Authorities

Albania - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

Office of Authentications of the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(Drejtoria Konsullore,  Zyra e Legalizimeve, Ministria e Puneve te Jashtme)

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 27 February 2009)

Argentina - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

"(...) the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs has signed an Agreement with the Federal Board of Notariat, by which the different Bodies of Notaries Public of Argentina have been authorised to authenticate signatures with the Apostille legalisation.
This designation has become in force on 1 December 2003.
The Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs remains being the Authority of Application of the Convention." [sic]

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page has last been updated on 1 June 2012)

Australia - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 3 March 2011)

Austria - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

1. The Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs with regard to all documents issued by:

a) the Federal President or the Office of the Federal President,
b) the President of the National Council, the President of the Federal Council or the Parliamentary Administrative Office,
c) the federal government,
d) a federal ministry,
e) the Constitutional Court or the Administrative Court,
f) the Supreme Court, the Supreme Cartel Court at the Supreme Court, the Supreme Restoration Commission at the Supreme Court, the Supreme Restitution Commission at the Supreme Court or
g) the Court of Audit.

2. The presidents of civil courts of first instance, or their designated representatives for the issue of certificates (apostilles), with the exception of the Commercial Court in Vienna and the Juvenile Court in Vienna, with regard to all documents issued in the region served by the court in question by:

a) a court other than those referred to in point 1 (e) and (f),
b) a public prosecutor's office,
c) a notary,
d) a chamber of notaries or a bar association, in so far as the chamber or association in question did so in the execution of official federal duties.

3. With regard to all other documents,

a) provincial governors, for documents issued in their province in the execution of official federal duties,
b) provincial governments, for documents issued in their province in the execution of official federal duties.

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 11 May 2012)

Belarus - Competent Authorities (Art. 6)

(click here for previous information) 

Designated Competent Authorities (as of 10 November 2010):

Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Belarus - on the documents issued by Courts, Center for legal expertise and criminalistics of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Belarus, Republican labour arbitrage, Regional justice administrations, Minsk City Executive Committee justice administration, Notary archives, Notary officials;
Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus - on the documents issued by the educational institutions;
Department of Archives and Records Management of the Ministry of Justice - on the documents issued by the State archives of the Republic of Belarus;
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus - on all other documents, also on the documents which are under the competence of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Education as well as the Department for Archives and Records management, forwarded to Belarus by the Belarusian Diplomatic representatives or Consular offices and/or demanded (obtained) by them.

Contact details:

Practical Information:

Belgium - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

Ministère des Affaires étrangères, du Commerce extérieur et de la Coopération au Développement

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 11 May 2012)

Bosnia and Herzegovina - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

(Competent Authorities before 1 January 2008)

Designated Competent Authorities (as per 1 January 2008):

Courts of First Instance of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Municipal Courts of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Basic Courts of Republika Srpska
Basic Court of Brcko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 11 May 2011)

Bulgaria - Competent Authorities (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

1. The Ministry of Justice - in respect of the documents of the courts and notaries;
2. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs - in respect of all other documents.

Contact details:

Address:	Ministry of Justice ul. "Slavyanska" No 1 1040 SOFIA Bulgaria
Contact persons:	Boriana Dimitrova Nedyalka Terziyska (languages of communication: Bulgarian, English)
Telephone:	+359 2 9237 354
Fax:	+359 2 981 3443
E-mail:	[email protected]
General website (see also "Practical Information") :	http://www.mjeli.government.bg/ (in Bulgarian only)

Address:	Ministry of Foreign Affairs 2, Alexander Zhendov Street SOFIA 1032 Bulgaria
Telephone:	+359 (2) 971 14 08 +359 (2) 971 37 78 +359 (2) 948-2218
Fax:	+359 (2) 870 30 41
E-mail:	[email protected]
General website (see also "Practical Information") :	http://www.mfa.government.bg/

Practical Information:

Price:	5 lev
Useful Links:	mjeli.government.bg
E-Register:	justice.government.bg

(This page was last updated on 22 May 2012)

China (Macao) - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

1. Chief Executive
2. Secretary for Administration and Justice
3. Director of Justice Affairs Department
   

Contact details:

Practical Information:

China (Hong Kong) - Competent Authorities (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 23 October 2012)

Costa Rica - Competent Authority

Designated Competent Authority:

Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Culto de Costa Rica, Departamento de Autenticaciones

Contact details:

Address:	Departamento de Autenticaciones Dirección General Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Culto de Costa Rica Avenida 7-9, Calle 11-13 San José Costa Rica
Telephone:	+506 2223-7555
Fax:	+506 2256-2673
Person to contact:	Eduardo Cubero Barrantes
Email:	[email protected]
Language of communication:	Spanish
Internet (see also under Practical Information):	http://www.rree.go.cr/ www.gobiernofacil.go.cr

Practical Information:

Price:	¢ 625.00 (= € 1)
Useful links:	Autenticación de Firmas en Documentos Oficiales Servicio de Apostilla y Legalizaciones http://www.gobiernofacil.go.cr

(This page was last updated on 7 August 2012)

Croatia - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

Municipal courts or the Ministry of Justice and Administration

Contact details:

Address:	Ministry of Justice Dezmanova 6 i 10 10000 ZAGREB Croatia
Telephone:	+385 (1) 3710-617
Fax:	+385 (1) 3710-671
Contact person:	Ms Larisa KRALJ
E-mail:	[email protected]
Languages of communication:	Croatian, English
General website (see also "Practical Information"):	www.pravosudje.hr/

Practical Information:

Price:	The Ministry of Justice charges for each Apostille 30 kuna. This price is prescribed by Croatian administrative tax Act. The Municipal Courts charge court tax from 50 to 60 Croatian kuna, according to the Act of court tax (the price depends on whether the text is in the Croatian language - 50 kuna - or translation - 60 Croatian kuna.)
Useful Links:	-

(This page was last updated on 22 May 2012)

Cyprus - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

The Ministry of Justice and Public Order of the Republic of Cyprus

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 7 August 2012)

Czech Republic - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

1. The Ministry of Justice (judicial documents including documents issued or certified by notaries);
2. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (other than judicial documents).

