So called “Hague Convention” revoking legalization of foreign official documents was signed in 1961 in Hague (Netherlands) to make easier acceptance process for such documents issued by foreign country. For the Russian federation this Convention came into force from May 31, 1992.
Apostil — is a special stamp to be put on official documents in accordance with the Hague Convention; it does not require further certification or legalization and shall be deemed by official bodies of the countries-participants of the Convention.
In accordance with the Hague Convention, Apostil is put to the official documents executed in the territory of the countries-participants of the Convention and to be submitted in the territory of the other state.
nder the Hague Convention the following documents are deemed official:
- documents issued by a body or a functionary falling under jurisdiction of the country, including documents issued by prosecutor’s office, clerk of the justice or a legal executive;
- administrative documents;
- notarial acts;
- official notes such as the notes on registration; visas confirming a definite date; certification of a signature on the document that was not notarized.
Though Apostil is not put to the documents executed by diplomatic or consular agents, and administrative documentation directly related to commercial activity or customs procedures. Namely, Apostil shall not be put to the power of attorney for transaction performance, goods transportation across the borderlines, agreements (contracts) on goods delivery and service rendering, on performance of different works and settlement thereof.
Consulate offices of the countries-participants of the Hague Convention accredited in the Russian Federation do not put the stamp of Apostil and shall not perform legalization of the documents executed by authorities or with participation of authorities of the represented state.
- justice authorities of the Russian Federation subject administrations – to the documents by the bodies subjecting to their jurisdiction and institutions of justice, and to the notarized copies of the documents certified in accordance with notarial procedure in the same federal subjects;
- bodies of register-offices of the Russian Federation subject administrations – to the registration certificates of civil status executed by the above bodies and by Register-office bodies subjecting to their jurisdiction;
- department of documentary and informative work of the Committee on archive activities in the Russian Federation – to the documents issued by central state archives of the Russian Federation;
- archive bodies of the Russian Federation subjects – to the documents issued by the archives subjecting to their jurisdiction;
- Administration of matters of the Russian Federation General Prosecutor’s Office – to the documents executed in connection with the prosecutor’s office.
Samples from different countries Apostille
Regulatory system:
Republic of Austria
Principality of Andorra
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentine Republic
Republic of Armenia
Bahama Islands
Barbados
Republic of Byelorussia
Belize
Kingdom of Belgium
Republic of Botswana
Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
State of Brunei Darussalam
United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Republic of Hungary
Republic of Venezuela
Federative Republic of Germany
Hellenic Republic
State of Israel
Ireland
Kingdom of Spain
Italian Republic
Republic of Cyprus
Republic of Latvia
Kingdom of Lesotho
Republic of Liberia
Lithuanian Republic
Principality of Liechtenstein
Grand Duchy Luxemburg
Mauritius Republic
Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Malawi
Republic of Malta
Republic of Marshall islands
Republic of Kazakhstan
United Mexican States
Kingdom of the Netherlands
Kingdom of Norway
Republic of Panama
Portuguese Republic
Russian Federation
Republic of El-Salvador
Republic of San-Marino
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Swaziland
Republic of Seychelles
Republic of Slovenia
United States of America
Republic of Surinam
Kingdom of Tonga
Republic of turkey
Sovereign Democratic Republic of Fiji
Republic of Finland
French Republic
Republic of Croatia
Swiss Confederation
Kingdom of Sweden
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Ukraine
Republic of South Africa
Japan
In accordance with Article 13 of the Hague Convention, Government of the Great Britain announced that the following territories would be covered by the Hague Convention:
Jersey, bailiwick of Guernsey
Isle of Man
Bermudas
British Antarctic Territory*
Cayman Islands
Falkland Islands
Gibraltar
Hong-Kong
Montserrat
Saint Helena**
Turks and Caicos Islands
Virgin Islands
* In accordance with the agreement executed between the governments of the great Britain and France, the Convention covers English and French Condominium New Hebrides.
** Kingdom of the Netherlands announced on spreading of the Convention over the Netherlands Antilles.
List of states executed agreements with the Russian federation on legal aids and legal relations in civil, family and criminal cases:
Republic of Azerbaijan
Republic of Albania
Democratic people’s Republic of Algeria
Republic of Bulgaria
Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (agreement with former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia)
Republic of Hungary
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Hellenic Republic
Republic of Iraqi
Italian Republic
Republic of Yemen (agreement with former People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen)
Cyprus Republic
Kyrgyz Republic
People’s Republic of China
Democratic people’s Republic of Korea
Republic of Cuba
Republic of Latvia
Lithuanian Republic
Republic of Macedonia (agreement with former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia)
Republic of Moldova
Mongolia
Republic of Poland
Romania
Slovak Republic (agreement with former Czechoslovakia)
Republic of Slovenia (agreement with former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia)
Republic of Tunisia
Republic of Finland
Republic of Croatia (agreement with former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia)
Czech Republic (agreement with former Czechoslovakia)
Republic of Estonia
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (agreement with former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia)
List of states-participants of the Convention executed agreements with the Russian federation on legal aids and legal relations in civil, family and criminal cases (signed January 22, 1993 in Minsk):
Republic of Azerbaijan
Republic of Armenia
Republic of Byelorussia
Georgia
Republic of Kazakhstan
Kyrgyz Republic
Republic of Moldova
The Russian federation
Turkmenistan
Republic of Tajikistan
Republic of Uzbekistan
Ukraine