashiers check or money order)
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Assistant
Secretary of State; Budget Officer of the Secretary of
State.
Oregon
Office of Secretary of State
255 Capitol St.
Suite 151
Salem OR 97310
503-986-2200.
http://www.filinginoregon.com/notary/index.htm
Fee: $10.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary
of State; Acting Secretary of State; Assistant to the
Secretary of State.
Pennsylvania
Department of State
Bureau of Commissions
Elections and Legislation
North Office Building
Room 304
Harrisburg, PA 17120
717-787-5280
http://www.dos.state.pa.us/bcel/certifications/certifications.html
Fee: $15.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of the Commonwealth;
Executive Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Rhode Island
Office of Secretary of State
Notary Division
100 N. Main St.
Providence, RI 02903
401-277-1487
http://www.corps.state.ri.us/notaries/notaries.htm
Fee: $5.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; First Deputy
Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary of State
South Carolina
Office of Secretary of State
P.O. Box 11350
Columbia, SC 29211
803-734-2119
http://www.scsos.com/notariesbc.htm
Fee: $2.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State
South Dakota
Office of Secretary of State
500 East Capitol
Pierre, SD 57501-5077
605-773-5004
http://www.state.sd.us/sos/Notaries/apostilles_and_authentications.htm
Fee: $2.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary
of State
Tennessee
Office of Secretary of State
James K. Polk Building
Division of Business Services
312 Eighth Avenue North
6th Floor, William R. Snodgrass Tower
Nashville, TN 37243
615-741-3699
http://www.state.tn.us/sos/service.htm#apostilles
Fee: $2.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State.
Texas
Office of Secretary of State
P.O. Box 12079
Austin, TX 78711
512-463-5705
http://txsos-7.sos.state.tx.us/authfaqs.shtml
Fee: $10.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Assistant
Secretary of State
Utah
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
210 State Capitol
Salt Lake City, UT 84145-8414
801-538-1040
http://governor.state.ut.us/lt_gover/internationaltemplate.html
Fee: Certifying Notary's Seal: $10.00 Apostille: $5.00
Designated Authority: Lieutenant Governor; Deputy Lieutenant
Governor; Administrative Assistant.
Vermont
Office of Secretary of State
109 State St.
Montpelier, VT 05609-1103
802-828-2308
http://www.sec.state.vt.us
Fee: $2.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary
of State.
Virginia
Office of Secretary of Commonwealth
Authentications Division
830 East Main Street, 14th Floor
Richmond, VA 23219
804-786-2441
http://www.soc.state.va.us
Fee: $10.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of the Commonwealth; Chief
Clerk, Office of the Secretary of Commonwealth.
Washington
Office of the Secretary of State
Corporations Division
Apostille and Certificate Program
PO Box 40228
Olympia, WA 98504-0228
360-586-2268
http://www.secstate.wa.gov/apostilles
Fee: $15.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Assistant
Secretary of State; Director, Department of Licensing.
West Virginia
Office of Secretary of State
Capitol Building
1900 Kanawha Blvd. East
No. 157-K
Charleston, WV 25305-0770
304-558-6000
http://www.wvsos.com/execrecords/other/authentication.htm
Fee: $10.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Under Secretary of
State; any Deputy Secretary of State.
Wisconsin
Office of Secretary of State
P.O. Box 7848
Madison, WI 53707-7848
608-266-3159
http://badger.state.wi.us/agencies/sos/authen.htm
Fee: $10.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Assistant
Secretary of State.
Wyoming
Office of Secretary of State
The Capitol
Cheyenne, WY 82002-0020
307-777-5342
http://soswy.state.wy.us/authenti/authenti.htm
Fee: $3.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary
of State.
American Samoa
Office of the Governor
Pago Pago, AS 96799
011-684-633-4116
http://www.amsamoa.com
Designated Authority: Secretary of American Samoa; Attorney
General of American Samoa.
Guam (Territory of)
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 2950
Agana, GU 96910
011-671-472-1537
http://www.admin.gov.gu/doa
Designated Authority: Department of Administration
Northern Mariana Islands (Commonwealth of the)
Designated Authority: Attorney General; Acting Attorney
General; Clerk of the Court, Commonwealth Trial Court;
Deputy Clerk, Commonwealth Trial Court
http://www.saipan.com/gov
Puerto Rico
(Commonwealth of)
Supreme Court of Puerto Rico
Office of Notarial Inspection
P.O. Box 190860
San Juan, PR 00919-0860
787-763-8816
http://www.lexjuris.com/lexnotaria.htm
Designated Authority: Supreme Court of Puerto Rico
U.S. Virgin Islands
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
7 & 8 King St.
Christiansted, St. Croix, USVI 00802
340-774-2991
http://www.ltg.gov.vi/Departments/Administration/index.html
No authority designated: refer requests to the U.S.
Department of State, Authentications Office, 2400 M Street,
NW, Washington, DC 20520. 202-647-5002
FOREIGN CENTRAL AUTHORITIES
Andorra: Entered into force
for Andorra 12/31/96. Competent Authority: On
December 13, 2001, Andorra advised that the competent
authorities to issue the certificate in accordance with
Article 3, paragraph 1 are:
1. El Ministre d'Afers Exteriors
2. El Ministre de Justícia i Interior
All legalization requests are centralized through the
following address:
Ministeri
d'Afers Exteriors
Prat de la Creu
Edifici del Govern
Andorra la Vella
Principat d'Andorra
Tel.: 376-875-700
Fax: 376-869-559
E-mail: exteriors.gov@andorra.ad
Angola: Now Independent. No confirmation issued by Angola that Convention is deemed
to apply. On October 22, 1969, Portugal extended
Convention to Angola. Portugal declared the competent
authority to be the Governor General ("Les Gouverneurs
generaux ("Governadores Gerais"). Current Competent
Authority Unknown.
Anguilla: On February 24,
1965, the United Kingdom extended the Convention to the
Saint Christopher, Nevis and Anguilla which entered into
force April 25, 1965. Antigua achieved independence on
November 1, 1981 as Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua and Barbuda
declared on May 1, 1985 that it considered itself bound by
the Convention effective the date of independence. Extended
by the United Kingdom to Anguilla February 24, 1965. Competent Authority: the Governor of Anguilla.
Antigua and Barbuda: On
February 24, 1965, the United Kingdom extended the
Convention to Antigua which entered into force April 25,
1965. Achieved independence in 1981 and Antigua and Barbuda.
Antigua and Barbuda declared that it considers itself bound
by the Convention. Competent Authority: a.