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 16 January 2012)

Denmark - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 22 May 2012)

Ecuador - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

Director General de Legalizaciones, Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores

Contact details:

Practical Information:

Estonia - Competent Authorities (Art. 6)

(previous contact information) 

Designated Competent Authorities (as per 1 January 2010):

"Since 1st of January 2010 Notaries, under the supervision of Ministry of Justice will be the designated competent authority described in the Article 6 of the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents. Contact details of all 100 Notaries will be forwarded by the Ministry of Justice. Although the Ministry of Justice shall exercise supervision over the Notaries, the Ministry itself nor any other Ministry shall no longer issue apostilles. The register described in the Article 7 of the Convention shall be kept by the Chamber of Notaries in accordance with the decree provided by the Minister of Justice."

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 4 December 2012)

Finland - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

Maistraatti

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 21 May 2012)

France - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

"les Procureurs généraux près les Cours d'appel"

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 25 November 2010 - for previous information, please click here.)

Georgia - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

1. Civil Service Development Agency, Ministry of Justice of Georgia (all public documents except diplomas, other education documents and documents issued by Service Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia);

2. National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement, Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia (diplomas and other educational documents);

3. Service Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia (documents issued by Service Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia - as of 1 August 2010).

Contact details:

Address:	Civil Service Development Agency Ministry of Justice of Georgia  67a A.Tsereteli Ave. Tbilisi 0154 Georgia Territorial offices in Tbilisi: Tbilisi Public Service Hall Tbilisi, 2 Sanapiro Str.
Telephone:	+995 (577) 61 55 74
Fax:	+995 (32) 2357 958
E-mail:	[email protected]
General website:	www.cra.gov.ge | www.house.gov.ge
Languages of communication:	Georgian, Russian, English
Contact person:	Mariam Tsereteli
Regional Offices:	Batumi: address: N 7, Sherif Khimshiashvili str., Batumi, Georgia Tel: +995 577 61 55 19 Poti: address: N 26, the 9th April ave., Poti, Georgia Tel: + 995 577 61 44 26 Zugdidi: address: N58, Kostava Str., Zugdidi, Georgia Tel: + 995 577 61 55 10 Kutaisi: address: N20 Ir. Abashidze str., Kutaisi, Georgia Tel: + 995 577 61 44 71 Ozurgeti: address: N 9, I. Petritsi Str., Ozurgeti, Georgia Tel: + 995 577 61 44 28 Telavi: address: N3, Erekle II square¸Telavi, Georgia Tel: + 995 577 61 33 35 Akhaltsikhe: address: Tamarashvili str., Akhaltsikhe, Georgia Tel: + 995 577 61 33 54 Gori: address: N5, D.Guramishvili str., Gori Georgia Tel: +995 577 61 55 73 Gurjaani: address: N14 Tamar Mepe str., Gurjaani Georgia Tel: +995 577 61 33 69 Rustavi: address: N29 Khalkhta Megobroba ave., Rustavi, Georgia Tel: +995 577 61 34 76 Kvareli: address: N3, Kudigori str., Kvareli, Georgia Tel: +995 577 61 44 72 Marneuli: address: N1, Rustaveli str., Marneuli, Georgia Tel: +995 577 61 55 03 Mestia: address: N1, I. Gabliani str., Mestia, Georgia Tel: +995 577 61 44 68

Address:	Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia  National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement 1 M. Aleksidze Str. Tbilisi 0193 Georgia
Telephone:	+995 (3) 2 200-220
Fax:	-
E-mail:	[email protected]
General website:	www.eqe.ge
Languages of communication:	Georgian, Russian, English
Contact person:	Ms Nino Tsereteli

Address:	Service Agency Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia 5a Kavtaradze str. Tbilisi Georgia
Telephone:	+995 (577) 943 549
Fax:	-
E-mail:	[email protected]
General website:	www.ms.mia.ge/alpg.aspx
Languages of communication:	Georgian, English, Russian
Contact person:	Mr Davit Macharashvili

Practical Information:

Price:	20 lari
Useful Links:	http://apostille.cra.gov.ge www.passport.gov.ge/alp www.house.gov.ge/alp

 (This page was last updated on 22 November 2012 - please click here for previous information)

Germany - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies) (please click here for the latest contact information):

1 Bund

And, with the reunification of Germany on 3 October 1990, for Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia:

a) für Urkunden der Justizverwaltungsbehörden, der ordentlichen Gerichte (Zivil- und Strafgerichte) und der Notare	die Ministerien für Justiz sowie die Präsidenten der Landgerichte (Bezirksgerichte)
b) für Urkunden aller Verwaltungsbehörden (ausser Justizverwaltungsbehörden) für Urkunden aller Verwaltungsbehörden (ausser Justizverwaltungsbehörden)	die Ministerien für Inneres sowie die Regierungspräsidenten (Bezirks-regierungen) und das Landesverwaltungsamt (Thüringen)
c) für Urkunden anderer Gerichte als der ordentlichen Gerichte (vgl. Buchstabe a)) für Urkunden anderer Gerichte als der ordentlichen Gerichte (vgl. Buchstabe a))	die Ministerien für Inneres, die Regierungspräsidenten (Bezirksregierungen), die Ministerien für Justiz sowie die Präsidenten der Landgerichte (Bezirksgerichte).»

