WHAT IS AN APOSTILLE?
Instead of diplomatic or consular legalization of foreign official documents, a special stamp, "Apostille", is placed by authorized bodies on documents issued by the member states of the convention, which certifies the authenticity of the position of the person who signed the document, the signature, as well as the authenticity of the seal or stamp placed on this document.
An apostille is placed on the following official documents:
a) official documents issued by state and local self-government bodies or their officials.
b) documents issued by organizations of the RA or their bodies.
c) administrative documents.
d) notarial documents (documents certified or confirmed by a notary).
e) official registrations, invitations, confirmations of the authenticity of signatures executed in a non-notarial manner, etc.
An apostille is placed by the Ministry of Justice of the RA on documents certified or confirmed by a notary in accordance with the RA Law "On Notariat" or certificates issued by a notary, documents issued by civil status acts registration bodies, documents issued by the service ensuring compulsory execution of judicial acts, original copies of documents issued by courts. An apostille can also be placed by the Ministry on documents issued by other bodies if the authenticity of the signature placed on them is certified in a notarial manner.
An apostille is also placed on copies of documents certified in a notarial manner, as well as on certified translations. In this case, the authenticity of the signature of the corresponding notary and their stamp is confirmed by the apostille. An apostille can also be placed by the Ministry on documents issued by other bodies if the authenticity of the signature placed on them is certified in a notarial manner.
An apostille is not placed on documents sent to CIS member states that have acceded to the Minsk Convention of October 22, 1993 "On Legal Assistance and Legal Relations".
If the state is not a member of the Hague Convention, then the legalization of documents is carried out through the consular channel.
(click here to get acquainted with the list of member states of the convention).