Governor-General, Antigua-Barbuda; b. Registrar of the The
High Court; High Street; St. John's, Antigua, West Indies;
tel: 809-462-3147
Argentina: Entered into
force 2/18/88. Competent Authority: Ministerio de
Relaciones Exteriores y Culto, Reconquista 1088, 1003 Buenos
Aires, Argentina
Armenia: Entered into force
8/14/94. Competent Authority: Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and Ministry of Justice
Australia: Entered into
force 3/16/95. Competent Authority: Secretary to the
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Commonwealth
Austria: Entered into force
1/13/68. Competent Authority: 1. Federal Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (Bundesministerium fur auswartige
Angelegenheiten; 2. The Presidents of any Civil Court of
First Instances, with the exception of the Commercial Court
(Handelsgericht) of Vienna and the Juvenile Court
(Jugendgerichtshof) of Vienna, or their representatives
authorized to issue the apostille; 3. The Governors of the
Provinces (Landeshauptmanner); 4. Governments of the
Provinces (Landesregierungen)
Bahamas: On February 24,
1965, the United Kingdom extended the Convention to the
Bahamas which entered into force April 25, 1965. Bahamas
achieved independence on July 10, 1973. On April 30, 1976
the Bahamas declared that it considered itself bound by the
Convention effective the date of independence. Competent
Authority: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, East Hill
Street, P. O. Box N-3746, Nassau, Bahamas, tel: (242)
328-4145. The minister with responsibility for the Central
Authority is the Honorable Frederick A. Mitchell, MP. The
Permanent Secretary at the Central Authority is Mrs. A.
Missouri Sherman-Peter.
Barbados: On February 24,
1965, the United Kingdom extended the Convention to Barbados
which entered into force April 25, 1965. Barbados achieved
independence November 30, 1966. By a note of August 1995 to
the depositary, the Government of Barbados declared that it
considers itself bound by the Convention effective the date
of independence. Competent Authority: 1.
Solicitor-General; 2. Deputy Solicitor General; 3. Registrar
of the Supreme Court of Barbados Law Courts, Bridgetown,
Barbados, tel: 809-42-75537; 4. The Permanent Secretary -
Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tourism and
International Transport; 5. The Chief of Protocol, Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, Tourism and International Transport
Belarus: Entered into Force
May 31, 1992. Competent Authority: Ministry of
Justice (judicial/court documents); Ministry of National
Education(educational documents); Committee for Archives and
Administration (state archives documents); Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (all other documents)
Belgium: Entered into force
2/9/76. Competent Authority: Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, External Trade and Cooperation in Development
(Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres, du Commerce exterieur et
de la Cooperation au Developpement)
Belize: Entered into force
4/11/93. Competent Authority: The Registrar General
Bermuda: On February 24,
1965, the United Kingdom extended the Convention to the
Bermuda which entered into force April 25, 1965. Competent Authority: On October 17, 1968 the competent
authority was declared to be the Governor and
Commander-in-Chief of the Bermudas or Somers Islands or any
member of his staff signing on his behalf and using his
official seal.
Bosnia-Herzegovina: Entered
into Force: December 20, 1991. Competent Authority:
By Note dated 17 August 2000, the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina informed the depositary of
the following:
"(...) the authorities designated by Bosnia and
Herzegovina who are competent to issue the
certificate referred to in the first paragraph of
Article 3 of the Convention Abolishing the
Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public
Documents concluded at The Hague on 5th October
1961, are Municipal Courts in the Federation of
Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the Republic of
Srpska. These certificates shall be subject to
certification by the Ministry of Civil Affairs and
Communications of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the
Minstry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and
Herzegovina."
Botswana: On February 24,
1965, the United Kingdom extended the Convention to the
Bechuanaland Protectorate which entered into force April 25,
1965. The Bechuanaland Protectorate achieved independence
September 30, 1966 as Botswana. On September 16, 1968,
Botswana declared that it considered itself bound by the
Convention effective the date of independence. Competent
Authority: 1. Permanent Secretary; 2. Registrar of the
High Court; 3. District Commissioner; 4. Any person
appointed or empowered to hold a subordinate court of the
first class; 5. Such other person as the President may
appoint by notice in the Gazette.
British Virgin Islands: On
February 24, 1965, the United Kingdom extended the
Convention to the British Virgin Islands which entered into
force April 25, 1965. Competent Authority:
Registrar of Courts
Tortola, BVI
Phone: 284-494-3492
Fax: 284-494-6664
Brunei: On February 24,
1965, the United Kingdom extended the Convention to
Brunei which entered into force April 25, 1965. Brunei
achieved independence January 1, 1984. Brunei declared
that it considers itself bound by the Convention
December 3, 1987.
Competent Authority: Chief
Registrar, Deputy Chief Registrar and Registrars of the
Supreme Court of Brunei Darussalam; Chief Magistrate,
Magistrates and Registrars of subordinate Courts of
Brunei Darussalam.
Bulgaria: Entry into force
April 29, 2001. Competent Authority: Ministry of
Justice regarding documents of the courts and notaries;
Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding other documents.
Cayman Islands: On February
24, 1965, the United Kingdom extended the Convention to the
Cayman Islands which entered into force April 25, 1965. Competent Authority: declared October 17, 1968 to be the
Governor of the Cayman Islands
China, Hong Kong S.A.R. ONLY:
Entered into force 6/3/97 in accordance with an exchange of
diplomatic notes. Applies only to the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region. The Convention is not/not in
force for other jurisdictions in the People's Republic of
China. Competent Authority: Registrar, Supreme Court;
Deputy Registrar or Assistant Registrar, Supreme Court; and
Deputy Chief Secretary, Supreme Court, Registrar, Hong Kong
Supreme Court, 38 Queensway, Hong Kong, tel: (852)
2825-4254. See Hong Kong SAR.
Colombia: Entered into
force January 30, 2001. Colombian Competent Authority to
Issue Apostille:
Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores
Oficina de Legalizaciones
Doctor Carlos Guillermo DIAZ BUITRAGO
Transversal 17A, NO. 9-45
Santafe de Bogota, Colombia
tel: (1) 525-1862, 525-1860, 522-3697
Comoros Islands: Now
Independent. No formal confirmation that Convention is
deemed to apply. When France extended its accession to
the Convention to the Comoros Islands (Moroni), the
competent authority to affix the Convention "apostille"
certificate was the General Procecutor of the Republic at
the High Court of Appeal at Moroni (le Procureur de la
Republique pres le Tribunal Superieur d'appel de Moroni.)
Croatia: Entered into force
October 8, 1991. Competent Authority: Municipal
courts or the Ministry of Justice and Administration of the
Republic of Croatia
Cyprus: Competent
Authority: Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Cyprus
Czech Republic: Signed the
Convention June 23, 1998; ratified the Convention January 8,
1999. Entered into force: May 1, 1999. Competent
Authority: Designation of the competent authorites to
issue the certifi Designation of the competent authorites to
issue the certificate in accordance with Article 6,
paragraph 1: 1. the Ministry of Justice, International
Department (certificates issued by authorities of justice,
including certificates issued or certified by notaries); 2.