Declaration of 2 August 2004:
(Translation)
In accordance with Article 3, paragraph 1, of the Convention, the competent authorities for issuing certificates are notified as follows in the Land of Baden-Württemberg:
1. The Ministry of Justice with regard to public documents issued by itself, an Oberlandesgericht (highest court of a Land) and public prosecutor's offices serving an Oberlandesgericht;
2. the President of a Landesgericht (district court of a Land) for the public documents issued in his district by the other normal courts and public prosecutor's offices, by the authorities to which tasks of the normal courts have been delegated, by notaries and district notaries, and for other documents issued in connection with the administration of justice;
3. the district council of Tübingen for public documents issued by the ministries, except for those issued by the Ministry of Justice;*
4. the district councils for the public documents issued in their districts by all other administrative bodies and by courts of all branches of the judicial system except for the normal courts.

* The bold text in paragraph 3 marks a change in the authority to be notified. Hitherto, the Ministry for the Interior was named as the competent authority for issuing certificates.

Contact details (please click here for the latest contact information):

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 11 January 2012)

Greece - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies), as per 25 July 2012: [click here for the previous authorities]

• The Prefect, for all documents issued by the services/offices of the Prefectural Administration;
• The Secretary General of the Region:

1. for all documents issued by the public civil services of the County (in greek: Nomos) or the Prefecture (in greek: Nomarchia) which do not fall under the competence of the Prefectural Administration;
2. for all documents issued by the Legal Entities of Public Law;
3. for all documents issued by first degree Local Government Organizations;
4. for all documents issued by the Registry Offices.

• For judicial documents, the First Instance Court of the region where the issuing authority is seated shall remain as the responsible Authority

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 16 April 2013)

Hungary - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authorities as per 16 February 2011
(click here for previous information)

1. The Ministry of Public Administration and Justice of the Republic of Hungary, Department of Private International Law, in respect of public documents and legalizations executed by judicial authorities, with the exception of public documents issued and legalized by civil law notaries;
2. Hungarian Chamber of Civil Law Notaries in respect of public documents and legalizations executed by civil law notaries;
3. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Hungary in respect of public documents and legalizations executed by other authorities.

Contact details:

Practical Information:

Price:	The Ministry of Public Administration and Justice charges 5,000 HUF/document
Useful links:	.
Miscellaneous:	Opening hours at the Ministry of Public Administration and Justice: Tuesday: 9.00-12.00 and 14.00-16.00 Thursday: 9.00-12.00 and 14.00-16.00

Address:	Hungarian National Chamber of Civil law Notaries Pasaréti ùt 16. H-1026 Budapest Hungary P.O. box 839 H-1535 Budapest Hungary
Telephone:	+36-1-489-4880
Fax:	+36-1-356-7052
E-mail:	[email protected]
General website:	www.mokk.hu
Languages of communication:	Hungarian, English, German

Practical Information:

Price:	The Hungarian Chamber of Civil Law Notaries charges 5.000,- HUF/document
Useful links:	http://mokk.hu/index.php?menuid=108
Miscellaneous:	Office hours of the Hungarian Chamber of Civil Law Notaries:  9.00-12.00 (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) 9.00-12.00 and 13.00-16.00 (Tuesday)

Address:	Ministry for Foreign Affairs Consular Department Nagy Imre tér 4 1027 BUDAPEST Hungary
Telephone:	+36 (1) 458-1706 +36 (1) 458-1923 +36 (1) 458-1000
Fax:	+36 (1) 356-9536
E-mail:	[email protected]
General website:	http://www.mfa.gov.hu/
Languages of communication:	English, German, French

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 24 May 2012)

Iceland - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

Contact details:

Practical Information:

India - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 18 April 2013)

Ireland - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

The Department of Foreign Affairs

Contact details:

Address:	also issuing Apostilles, as per 20 March 2007: Consular Services Department of Foreign Affairs 1a South Mall CORK Ireland
Telephone:	+353 21 494 4777
Fax:	+353 21 494 4772
E-mail:	-
General website (see also "Practical Information"):	http://www.dfa.ie/
Language of communication:	English
Contact person:	Ray Devine

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 9 October 2012)

Israel - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel
2. Registrars of Magistrates' Courts and Civil Servants appointed by the Minister of Justice under Notaries Law, 1976

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 22 August 2012)

Italy - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

(courtesy translation)
1) In the case of judicial documents, civil status documents and notarial acts:
the public prosecutor at the courts in the jurisdiction in which the documents were issued;
2) in the case of all other administrative documents provided for in the Convention:
the prefect with territorial competence, for the Valle d'Aosta the President of the Region, and for the provinces of Trente and Bolzano the Government Commissioner.  

