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.
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 and U.S.
State Department Authentications Office home page 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,
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/
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 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:
Minisisterio de Relaciones
Exteriores de El Salvador
Departamento de Tramites Registrales
Seccion
Autenticas y Apostillado
Plan Maestro Centro de Gobierno
17 Ave
Norte
Edificio 4, 1er Piso
San Salvador, El Salvador
Cost: No fee
Tel:
271-3266 x 2138 or 231-1336/1337
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, High Court; Deputy Registrar or Assistant Registrar,
High Court; and Deputy Chief Secretary, High Court, Registrar, Hong Kong High
Court, 38 Queensway, Hong Kong, tel: (852) 2825-4226. 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 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."
Switzerland: Competent Authority: (a) Federal
Authorities: The Federal Office (La Chandellerie federale); (b) Cantonal
Authorities: Canton of.State Office (Die Staatskanzlei): State Office (Die
Staatskanzlei): Aargau, Basel-Stadt, Lucerne, St. Gallen, Schaffhausen,
Solothurn, Thurgau, Zug, Zurich.
State Office (Die
Staatskanzlei): Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schwyz, Uri.
State Office (Die
Staatskanzlei/La Chancellerie d'Etat): Bern, Freiburg, Wallis.
Government Office (Die
Regierungskanzlei): Glarus.
Office of the Land (Die
Landeskanslei): Basel-Landschaft.
State Office (La
Chancellerie d'Etat): Geneva, Neuchatel, Vaud.
Canton Office (Die
Kantonskanzlei): Appenzell Z.-Rh.
Council Office (Die
Ratskanzlei): Appenzell I.-Rh.
State Office (Die
Standeskanzlei/La Cancelleria dello Stato): Graubuden.
State Office (La
Chancelleria dello Stato): Ticino.
Tonga: Tonga declared on October 28, 1971 that it considers
itself bound by the Convention. On February 24, 1965, the United Kingdom
extended the Convention to Tonga which entered into force for Tonga April 25,
1965. Competent Authority: The Secretary to Government, Prime Minister's
Office, Nuku'alofa
Trinidad
and Tobago: Signed the Convention October 28, 1999, ratifed or acceded
to the Convention May 15, 2000 for which the Convention entered into force July
14, 2000. Competent Authority: By Note dated 27 July 2000, the Republic
of Trinidad and Tobago informed the depositary of the following: "(...)the
Registrar General (in Port-of-Spain) has been designated the competent authority
to affix the Convention Apostille. By Note dated 9 March 2001, the Republic of
Trinidad and Tobago informed the depositary of the following:
"...
further to Note ... informing that the Registrar General has been designated the
competent authority to affix the Convention Apostille, the Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Education and the Chief of Protocol, Ministry of Enterprise
Development, Foreign Affairs and Tourism, have also been designated competent
authorities to issue certificates of authenticity under Article 3 of the
Convention. Each competent authority may delegate his function to a deputy or
deputies as circumstances warrant.
Turkey: Competent Authority: 1. Administrative
documents: a. In Provinces: Governor, Deputy-Governor, Director of Juridical
Matters; b. In towns: Vice-Governor; 2. Judicial Documents: Presidencies of the
Judicial Commissions where the high criminal courts exist.
Turks and
Caicos Islands: On February 24, 1965, the United Kingdom extended the
Convention to the Turks and Caicos Islands which entered into force for the
Turks and Caicos Islands April 25, 1965. Competent Authority: The
Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands
Tuvalu: 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 Ellice Islands which entered
into force April 25, 1965. The Ellice Islands achieved independence as Tuvalu on
October 1, 1978. Competent Authority: Unknown.
United
Kingdom: Competent Authority: Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State
for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London
SW1, United Kingdom
Vanuatu: Now Independent. No confirmation issued by
newly independent country that Convention is deemed to apply. In notes of
April 1, 1970, the British and French Embassies notified the depositary that the
respective governments have reached an agreement whereby he extension of the
Convention to the Anglo-French Condominium of the New Hebrides with effect from
February 15, 1966 has been confirmed, and the competent authorities to issue the
certificate designated. On February 24, 1965, the United Kingdom extended the
Convention to the New Hebrides which entered into force for the New Hebrides
April 25, 1965. The New Hebrides achieved independence on July 30, 1980 and
became the Republic of Vanuatu. Competent Authority: Unknown.
Venezuela: Signed the Convention July 1, 1998;
ratified the Convention January 15, 1999. Entered into force: March 16, 1999.
Competent Authority: Designation of the competent authorities to issue
the certificate in accordance with Article 6, paragraph 1: the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, Directorate General of Consular Affairs. The address
is:
Embajadora Edna
Figueira
Directora General de Relaciones Consulares
Ministerio de
Relaciones Exteriores
Torre MRE, Piso 6, Conde a Carmelitas,
Caracas
Telephone: (582) 862-1145
Yugoslavia, former: (Serbia-Montenegro): The former
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia became a Party to the Convention on 24
January 1965. Successor states which have confirmed the continued application of
the Convention include: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia (Former
Yugoslav Republic of), and Slovenia. See the listings under each of these
countries for information about their competent authorities. The Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) has NOT confirmed the continued applicability of
the Convention in Serbia-Montenegro.
Zimbabwe: On February 24, 1965, the United Kingdom
extended the Convention to South Rhodesia which entered into force for South
Rhodesia April 25, 1965. Achieved independence as Republic of Zimbabwe April 18,
1980. No confirmation Convention continues to apply Competent Authority:
Unknown.
Department of
State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Overseas Citizens Services
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