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Consular Department
(documents issued by authorities of State Administration or
by the other ones).
Djibouti: Now Independent.
No confirmation issued by newly independent country that
Convention is deemed to apply. When France extended its
accession to the Convention to the Affars and the Issas (now
Djibouti), the competent authority to affix the Convention
"apostille" certificate was the General Procecutor of the
Republic at the High Court of Appeal at Djibouti (le
Procureur de la Republique pres le Tribunal Superieur
d'appel de Djibouti.) Current Competent Authority: Unknown.
Dominica: No
confirmation issued by newly independent country that
Convention is deemed to apply. On February 24, 1965, the
United Kingdom extended the Convention to Dominica which
entered into force April 25, 1965. Dominica achieved
independence November 3, 1978 and became the Commonwealth of
Dominica. Competent Authority: Unknown.
El Salvador: Competent Authority:
Ministry of Foreign Relations, General Directorate for
the Foreign Service, Carretera a Santa Tecla, Km 6 1/2, San
Salvador, El Salvador, tel: 503-243-3740/3776/3707, Cost: No
Fee
Estonia: Accession - December 11, 2000; Entry into
Force - October 1, 2001. Designation of the competent
authorities to issue the certificate in accordance with
Article 6, paragraph 1:
1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Legal Division, Consular
Department, Islandi väljak 1, 15049 Tallinn, phone +372 6317
440, fax +372 631 7454;
2. Estonian Ministry of Education, Administrative
Department, Room 104, Tönismägi 11, 15192 Tallin, phone +372
6 281 243, fax +372 6 281 390;
3. Administrative Department, Munga 18, 51007 Tartu, phone
+372 7 350 252, fax +372 7 350 250;
4. Monitoring Department, Munga 18, Tartu, phone +372 7 350
231, fax +372 7 350 250;
5. Ministry of Justice, Courts' Department, Tartu mnt 85,
Room 103, 10115 Tallinn, phone +372 612 7810, fax +372 612
7811;
6. Ministry of Internal Affairs, General Administrative
Department, Legal Services office, Lai 40 , 10133 Tallinn,
phone +372 612 5199, fax +372 5198;
7. Ministry of Social Affairs, Public Relations and Training
Department, Gonsiori 29, 15027 Tallinn, phone +372 626 9875,
fax +372 699 2209.
Falkland Islands: On
February 24, 1965, the United Kingdom extended the
Convention to the Falkland Islands which entered into force
April 25, 1965. Competent Authority: On October 17,
1968 competent authority declared to be the Governor of the
Falkland Islands
Fiji: Now independent. On
February 24, 1965, the United Kingdom extended the
Convention to Fiji which entered into force April 25, 1965.
Fiji achieved independence October 10, 1970. Fiji declared
on March 29, 1971 that it considered itself bound by the
Convention. Fiji's accession to the Convention was effective
the date of Fijian independence. Competent Authority: The Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court of Fiji.
Finland: As of September 21,
2000, Finland announced multiple new authorities competent
to issue the apostille certificate. See
the
Hague Conference on Private International Law website at
http://www.hcch.net/e/status/stat12e.html
France: Departments in Europe
and Overseas Departments (Guadeloupe, French Guiana,
Martinique and Reunion): The General Prosecutors at the
Courts of Appeal (Les Procureurs generaux pres les cours d'
appel
French Overseas Territories:
New Caledonia: Extended by
France 11/25/64. Competent Authority: The General
Prosecutor at the Court of Appeal of Noumea (le Procureur
general pres la Cour d'appel de Noumea
Wallis and Futuna: The Judge
of the Section of the Court of First Instance of Noumea at
Mata Utu (le Juge de la Section du Tribunal de premiere
instance de Noumea siegeant a Mata Utu)
French Polynesia: The
Prosecutor of the Republic at the High Court of Appeal at
Papeete (le Procureur de la Republique pres le Tribunal
superieur d'appel de Papeete)
St. Pierre and Miquelon: The
President of the High Court of Appeal of Saint-Pierre (le
President du Tribunal Superieur d'appel de Saint-Pierre)
Germany, Federal Republic of:
Competent Authorities: (a) Federal Authorities: 1.
Federal Administrative Office (Bundesverwaltungsamt in Koln);
2. President of the German Patent Office (Prasident des
Deutschen Patentamtes); (b) Authorities of the "Lander"; 3.
Minister of Justice (Ministerium (Senator) fur Justiz Land-,
(Amts-) gerichtsprasident); 4. President of the Provincial
Court (Landgerichtsprasident); 5. President of the District
Court/Court of First Instance (Amtsgerichsprasident); 6.
Minister of Home Affairs, Ministerium (Senator) fur Innere
Regierungsprasident (Prasident des Verwaltungsbezirks); 7.
Ministerium (Senator) fur Inneres Regierungsprasident (Prasident
des Verwaltungsbezirks); 8. Head of the Provincial
Government (Regierungsprasident); 9. Head of the
Administrative District (Prasident des Verwaltungsbezirks)
With the reunification of Germany on October 3, 1990,
Convention apostille certificates from the new federal
Lander of Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, Saxony,
Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia is the responsibility of the
following Land authorities: 1. Minister of Justice, Die
Ministerien fur Justiz sowie die Prasidenten der Langerichte
(Bezirksgerichte); 2. Head of the Provincial Government, Die
Ministerien fur Inneres sowie die Regierungsprasidenten (Bezirksregierungen)
und das Landesverwaltungsamt (Thuringen); 3. Minister of
Home Affairs, Die Ministerien fur Inneres; 4. Die
Regierungsprasidenten (Bezirksregierungen), die Ministerien
fur Justiz sowie die Prasidenten der Landgerichte (Bezirksgerichte)
Gibraltar: On February 24,
1965, the United Kingdom extended the Convention to
Gibraltar which entered into force April 25, 1965. Competent Authority:
declared on October 17, 1968 to be
the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the City and Garrison
of Gibraltar
Greece: Competent Authority: local nomarchy (department). Specifically, for Athens,
administrative documents come from the Athens Nomarchy,
Stadiou 29, Athens, Greece. All judicial documents, both
penal and civil, as well as notarial deeds, are legalized by
the local court of first instance, in the area where the
decision or the notarial deed was issued.
Grenada: Now Independent. No confirmation issued by newly independent country that
Convention is deemed to apply. On February 24, 1965, the
United Kingdom extended the Convention to Grenada which
entered into force April 25, 1965. Grenada achieved
independence February 7, 1974. Competent Authority:
Unknown.