Notification of 8 August 2011:
[..] as from 31st March 2011 the competent authority for "les actes de l'état civil" is the Prefect with territorial competence, for the Valle d'Aosta the President of the Region, and for the provinces of Trente and Bolzano the Government Commissioner. 

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 8 November 2011)

Japan - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 30 May 2012)

Korea, Republic of - Competent Authorities (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

1. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (categories of public documents for which Apostilles can be issued: public documents made by government organisations and private documents tested by a notary public)
2. Ministry of Justice
3. National Court Administration
   

Contact details:

Address:	Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Consular Service division Government Complex 1303 Sejong-Ro 37 Jongno-gu SEOUL Republic of Korea
Telephone:	+82-2-2100-8166
Fax:	+82-2-2100-7972
E-mail:
General website:	www.0404.go.kr
Contact persons:	-
Language(s) of communication:	English, Korean

Practical Information:

Price:	1,000 won
Useful Links:	-

(This page was last updated on 25 March 2011)

Latvia - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(The contact details of this authority were last updated on 22 May 2012)

Lithuania - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

The Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 17 April 2013)

Luxembourg - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Contact details:

Address:	Ministère des Affaires Etrangères et de l'Immigration (Bureau des Passeports, Visas et Légalisations) 43, boulevard Roosevelt L-2450 LUXEMBOURG
Telephone:	+352 478 83 00
Fax:	+352 467 467
E-mail:	[email protected]
Languages of communication:	French, German, English
General website:	http://www.mae.lu/

Practical Information:

Price:	€ 5.00
Useful Links:	-

(The contact details of this authority were last updated on 23 April 2009)

Malta - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Contact details:

Practical Information:

Mauritius - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

Apostille Section, Home Affairs Division of the Prime Minister's Office

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 24 May 2012)

Mexico - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authorities

click to view previous Competent Authorities

Apostille for Federal Documents
Dirección de Coordinación Política con los Poderes de la Unión
Subdirección de Formalización y Control

Apostille for State Documents
There are 32 competent authorities designated to issue Apostilles for state documents; for more information see below under “Contact Details”.

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 13 May 2013)

Monaco - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

Direction des Services Judiciaires

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 22 May 2012)

Montenegro - Competent Authorities (Art. 6)

The courts of first instance of Montenegro:

Basic Court of Bar
Basic Court of Berane
Basic Court of Bijelo Polje
Basic Court of Danilovgrad
Basic Court of Žabljak
Basic Court of Kolašin
Basic Court of Kotor
Basic Court of Nikšic
Basic Court of Plav
Basic Court of Pljevlja
Basic Court of Podgorica
Basic Court of Rožaje
Basic Court of Ulcinj
Basic Court of Herceg Novi
Basic Court of Cetinje

President of the Court is authorized to certify the authenticity of the documents or the person who is authorized by the President of the Court with the seal "Apostille".

The Ministry of Justice may also issue Apostilles for the public documents issued by the authorities in the district of every Court of First Instance in Montenegro if the necessary conditions are fulfilled, i.e. when the Ministry's database has a sample of the signature and stamp which the public document bears.

(This page was last updated on 18 February 2008)

Netherlands - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

[click here for previous information] 

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

Contact details:

Address:	Competent Authorities for Curaçao: Head Civil Status Register Division Ministry of Public Administration, Planning and Services Roodeweg 42 Willemstad, Curacao T:+5999 - 434.1600 F:+5999 - 461.8166 Head Information Systems and Quality Management Roodeweg 42 Willemstad, Curacao T:+5999 - 434.1600 F:+5999 - 461.8166
Telephone:	-
Fax:	-
Email:	-
Internet:	-

Practical information:

(This page was last updated on 28 March 2012)

New Zealand - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

Department of Internal Affairs, Authentication Unit

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 11 March 2013)

Norway - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

1. The County Governors
2. Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 9 December 2008)

Panama - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

1. "Respecto de los documentos autorizados por las autoridades o funcionarios judiciales competentes, el Secretario de la Corte Suprema de justicia o quienes lo sustituyan legalmente.
2. Respecto de los documentos autorizados notarialmente y los documentos privados, cuyas firmas hayan sido autenticadas por Notario, los funcionarios de la Dirección de Servicios Administrativos del Ministerio de Gobierno y Justicia.
3. Respecto de los demás documentos emanados de cualquiera institución del Gobierno Central, instituciones autónomas o semiautónomas, municipales, policiales o del Ministerio Público, los funcionarios del Departamento Consular y Legalizaciones del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores.
4. Respecto de los demás documentos públicos se podrá utilizar indistintamente cualquiera de los tres procedimientos anteriores".

1. Concerning the 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 other 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 legalisation department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
4. Regarding all other public documents, any of the three preceding procedures are allowed.

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 15 May 2013)

Peru - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority:

Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores

Contact details:

Address:	Dirección de Política Consular Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores Jr. Miro Quesada No 263  Pasaje Acuña interior 155, Cercado de Lima Peru
Telephone:	+51-1-204-3327
Fax:	+51-1-204-3328
E-mail:	[email protected]

Address:	Oficina Descentralizada en Arequipa Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores Calle Málaga Grenet No 306 Umacollo Arequipa
Telephone:	+51-54-256355
Fax:	+51-54-259783
E-mail:	[email protected]

Address:	Oficina Descentralizada en Cusco Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores Av. Diagonal Ramón Zavaleta No 117 Wanchaq Cusco
Telephone:	+51-84-231617
Fax:	+51-84-232412
E-mail:	[email protected]

Address:	Oficina Descentralizada en Iquitos Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores Pevas No 120 Iquitos
Telephone:	+51-65-241879
Fax:	+51-65-243276
E-mail:	[email protected]

Address:	Oficina Descentralizada en Piura Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores Av. Panamericana No 290 El Chipe Piura
Telephone:	+51-73-306217
Fax:	+51-73-306217
E-mail:	[email protected]

Address:	Oficina Descentralizada en Puno Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores Calle Conde de Lemus No 276 Puno
Telephone:	+51-51-367074
Fax:	+51-51-368925
E-mail:	[email protected]

Address:	Oficina Descentralizada en Tacna Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores Calle Blondell (cuadra 5) y la Av. Luis Basadre (altura Ovalo Callao) Tacna
Telephone:	+51-52-425642
Fax:	+51-52-244926
E-mail:	[email protected]

Address:	Oficina Descentralizada en Tumbes Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores Calle Los Andes No 325 Tumbes
Telephone:	+51-72-523153
Fax:	+51-72-523153
E-mail:	[email protected]

Practical Information:

Price:	€ 6.70
Useful Links:	http://www.rree.gob.pe (in Spanish only)
E-Register:	Please click here.

(This page was last updated on 22 May 2012)

Poland - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 22 May 2012)

Portugal - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

(previous information) 

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

Portugal	The Attorney General of the Republic; The Attorneys General on behalf of ... Porto, Coimbra and Évora and the Assistant Attorneys General with the Representants of the Republic of the Autonomic Regions of Madeira and Açores
[ Territory of Macao* ]	[ The Governor of Macao Palácio do Governo Av. da Praia Grande Macao The Assistant Secretary for Justice of Macao R. de S. Lourenço Edifício dos Secretários Adjuntos, 1º andar Macao The Head of the Justice Department of Macao Av. da Praia Grande, 594 Edifício BCM, 8º andar Macao ]

* Until 19 December 1999. See for up-to-date information under CHINA, SAR of Macao.

Contact details:

Address:	The Procurator-General of the Republic (Procuradoria Geral de República) Address: Rua da Escola Politécnica, 140 1269-103 LISBOA Portugal
Telephone:	+351 213 921 900/99
Fax:	+351 213 975 255
E-mail:	[email protected]
General website:	http://www.pgr.pt/ (in Portuguese only)

Address:	Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Coimbra Palácio da Justiça Rua da Sofia 3004-501 COIMBRA Portugal
Telephone:	+351 239 852 950
Fax:	+351 239 824 310 (direct)
E-mail:	[email protected]
General website:	-

Address:	Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Évora Palácio Barahona, Rua da República 141 a 143 7004-501 ÉVORA Portugal
Telephone:	+351 266 758 817 (direct)
Fax:	+351 266 701 529 (direct)
E-mail:	[email protected]
General website:	-

Address:	Procuradoria-Geral Distrital do Porto Palácio da Justiça Campo Mártires da Pátria 4049-012 PORTO Portugal
Telephone:	+351 222 008 531
Fax:	+351 222 000 715 (services apostille)
E-mail:	[email protected]
General website:	www.trp.pt (in Portuguese only)

Address:	Morada: Auditor Jurídico junto do Representante da República da Região Autónoma da Madeira  Gabinete do Representante da República da Região Autónoma da Madeira  Palácio de Justiça Rua Marques do Funchal 902 FUNCHAL - Madeira
Telephone:	+351 291 213 449
Fax:	+351 291 233 015
E-mail:	[email protected]
General website:	-

Address:	Morada: Auditor Jurídico na Região autónoma dos Açores Secção Regional do Tribunal de contas dos Açores Rua Conselheiro Luis Bettencourt 9500-058 PONTA DELGADA - Açores
Telephone:	+351 296 209 460
Fax:	+351 296 283 494
E-mail:	[email protected]
General website:	-

Practical Information:

Price:	€10.20
Useful Links:	http://www.pgr.pt/ (Portuguese only)

(This page was last updated on 16 November 2009)

Romania - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies): (click for previous information) 

"(...) Tribunals are competent authorities for the official documents referred to in article 1 letters a) and d) of the Convention;
Chambers of Notaries Public are competent authorities for the official documents referred to in article 1 letter c) of the Convention;
Offices of the Prefect are competent authorities for the official documents referred to in article 1 letter b) of the Convention.
The aforementioned changes were operated by Law no. 202/2010 for accelerating judicial proceedings (article V), published in the Official Journal no. 178/26 October 2010 (...)"

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 22 May 2012)

Russian Federation - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authorities:

click here to view previous designations of Competent Authorities and/or changes to such designations

1. The Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation
   Categories of public documents for which Apostilles can be issued:
   - documents of federal bodies of executive power, natural and juridical persons, which were notarial evidence;
   - documents of territorial bodies of federal bodies of executive power, bodies of executive power of the subjects of the Russian Federation, notaries, bodies of local government; 
2. The General Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation;
3. The Ministry of the Interior of the Russian Federation;
4. The Register Offices of the executive bodies in subjects of the Russian Federation;
5. The Federal Archives Agency and the authorised bodies for archives of the executive power in subjects of the Russian Federation;
6. Executive bodies of constituent entities ("federal subjects") of the Russian Federation;
7. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation on official archive documents on military service (employment) in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the Armed Forces of the USSR and the Joint Armed Forces of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), issued in the Russian Federation.