Guyana: On February 24, 1965,
the United Kingdom extended the Convention to British Guyana
which entered into force April 25, 1965. British Guyana
achieved independence in May 26, 1966 and became Guyana.
Confirmation to U.S. Embassy in Georgetown,Guyana December,
1996 that Guyana considers itself bound by the Convention.
Competent Authority: Legal Adviser, Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, Takuba Lodge 254 South Road Bourda,
Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 011-592-2-54166 or 011-592-2-54151,
Fax: 011-592-2-59192
Guernsey: Extended to
Guernsey by the United Kingdom January 24, 1965. Competent
authority declared January 17, 1968. Competent Authority:
The Lieutenant Governor of the Bailiwick of Guernsey
Hong Kong SAR: On February 24,
1965, the United Kingdom extended the Convention to Hong
Kong which entered into force for Hong Kong April 25, 1965.
Sovereignty of Hong Kong reverted to the People's Republic
of China on July 1, 1998. China declared the Hague
Legalization Convention shall continue to apply to Hong Kong
SAR effective July 1, 1998. Competent Authority:
first declared October 17, 1968. On October 18, 1986, the
then Governor of Hong Kong delegated authority to the
Registrar, Supreme Court; Deputy Registrar or Assistant
Registrar, Supreme Court; and Deputy Chief Secretary,
Supreme Court, Registrar, Hong Kong Supreme Court, 38
Queensway, Hong Kong, tel: (852) 2825-4254. The Competent
Authority did not change following reversion to Chinese
sovereignty.
Hungary: Competent
Authority: 1. Minister of Justice regarding public
documents and judicial documents; 2. Minister of Foreign
Affairs regarding public documents and legalizations
executed by other authorities
Ireland: Signed the
Convention October 29, 1996; ratified the Convention January
8, 1999. Entered into force: March 9, 1999. Competent
Authority: Designation of the competent authorities to
issue the certificate in accordance with Article 6,
paragraph 1: the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin.
Israel: Competent
Authority: 1. Ministry of Foreign Affairs; 2. Registrars
of Magistrates Courts and Civil Servants appointed by the
Minister of Justice under Notaries Law, 1976.
Italy: Competent Authority: 1.
The Public Prosecutor (I Procurators della Reppublica); 2.
The Competent Prefetti (Heads) of the Territories for the
Valley of Aosta; Il Presidente della Regione (The Head of
the District for the Provinces of Trente and Bolzano; Il
Commissario di Governo (The Commissioner of the Government)
Japan: Competent Authority:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Authentications Division
(Shomei-han) 2-1 Kasumigaseki 2-chome, Chiyoda Ku, Tokyo
100, Japan. Request an application for obtaining an
apostille from the Ministry. The letter must include an
explanation as to why you need this document. After you
receive the application, you must complete it and send it
back to the Japanese authority with the "original" document
to be authenticated bearing the appropriate seal of the
issuing authority. The "original" document must have been
certified by the issuing office within the past six months.
You should also send a photocopy of the document and a self
addressed stamped envelope. You will receive the
authenticated documents directly from the Ministry. There is
no fee for this service. You may also contact the Japanese
Embassy or Consulate in the U.S. nearest you for additional
information.
Jersey: Extended by the
United Kingdom January 24, 1965. Competent Authority: declared October 17, 1968, the Lieutenant Governor of the
Bailiwick of Jersey.
Kazakhstan: Entry into
force January 30, 2001. Competent Authority: By Note
dated 19 September 2001, the Republic of Kazakhstan informed
the depositary of the following:
"... and has the honour to inform that the new authorities
have been designated to issue the apostille in accordance
with the Decree of the Government of the Republic of
Kazakhstan N 545 dated 24.04.01:
The Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan - for
official documents issued by the bodies for justice and
other state bodies, including the notary offices;
The Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of
Kazakhstan - for official documents issued by the bodies for
education, science and the educational institutions of the
Republic;
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of
Kazakhstan - for official documents issued by the structural
subdivisions of the Migration Police;
The Committee on administration of the archives and
documentation to the Ministry of Culture, Information and
Public Consent of the Republic of Kazakhstan - for archive
certificates and copies of archive documents issued by the
state archives of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
The Committee for forensic (legal) administration to the
Supreme Court (to be co-ordinated) for official documents
issued by the law-enforcement bodies and the bodies for
execution of law;
The Ministry on State Income of the Republic of Kazakhstan -
for official documents issued by the structural and
territorial subdivisions of the Ministry on State Income of
the Republic of Kazakhstan;
The General Office of Public Prosecutors of the Republic of
Kazakhstan (to be co-ordinated) - for official documents
issued by the bodies of Public Prosecutors, investigation
agencies and inquest;
The Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Kazakhstan - for
archive certificates and copies of archive documents issued
by the special state archives of the Ministry of Defence of
the Republic of Kazakhstan;
The Committee for National Security of the Republic of
Kazakhstan (to be co-ordinated) - for archive certificates
and copies of archive documents issued by the special
archives of the Committee for National Security of the
Republic of Kazakhstan;
The designated bodies are entitled to delegate the authority
to their territorial bodies to issue the apostille.
Attachment: The Hague Convention dtd 05.10.1961 abolishing
the legalisation for foreign public documents stipulates the
apostille of 9 x 9 cm in size.
It is expedient to have a stamp of the apostille, which size
is 13 x 13 cm.
A script of the text can be enlarged for the comfort of its
representation and reading. It is not allowed to change
(translate) a language document, text and its order of
placing on the stamp.
The stamp can be fulfilled in the language of the Republic
of Kazakhstan only."
Kiribati: Now Independent.
No confirmation issued by newly independent country that
Convention is deemed to apply. On February 24, 1965, the
United Kingdom extended the Convention to the Gilbert
Islands which entered into force April 25, 1965. The Gilbert
Islands achieved independence as Kiribati July 12, 1979. Competent Authority: Unknown.