Contact details:

Address:	The Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation Zhitnaya, 14 MOSCOW
Telephone:	+7 499 156 7529
Contact person:	Victor Karpov (language of communication: Russian)
E-mail:	-
General website:	http://www.minjust.ru

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 14 November 2011)

Serbia - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

(See also the declarations made by this country)

Contact details:

(This page was last updated on 9 June 2009)

Slovakia - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

(click here for previous Authorities)

Designated Competent Authorities (as per 1 October 2007):

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 22 May 2012)

Slovenia - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

1. The Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Slovenia (for certification of the authenticity of the signatures and seals of notaries, district judges, and court interpreters on public documents);
2. District Courts in Slovenia (for certification of the authenticity of the signatures and seals of notaries, notary candidates, judges (except district judges), state institutions, organisations and individuals, executing public powers of attorney and legal persons on public documents-applicable for all district courts in Slovenia).

Contact details:

1. Ministry of Justice:

2. District Courts in Slovenia (please click here).

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 12 December 2012)

South Africa - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

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. Director-General: International Relations and Cooperation 

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 3 August 2012)

Spain - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authorities
(as per 26 March 2012 - please click here for previous information):

"[...] the competent officers and authorities designated for the purposes of the Apostille include:

1) For the Apostille of administrative documents, the following are designated:

a) Governance Secretaries of the High Courts of Justice (Secretarios de Gobierno de los Tribunales Superiores de Justicia) and the cities of Ceuta and Melilla, or their legal deputies, as well as the officers in whom the latter may delegate, within the respective Governance Secretariat;
b) The Head of the Unit of the Ministry of Justice in whom, at any particular time, the powers in the field of informing and attending citizens have been vested or whoever may substitute him legally, as well as those persons in whom these may delegate;
c) The Territorial Managers of the Territorial Management Bureaux (Gerencias Territoriales) that the Ministry of Justice has throughout Spain or their legal deputies, or those persons in whom the former may delegate, within the aforesaid Bureaux;
d) The Deans of the Notarial Colleges or those acting in lieu thereof pursuant to the regulations or other Public Notaries in whom the former may delegate.

The authorities and offices mentioned in this Section may carry out, without distinction, the single legislation or Apostille of the documents mentioned in Article 1.2 of the [...] Royal Decree [1497/2011, dated 24 October, designating the competent officers and authorities to carry out the single legislation or Apostille (Official State Gazette No. 276, dated 16 November 2011)], regardless of where in Spain such documents were issued.
Pursuant to the provisions contained in the Royal Decree, the following are deemed "public documents": (please click here).

2) Apostille of judicial documents: The power to carry out the single legislation or Apostille on judicial documents, regardless of the place of issuance in Spain of such documents, is vested in the following authorities (except as provided in Paragraph 4 hereof):

a) Governance Secretaries of the High Courts of Justice (Secretarios de Gobierno de los Tribunales Superiores de Justicia) and of the Cities of Ceuta and Melilla, or their legal deputies, as well as the officers in whom the latter may delegate, within the respective Governance Secretariat;
b) The Head of the Unit of the Ministry of Justice in whom, at any particular time, the powers in the field of informing and assisting citizens have been vested or whoever may substitute him legally, as well as those persons in whom the former may delegate.
c) The Territorial Managers of the Territorial Management Bureaux (Gerencias Territoriales) that the Ministry of Justice has throughout Spain or their legal deputies, or those persons in whom the former may delegate, within the aforesaid Bureaux.

3) Apostille of notarial documents: The power is vested in the Deans of the Notarial Colleges or those acting in lieu thereof, pursuant to the regulations, or in those Public Notaries in whom the former may delegate, regardless of where in Spain such documents were issued.

4) Apostille of documents issued by judicial authorities or officers of the Supreme Court and the National High Court: Only the Governance Secretary (Secretario de Gobierno) of the relevant Court for documents issued by the Court in question or their legal deputies as well as the officers in whom the latter may delegate are competent.

5) Apostille of other public documents: the remaining public documents may be the object of the single legalisation or Apostille, at the citizen's choice and both on paper or electronically, by any of the authorities mentioned in Section 1 above.

Likewise, the aforesaid Royal Decree establishes and regulates in Chapter II, the form and register of the Apostille, whether on paper or in electronic format.
The Sole Transitional Provision of the aforesaid Royal Decree establishes that the Apostille of the documents issued by the Civil Register shall be regulated pursuant to the provisions contained in Article 2 thereof (Apostille of Judicial Documents) until the entry unto force of Act 20/2011, dated 21 July, on the Civil register, and shall be regulated thereafter by Article 1 of the Royal Decree (Apostille of Administrative Documents)."