Korea, Republic of (South Korea):
Ratified Convention January 13, 2000; in accordance with
Article 28, second paragraph, the Convention will enter into
force for the Republic of Korea in the absence of any
objections from a State which has ratified the Convention
before the deposit of the accession, notified to the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands within a
period of six months after the date on which the Ministry
has notified it of the accession. For practical reasons,
this six month's period will run from January 31, 2000 to
July 31, 2000. Pursuant to Article 10, the Republic of Korea
objects to the following: a) the freedom to send
judicial documents, by postal channels, directly to persons
abroad, b) the freedom of judicial officers,
officials or other competent persons of the State of origin
to effect service of judicial documents directly through the
judicial officials or other competent persons of the State
of destination, c) the freedom of any person
interested in a judicial proceeding to effect service of
judicial documents directly through judicial officers,
officials or other competent persons of the State of
destination. Competent Authority: Ministry of Court
Administration, Attn.: Director of International Affairs,
967, Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, SEOUL 137-750, Republic of
Korea
Latvia: Entered into force:
May 11, 1995. Competent Authority: The Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, Consular Department, 57 Elizbietes Street,
Riga, LV 1510, Latvia, tel: 728-9505, Cost: $10.00 (for
individuals, 10 day processing), $20.00 (for individuals,
one day service), $20.00 (for organizations, 10 day
processing), $40.00 (for organizations, one day service)
Lesotho: On February 24,
1965, the United Kingdom extended the Convention to
Basutoland which entered into force April 25, 1965.
Basutoland achieved independence on October 4, 1966 as
Lesotho. On April 24, 1972, Lesotho declared that it
considers itself bound by the Convention. The effective date
of Lesotho's accession is the date of independence. Competent Authority: 1. The Attorney General; 2. The
Permanent Secretary of a Ministry or Department; 3. The
Registrar of the High Court; 4. A Resident Magistrate; 5. A
Magistrate of the First Class; 6. By appointment of the
Minister, noticed in Gazette
Liberia: CONVENTION NOT IN FORCE
BETWEEN U.S. AND LIBERIA as U.S. concluded Liberia
cannot fulfill responsibilities of competent authority to
issue Convention "apostille" at present.
Liechtenstein: Competent
Authority: Office of the Government of the Prince at
Vaduz (Regierungskanzlei der furstlichen Regierung)
Lithuania: Entered into
force November 5, 1996. Competent Authority: Dalia
Salkauskiene, Head of Consular Assistance, Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, Consular Division, J. Tumo-Vaizganto g.2,
2600 Vilnius, Republic of Lithuania.
Luxembourg: Competent
Authority: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministere des
Affaires Etrangeres)
Macau SAR: Extended to Macau
by Portugal at the time of Portugal's accession to the
Convention on October 22, 1969. Competent Authority:
1. The Governor of Macau, Palacio do Governo, Av. da Praia
Grande, Macau; 2. The Assistant Secretary for Justice of
Macau, R. de S. Lourenco, Edificio dos Secretarios Adjuntos,
1 andar, Macau 3. The Head of the Justice Department of
Macau Av. da Praia Grande, 594, Edificio BCM, 8 andar,
Macau. NOTE: Macau will revert to Chinese sovereignty
December 20, 1999. By letter of 10 December 1999, the
Ambassador of them People's Republic to the Netherlands
informed the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands
of the following:
The Convention abolishing the requirement of
legalisation for foreign public documents, done at the
Hague on 5 October 1961 (hereinafter referred to as the
Convention), which applies to Macau at present, shall
continue to apply to the Macau Special Administrative
Region with effect from 20 December 1999. The Government
of the People's Republic of China also wishes to make
the following declaration: In accordance with Article 6
of the Convention, it designates the Chief Executive,
the Secretary for Administration and Justice, and the
Director of Justice Affairs Department of the Macau
Special Administrative Region as the authorities
competent to issue the certificate referred to in the
first paragraph of Article 3 of the Convention in the
Macau Special Administrative Region.
Macedonia: Entered into
force September 30, 1993. Competent Authority:
Ministry of Justice
Malawi: Malawi acceded to the
Convention February 24, 1967. The Convention entered into
force for Malawi on December 2, 1967. Competent
Authority: 1. The Attorney General or the Solicitor
General; 2. The Permanent Secretary of a Government
Ministry; 3. The Registrar of the High Court; 4. The
Registrar General; 5. A Government Agent; 6. A notary
public; 7. A Resident Magistrate
Malta: Competent Authority: Ministry of Commonwealth and Foreign Affairs
Man, Isle of: Extended by the
United Kingdom on January 24, 1965. Competent Authority
declared October 17, 1968. Competent Authority: The
Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man
Marshall Islands, Republic of:
Acceded to the Convention November 18, 1991. The Convention
entered into force for the RMI on August 14, 1992. Competent Authority: 1. Minister of Foreign Affairs of
the Marshall Islands; 2. Attorney General and Acting
Attorney General; 3. Clerk and Deputy Clerk of the High
Court; 4. Registrars and Deputy Registrars of Corporations;
5. Maritime Administrator and Special Agents thereof; 6.
Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Maritime Affairs or
Special Agents thereof.
Mauritius: On December 20,
1968, Mauritius declared it considers itself bound by the
Convention. On February 24, 1965, the United Kingdom
extended the Convention to Mauritius which entered into
force April 25, 1965. The effective date of accession is
March 12, 1968, the date of independence. Competent
Authority: In a note to the depositary dated September
17, 1973, Mauritius declared the competent authority is now:
1. The Permanent Secretary, or in his absence, 2. A
Principal Assistant Secretary of the Prime Minister's Office
Mexico:
Competent Authorities:
A. Federal Documents: 1. Direccion General de Gobierno,
Bucareli No. 99, Planta Baja, 06600 Mexico, D.F., tel:
535-31-12; 535-43-92, fax: 535-26-88; 2. Direccion de
Coordinacion Politica Con Los Poderes de la Union, Abraham
Gonzalez No. 48, Planta Baja, 06600 Mexico, D.F., tel:
535-51-31, fax: 566-12-25; 3. Subdireccion de Formalizacion
Y Control Abraham Gonzalez No. 48, Planta Baja, 06600
Mexico, D.F., tel: 535-53-84; 546-57-32, fax: 566-12-25
B. Secretaria De Gobernacion Directorio Representaciones
de la Subsecretaria de Gobierno
BAJA CALIFORNIA: Servicios Migratorios, Linea,
Internacional, Agustin Melgar No. 1, Col. Centro, 21100
Mexicali, B.C., tel: 65-556665, fax: 65-529050
BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR: Bravo No. 406, entre Aquiles Serdan
y Guillermo Preito, 23000 La Paz, B.C.S., tel: 112-32083,
fax: 112-32280
CAMPECHE: Av. de las Palmas S/N junto al centro,
Bizantino Bartimeo, 24020 Campeche, Camp., tel:
91-981-53150; 53186, fax: 91-981-53149
CHIAPAS: Libramiento Norte S/N a un costado de Esq. Pablo
Guardado Chavez, Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chis., tel: 91-961-43288,
fax: 91-961-899091
CHIHUAHUA: Doblado y 3a No. 117, Despacho 2 y 3, Col.
Centro, 3100 Chihuahua, Chih., tel: 14-167499, fax:
14-370149
COAHUILA: Victoria No. 406-1, Zona, Centro, 2500
Saltillo, Coah., tel: 18-175506, fax: 18-175334; 178951
COLIMA: Gabino Barrera No. 159-a, Zona Centro, 28000
Colima, Col., tel: 91-331-45912, fax: 91-331-45912
DURANGO: Constitucion No. 210-1, Norte Altos, Zona
Centro, 34000, Durango, Dgo., tel: 18-17506, fax: 18-178951
GUANAJUATO: Agora del Baratillo Despacho 8, Zona Centro,
36000 Guanajuato, Gto., tel: 91-473-29446, fax:
91-473-29110; 29111
GUERRERO: Av. Ignacio Ramirez No. 22-a, Col. Centro,
39000, Chilpancingo, Gro., tel: 91-74-711772, fax:
91-74-721144; Calle Mina No. 120 Esq., Morelos, Col. Centro,
39300, Acapulco, Gro., tel: 91-74-828751, fax: 91-74-800341
HIDALGO: Torre Coby, Art. 3 No. 97-7, piso, Fracc,
Constitution, 42080 Pachuco, Hgo., tel: 91-771-34026, fax:
91-771-34026
JALISCO: Chesterton 184, Jardines Vallarta, 45030
Guadalajara, Jal., tel: 91-3-6732394, fax: 91-3-6732138
MEXICO: Chaoco No. 703-8, Col. Sanchez, 50140 Toluca,
Mexico, tel: 91-72-134679, fax: 91-72-134768; 158325
MICHOACAN: Av. Siervo de la Nacion S/N, Col. del Valle,
58260 Morelia, Mich., tel: 91-43-267
MORELOS: Galeana No. 2-8 piso Edificio, Ocampo, Col.
Centro, 62000, Cuernavaca, Mor., tel: 91-73- 188594, fax:
91-73-188708
NAYARIT: Zacatecas No. 16 sur 1 y 2, piso entre Allende y
Abasolo, 63000 Tepic, Nayarit, tel: 91-321-46269, fax:
91-321-46271
NUEVO LEON: Zaragoza No. 1000 Sur, Condominio Acero PH,
64000, Monterrey, N.L., tel: 8-3403000, fax: 8-3403000
OAXACA: Calzada de la Republica No. 402-B, Jalatlaco,
33606, Oaxaca, Oax., tel: 91-951-42145, fax: 91-951-42145
PUEBLA: Calla Italia No. 2224, Fracc., Las Hadas entre 15
de mayo y, 26 Pte., 72070 Puebla, Pue., tel: 91-22-494082,
fax: 91-22-494072
QUERETARO: Boulevard Hernando Quintana, No. 168 Desp. 203
y 204, 76050 Queretaro, Qro., tel: 91-42-234960 or
91-42-234660, fax: 91-42-234960
QUINTANA ROO: Av. Primo de Verdad No. 181, int. 1 Esp.
Av. Heroes, 67000 Chetumal, Q. Roo, tel: 91-983-27347, fax:
91-983-22744
SAN LUIS POTOSI: Av. Venustiano Carranza 707-402, Col.
Centro 78250, San Luis Potosi, S.L.P., tel: 91-48-144092,
fax: 91-48-173988
SINALOA: Lazaro Cardenas No. 913 Sur, Primer piso, Zona
Centro, 80129 Culiacan, Sin., tel: 67-173988, fax: 67-173988
SONORA: Blvd. Navarrete No. 125, Despacho 2, Edif.
Sonmol. Col. Valle Verde, 83200, Hermosillo, Son., tel:
62-165044, fax: 62-165044
TABASCO: Centro Admvo. Del Estado, Tabasco 2000, 86035,
Villahermosa, Tab., tel: 91-93-165152, fax: 91-93-165152
TAMAULIPAS: Matamoros 11 y 12 No. 613, Cd. Victoria,
Tamps., tel: 131-20462, fax: 131-20462
TLAXCALA: Kilometro 1 1/2 Carretera, federal
Tlaxcala-Puebla S/N, 90000 Tlaxcala, Tlax., tel:
91-246-27147, fax: 91-246-27264
VERACRUZ: Zaragoza No. 2 Esq. Miguel, Barragan, 91000
Xalapa, Ver., tel: 91-28-189303, fax: 91-28-189395
YUCATAN: Calle 51 No. 459 x 50, Zona, Centro, 97000
Merida, Yuc., tel: 91-99-239142, 91-99-239636, 91-99-239671,
91-99-240815, fax: 91-99-235535
ZACATECAS: Calle Sabino No. 114 Fracc., La Penuela, 98060
Zacatecas, Zac., tel: 492-42318, fax: 492-42318
Montserrat: On February
24, 1965, the United Kingdom extended the Convention to
Montserrat which entered into force April 25, 1965. Competent Authority: declared October 17, 1968 to be the
Governor of Montserrat
Mozambique: Now
Independent. No confirmation issued by newly independent
country that Convention is deemed to apply. On October
22, 1969, Portugal extended the Convention to Mozambique. Competent Authority:
designated to be the Governor
General ("Les Gouverneurs generaux ("Governadores Gerais").
Competent Authority Unknown.
Namibia: Entry into force
January 30, 2001. Competent Authority: Unknown
Netherlands: Competent Authority: Kingdom in Europe: Registrars of
the Courts of First Instance (Griffiers van de
arrondissementsrechtbanken)
Netherlands Antilles:
Extended by the Netherlands March 1, 1967. Entered into
force for the Netherlands Antilles April 30, 1967. Competent Authority: declared to be Lieutenant Governor
of an Island or Group of Islands (Gezaghebber van het
eilandgebied)
Curacao: Competent Authority: the
Lieutenant Governor of the Island of Curacao -- has
delegated his authority to: (1) the Head of the Births,
Deaths and Marriages, Population and Electoral Registers of
the island of Curacao, and (2) the acting Head of the
Births, Deaths, Marriages, Population and Electoral
Registers of the island of Curacao.
Aruba: Competent Authority:
Centraal Bureau Juridische Zaken en Algemene Zaken (Central
Bureau Legal and General Affairs), Att. Ms. Cecilia
Solagnier, Vondellaan 19-C, Oranjestad, Aruba; tel:
011-297-835002; fax: 011-297-831772
Nevis: On February 24, 1965,
the United Kingdom extended the Convention to Saint
Christopher (Kitts), Nevis, and Anguilla which entered into
force April 25, 1965. Now independent, Saint Kitts and Nevis
(formerly Saint Christopher and Nevis) acceded to the
Convention on February 26, 1994. The Convention entered into
force on December 14, 1994. Competent Authority: 1.