Contact details: 

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 29 May 2012)

Suriname - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

The Registrar of the Court of Justice of Suriname

Contact details:

Practical Information:

Sweden - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

Since 1 January 2005, the Judicial Office at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs no longer issues Apostilles. Sweden has decentralised the issuance of Apostilles and designated all notaries public as Competent Authorities. There are approximately 250 notaries public in Sweden. They are appointed by the local County Administrative Board (Länsstyrelsen).
There is no centralised register of all notaries public. A comprehensive list is, however, published annually in the "Sveriges Statskalender", which can be ordered from: Fritzes kundservice, SE-106 47 Stockholm; Tel: +46 (8) 690-9190; Fax: +46 (8) 690-9191; e-mail: [email protected]; website: www.fritzes.se. The Statskalender contains the full addresses of the Swedish administration, down to the level of individuals. The cost of a Statskalender is approximately €140. The publication is not available in electronic form.
Contact details of notaries public may also be available from the relevant County Administrative Board. To access the full list of County Administrative Boards, click here.

Contact details:

Practical Information:

Switzerland - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

A. Federal Chancellery
B. Cantonal authorities: see the list below, under "Contact details"

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 22 May 2012)

FYR of Macedonia - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

the Ministry of Justice and, as per 11 August 1997, all 27 First Instance Courts in the Republic of Macedonia.

Contact details:

Practical Information:

Turkey - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

1. Administrative documents:
   a. in provinces: Governor, Head Official of the District, Chief Secretary
   b. in towns: Head Official of the District
2. Judicial documents: Presidencies of the Judicial Commissions where the high criminal courts exist

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 7 June 2012)

Ukraine - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

1. Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine
2. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
3. Ministry of Justice of Ukraine 

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 5 November 2012)

United Kingdom - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

Foreign and Commonwealth Office
The Legalisation Office

For the UK Overseas Territories, see below, under Contact Details:

Contact details:

Address:	The Legalisation Office Foreign and Commonwealth Office P.O. Box 6255 MILTON KEYNES MK10 1XX United Kingdom
Telephone:	+44 20 7008 5959
Fax:	+44 1908 716 911
E-mail:	[email protected]
Contact persons:	Ms Carol Anne Ireland (language of communication: English)
General website:	www.fco.gov.uk/legalisation

Address:	Anguilla Government House Anguilla
Telephone:	+1 (264) 497 2621 +1 (264) 497 2622
Fax:	+1 (264) 497 3314
E-mail:	[email protected]
General website:	-

Address:	Bermuda The Parliamentary Registrar The Parliamentary Registry Office Valerie T. Scott Building 60 Reid Street HM12 HAMILTON Bermuda
Telephone:	+1 (441) 298-6363
Fax:	+1 (441) 292 0207
Contact person:	Kenneth R. Scott
Language of communication:	English
E-mail:	[email protected] or [email protected]
General website:	http://www.elections.gov.bm/

Address:	British Virgin Islands Government House Road Town Tortola British Virgin Islands
Telephone:	+1 (284) 494 2345 +1 (284) 494 2370
Fax:	+1 (284) 494 5582
E-mail:	bvigovernor@gov.vg registrar@bvigovernment.org
Practical Information:	Deputy Governor’s Office

Address:	Cayman Islands 4th floor Government Administration Building Elgin Avenue George Town Grand Cayman Cayman Islands
Telephone:	+1 (345) 949 7900
Fax:	+1 (345) 945 4131
E-mail:	staffoff@candw.ky
General website:	-

Address:	Falkland Islands Government House Stanley Falkland Islands
Telephone:	+500 27433
Fax:	+500 27434
E-mail:	gov.house@horizon.co.fk
General website:	-

Address:	Gibraltar Civil Status and Registration Office (on behalf of the Governor of Gibraltar) 3 Secretary’s Lane Joshua Hassan House Gibraltar
Telephone:	+350 20051725
Fax:	+350 20042706
E-mail:	csro@gibraltar.gov.gi
General website:	-

Address:	Guernsey The Legalisation Office Greffe Royal Court House St Peter Port Guernsey GY1 2PB
Telephone:	+44 1481 725277
Fax:	-
E-mail:	-
General website:	-

Address:	Isle of Man Isle of Man Courts of Justice Deemsters Walk Bucks Road Douglas Isle of Man IM1 3AR
Telephone:	+44 1624 685265
Fax:	-
E-mail:	-
General website:	-

Address:	Jersey The Legalisation Office Maritime House La Route du Port Elizabeth St Helier Jersey JE1 1JD
Telephone:	+44 1534 838838
Fax:	-
E-mail:	-
General website:	-

Address:	Monserrat Lancaster House Olveston Montserrat
Telephone:	+1 (664) 491 2688 +1 (664) 491 2689
Fax:	+1 (664) 491 8867
E-mail:	govoff@candw.ag
General website:	-

Address:	St. Helena The Castle Jamestown St Helena Island South Atlantic Ocean
Telephone:	+290 2555
Fax:	+290 2598
E-mail:	OCS@helanta.sh joany@sainthelena.gov.sh
General website:	-

Address:	South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands Government House Stanley Falkland Islands
Telephone:	+500 27433
Fax:	+500 27434
E-mail:	gov.house@horizon.co.fk
General website:	-

Address:	Turcs and Caicos Islands Waterloo Government House Grand Turk Turks and Caicos Islands
Telephone:	+1 (649) 946 2308 +1 (649) 946 2309
Fax:	+1 (649) 946 2903
E-mail:	govhouse@tciway.tc
General website:	-

Address:	The High Commissioner for the British Antarctic Territory
Telephone:	-
Fax:	-
E-mail:	-
General website:	-

Practical Information:

Price:	Postal Service at Milton Keynes: Businesses and members of the public are charged £30 per apostille issued (signature verified). Premium Service in Central London: Business customers also have access to our premium business service in Central London and are charged £75 per document (signature verified).
Useful Links:	Legalisation Office

(This page was last updated on 15 February 2013)

USA - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

The United States of America has three tiers of authorities competent to issue the apostille certificate. The U.S. Department of State Authentication Office affixes apostilles to documents issued by Federal agencies of the United States. 