The Chief Secretary in the Office of the Premier. 2. The
Legal Adviser in the Legal Department or 3. The Deputy
Registrary of the Supreme Court. Ministry of Legal Affairs,
P.O. Box 186, Government Headquarters, St. Kitts-Nevis, West
Indies, tel: 809-465-2521
New Zealand: Signature - February 7, 2001;
Accession - September 23, 2001; Entry into Force - November
22, 2001. With the following declaration: This accession
shall not extend to Tokelau unless and until a declaration
to that effect is lodged by the Government of New Zealand
with the depository, in accordance with Article 13 of the
Convention; and designates the New Zealand Department of
Internal Affairs as its competent authority for the purposes
of Article 6 of the Convention.
Niue: Signed the Convention
June 10, 1998; ratified the Convention January 1, 1999.
Entered into force: March 2, 1999. By Note dated 22 June
1999, the Government of Niue informed the depositary that in
accordance with Article 6, paragraph 1, of the Convention,
the designated authorities are: (a) the Attorney General;
(b) the Financial Secretary; (c) Crown Counsel; (d) the
Registrar International Business Companies; (e) Deputy
Registrar International Business Companies; (f) the
Registrar, High Court of Niue; (g) Secretary to Government.
Norway: Competent
Authority: Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
the County Governors, namely:
Fylkesmannen i Oslo og Akershus, Postboks 8111 Dep.,
N-0032 Oslo 1, tel: 02-42-90-85
Fylkesmannen i Ostfold, Postboks 325, N-1501 Moss, tel:
032-54-100
Fylkesmannen i Hedmark, Postboks 308, N-2301 Hamar, tel:
065-26-080
Fylkesmannen i Oppland, N-2600 Lillehammer, tel:
062-66-000
Fylkesmannen i Budkerud, N-3000 Drammen, tel: 03-83-81-50
Fylkesmannen i Vestfold, N-3100 Tonsberg, tel: 033-17-515
Fylkesmannen i Telemark, N-3700 Skien, tel: 03-52-70
20/52 82 74
Fylkesmannen i Aust-Agder, Postboks 55, N-4801 Arendal,
tel: 041-25-860
Fylkesmannen i Vest-Agder, Tinghuset, N-4600 Kristiansand
S, tel: 042-28-000
Fylkesmannen i Rogaland, Postboks 59, N-4001 Stavanger,
tel: 04-52-70-60
Fylkesmannen i Hordaland, Postboks 106, N-5001 Bergen,
tel: 05-23-70 00
Fylkesmannen i Sogn og Fjordane, N-5840 Hermansverk, tel:
056-55-000
Fylkesmannen i More og Romsdal, Fylkeshuset, N-6400
Molde, tel: 072-58 000
Fylkesmannen i Sor-Trondelag, N-7000 Trondheim, tel:
07-51-08 11
Fylkesmannen i Nord-Trondelag, N-7700 Steinkjer, tel:
077-66-722
Fylkesmannen i Nordland, N-8000 Bode, tel: 081-62-1000
Fylkesmannen i Troms, Postboks 595, N-9001 Tromso, tel:
083-87530
Fylkesmannen i Finnmark, N-9800 Vadso, tel: 085-51 761/53
001
Panama: Competent Authority: 1. Concerning documents authorized by competent court
authorities or officials, the Secretary of the Supreme Court
or his legal substitutes; 2. Concerning deeds drawn up by a
notary or private documents authenticated by a notary, the
officials of the Department of Administrative Service of the
Ministry of Justice; 3. Regarding documents issued by any
central government bodies, any autonomous or semi-autonomous
bodies, municipal or police authorities or a Public
Ministry, the officials of the Consular and Legalization
Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; 4. Regarding
all other public documents, any of the three preceeding
procedures are allowed.
Portugal: Entered into
force October 22, 1969. Competent Autho Competent
Authority: Applicable on entry into force to entire
territory of the Republic of Portugal Portugal:General
Prosecutor of the Republic (Procurador General de Republica)
and Prosecutors of the Republic at the Courts of Appeal
(Procuradores da Republica junto dos Tribunals da Relacao),
Other Overseas Departments: Les gouverneurs ("Governadores")
Macau, territory of: see Macau
Angola and Mozambique: see Angola
and Mozambique
Romania: Entry into force
March 16, 2001. Competent Authority: Ministry of
Justice for the certificates referred to in Article 1 a,c,d,
and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the official
certificates referred to in Article 1 b.
Russian Federation:
Competent Authority:
(1) Ministry of Justice (documents of organizations and
institutions directly subordinate to the Ministry)
(2) Ministries of Justice of the Republics within the
Russian Federation and judicial bodies of the administration
of krais, regions and autonomous formations as well as of
the towns of Moscow and St. Petersburg shall certify
documents of judicial bodies subordinate to them and
institutions and corresponding bodies of law of the
republic, krai, region, district or town.
(3) Republican registry offices of the republics within
the Russian Federation, central registry offices of krais,
regions and districts as well as of the towns of Moscow and
St. Petersburg shall certify certificates of civil status of
the above-mentioned bodies or registry offices subordinate
to them;
(4) The Department of documentary and reference work of
the Archives Committee of the Russian Federation shall
certify documents issued by the central state archives of
Russia;
(5) Archives bodies of autonomous formations and archive
departments of krais and regions shall certify documents
issued by archives subordinate to them;
(6) The Department of Procurator General's Office of the
Russian Federation shall certify documents made through the
channels of the bodies of prosecution.
St. Georgia and the South Sandwich
Islands: Competent Authority: declared by the United
Kingdom October 17, 1968, the Commissioner for South Georgia
and the South Sandwich Islands.
Saint Helena: On February 24,
1965, the United Kingdom extended the Convention to Saint
Helena which entered into force for Saint Helena April 25,
1965. Competent Authority: declared October 17, 1968.
The Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Island of St.
Helena and its Dependencies.
St. Kitts (Christopher): On
February 24, 1965, the United Kingdom extended the
Convention to Saint Kitts which entered into force for Saint
Kitts April 25, 1965. Competent authority declared October
17, 1968. Now independent, Saint Kitts and Nevis (formerly
Saint Christopher and Nevis) acceded to the Convention on
February 26, 1994. The Convention entered into force on
December 14, 1994. Competent Authority: 1. The
Attorney General; 2. The Solicitor General; 3. The Chief
Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister; 4. The
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; or
5. The Registrar of the Supreme Court, Ministry of Legal
Affairs, P.O. Box 186, Government Headquarters, St.
Kitts-Nevis, West Indies, Tel: 809-465-2521.
Saint Lucia: On February 24,
1965, the United Kingdom extended the Convention to Saint
Lucia which entered into force for Saint Lucia April 25,
1965. Achieved independence in 1979. On December 5, 2001,
Saint Lucia acceded to the Convention in its own right. The
Convention enters into force in Saint Lucia June 1, 2002. Competent Authority:
On accession, December 5, 2001, Saint Lucia designated the
following competent authorities to issue the certificate in
accordance with Article 6, paragraph 1:
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade
The Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and International Trade
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, International
Financial Services and Consumer Affairs
The Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce,
International Financial Services and Consumer Affairs
The Registrar of Companies and Intellectual Property
The Registrar of the Supreme Court
The Solicitor General
St. Vincent and the Grenadines:
On February 24, 1965, the United Kingdom extended the
Convention to Saint Vincent which entered into force for
Saint Vincent April 25, 1965. St. Vincent achieved
independence October 27, 1979 as St. Vincent and the
Grenadines. Confirmation provided by local authorities to
U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados (whose consular
district includes St. Vincent and the Grenadines) that
country considers itself bound by Convention. Competent
Authority: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, St. Vincent and
the Grenadines, W.I., tel: 809-456-1111. Ministry of Foreign
Affairs forwards to Registrar's Office
Samoa: On January 18, 1999,
Samoa signed the Convention. Samoa ratified the Convention
July 15, 1999 and the Convention entered into force
September 13, 1999. In accordance with Article 6, paragraph
1, of the Convention, the Independent State of Samoa has
designated as its competent authority: The Secretary for
Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, P.o. Box
L1861, Apia, Samoa; telephone: 685-63333; fax: 685-21504.
San Marino: Acceded to
Convention May 26, 1994. Convention entered into force
February 13, 1995. Competent Authority: 1. The
Minister for Foreign Affairs (Il Segretario di Stato per gli
Affari Esteri della Repubblica di San Marino) or 2. a person
delegated and officially authorized by him/her to sign and
authenticate legal instruments and documents issued by the
Department of Foreign Affairs and other of the Republic's
public bodies.
Seychelles: On February
24, 1965, the United Kingdom extended the Convention to the
Seychelles which entered into force for the Seychelles April
25, 1965. Now independent. Acceded to Convention June 9,
1978. Convention entered into force March 31, 1979. Competent Authority: The Registrar, Supreme Court,
Victoria, Mahe
Slovakia: Accession - June 6, 2001; Enters into
Force - December 20, 2001. With the following declaration:
"The Slovak Republic, under Article 6 of the Convention,
designates for purposes of Article 3 of the Convention as
authorities competent to issue the certificate the
following:
1) The Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic (Ministerstvo
spravodlivosti Slovenskej republiky) for:
a) public documents issued or certified by
courts, notaries, hussiers de justice or other
judicial officers;
b) translations executed by official (court
appointed) translators;
2) The Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic (Ministerstvo
vnutra Slovenskej republiky) for public documents
emanating from authorities within its jurisdiction with
the exception of documents specified in point 6 lit. a)
below;
3) The Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic (Ministerstvo
srkolstva Slovenskej republiky) for public documents
emanating from authorities within its jurisdiction;
4) The Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic (Ministerstvo
zdravotnictva Slovenskej republiky) for public
documents emanating from authorities within its
jurisdiction with the exception of documents specified
in point 6 lit. b) below;
5) The General Headquarters of the Army of the Slovak
Republic (Generalny stab Armady Slovenskej republiky)
for public documents emanating from authorities within
the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defence of the
Slovak Republic;
6) Office of the Regional Administration (krajsky
urad) for:
a) documents from the Register of Births, Deaths
and Marriages (matrika) with the exception of
decisions on civil status;
b) documents issued by health facilities
established by the Office of Regional
Administration;
7) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak
Republic (Ministerstvo zahranicnych veci Slovenskej
republiky) for any other public documents issued in
the Slovak Republic not specified above."
Slovenia, Republic of:
Entered into Force June 25, 1991. Competent Authority:
Ministry of Justice and Administration, Republic of Slovenia
Solomon Islands: No
confirmation issued by country that Convention is deemed to
apply. On February 24, 1965, the United Kingdom extended
the Convention to the British Solomon Islands Protectorate
which entered into force April 25, 1965. The British Solomon
Islands Protectorate achieved independence July 7, 1978 as
the Solomon Islands. Competent Authority: Unknown.
South Africa: Entered into
force August 3, 1994. Convention entered into force April
30, 1995. Competent Authority: 1. Any magistrate or
additional magistrate. 2. Any registrar or assistant
registrar of the Supreme Court of South Africa 3. Any person
designated by the Director-General: Justice 4. Any person
designated by the Director-General: Foreign Affairs
Spain: Entered into force
September 25, 1978. Competent Authority: by a note to
the depositary dated November 10, 1978, Spain notified a
modification in the designated competent authorities: 1. For
documents drawn up by competent judicial authorities or
officials: the Secretaries of "Territorial Courts"
(Secretarios de Gobierno de las Audiencias) or their
deputies; 2. For documents authenticated by a notary public,
or private documents where the signatures have been
authenticated by a notary public: the President of the
relevant Association of notaries public or the person
legally responsible for its affairs; 3. For other public
documents, excepting those issued by central administrative
bodies: any of the officials referred to in paragraphs 1 and
2, above; 4. For documents issued by authorities of the
central administration: Head of the Central Section of the
Ministry of Justice (Jefe de la Seccion Central de la
Subsecretaria) Ministerios de Justicia Registro General c/
San Bernardo 45 28015 Madrid, Spain, tel: 34-1-390-2000
Suriname: Extended by the
Kingdom of the Netherlands May 16, 1967. Achieved
independence November 25, 1975. Suriname declared on October
29, 1976 that it considers itself bound by the Convention.
Effective date of accession is date of independence. Competent Authority: Registrar at the Court of Justice
of Suriname (Griffier by het Hof van Justitie in Suriname)
Swaziland: On February 24,
1965, the United Kingdom extended the Convention to
Swaziland which entered into force for Swaziland April 25,
1965. Achieved independence September 6, 1968. Swaziland
declared on July 3, 1978 that it considers itself bound by
the Convention. Competent Authority: 1. The Deputy
Prime Minister; 2. The Attorney General; 3. The Registrar of
the High Court; 4. The Head of Department not specified in
paragraphs 2 and 3; 5. A District Commissioner; 6. A
Magistrate; 7. Such other officer as the Deputy Prime
Minister may, by notice published in the Gazette, specify.
Sweden: Signed the Convention
March 2, 1999; ratified the Convention March 2, 1999.
Entered into force: May 1, 1999. Competent Authority:
The instrument of ratification contains the following
declaration: "The Government of Sweden declares, in
accordance with Article 6, that the competent authorities to
issue certificates are all Notaries Public and the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs."