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Passport Services, Vital Records Section affixes apostilles to Consular Reports of Birth, Death and Marriage of U.S. Citizens abroad and certificates of birth and death originally issued by the Panama Canal Zone Government between 1904 and 1979.

The Clerks and Deputy Clerks of the Federal Courts of the United States are authorized to issue apostilles on documents issued by those courts. As an alternative, the U.S. Department of Justice may authenticate the seal of the Federal court and the U.S. Department of State Authentications Office will then place an apostille over that seal. 

Public documents issued by U.S. states, the District of Columbia and other U.S. jurisdictions may be legalized with an apostille by designated authorities in each jurisdiction, generally the state Secretary of State’s office.  

I. Authentication Officer, Acting Authentication Officer and Assistant Authentication Officer, United States Department of State.

Contact details:

Address:	Authentication Officer, Acting Authentication Officer and Assistant Authentication Officer, United States Department of State: 518 23rd Street N.W. WASHINGTON, DC 20520 United States of America
Telephone:	+1 (202) 647-5002
Fax:	+1 (202) 663-3636
Contact persons:	Denitra T. Hawkins, Authentication Officer Fernesia T. Crawford, Assistant Authentication Officer Patrick O. Hatchett, Assistant Authentication Officer Sonya N. Johnson, Assistant Authentication Officer Joan C. Hampton, Assistant Authentication Officer Annie R. Maddux, Assistant Authentication Officer
E-mail: General website (see also "Practical Information"):	aoprgsmauth@state.gov  Department of State: http://www.state.gov/m/a/auth/ National Association of Secretaries of State, Notary Public Administrators Section (providing information about the authorities in the individual U.S. states who affix Apostilles to documents originating in those states): www.nass.org.

II. All clerks and deputy clerks for the following:

Supreme Court of the United States
United States Court of Claims
United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals
United States Court of International Trade
United States Courts of Appeals for the following circuits:
District of Columbia Circuit
First Circuit
Second Circuit
Third Circuit
Fourth Circuit
Fifth Circuit
Sixth Circuit
Seventh Circuit
Eighth Circuit
Ninth Circuit
Tenth Circuit
Eleventh Circuit

United States District Courts for the following districts:
Middle District of Alabama
Northern District of Alabama
Southern District of Alabama
District of Alaska
District of Arizona
Eastern District of Arkansas
Western District of Arkansas
Central District of California
Eastern District of California
Northern District of California
Southern District of California
District of Colorado
District of Connecticut
District of Delaware
District of Columbia
Middle District of Florida
Northern District of Florida
Southern District of Florida
Middle District of Georgia*
Northern District of Georgia*
Southern District of Georgia*
District of Hawaii
District of Idaho
Central District of Illinois
Northern District of Illinois
Southern District of Illinois
Northern District of Indiana
Southern District of Indiana
Northern District of Iowa
Southern District of Iowa
District of Kansas
Eastern District of Kentucky
Western District of Kentucky
Eastern District of Louisiana
Middle District of Louisiana
Western District of Louisiana
District of Maine
District of Maryland
District of Massachusetts
Eastern District of Michigan
Western District of Michigan
District of Minnesota
Northern District of Mississippi
Southern District of Mississippi
Eastern District of Missouri
Western District of Missouri
District of Montana
District of Nebraska
District of Nevada
District of New Hampshire
District of New Jersey
District of New Mexico
Eastern District of New York
Northern District of New York
Southern District of New York
Western District of New York
Eastern District of North Carolina
Middle District of North Carolina
Western District of North Carolina
District of North Dakota
Northern District of Ohio
Southern District of Ohio
Eastern District of Oklahoma
Northern District of Oklahoma
Western District of Oklahoma
District of Oregon
Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Middle District of Pennsylvania
Western District of Pennsylvania
District of Puerto Rico
District of Rhode Island
District of South Carolina
District of South Dakota
Eastern District of Tennessee
Middle District of Tennessee
Western District of Tennessee
Eastern District of Texas
Northern District of Texas
Southern District of Texas
Western District of Texas
District of Utah
District of Vermont
Eastern District of Virginia (E)
Western District of Virginia (W)
Eastern District of Washington
Western District of Washington
Northern District of West Virginia
Southern District of West Virginia
Eastern District of Wisconsin
Western District of Wisconsin
District of Wyoming

District Courts for the following territories:
District Court for the District of the Canal Zone
District Court of Guam
District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands
District Court of the Virgin Islands

A short, all-encompassing and more manageable description for II would be:

"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."

Contact details:

Full contact details:

All the designated clerks and deputy clerks http://www.uscourts.gov/links.html

III. Officers of the individual States and other subdivisions as indicated:

American Samoa:	Secretary of American Samoa; Attorney General of American Samoa
District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.):	Executive Secretary; Assistant Executive Secretary; Mayor's Special Assistant and Assistant to the Executive Secretary; Secretary of the District of Columbia
Guam (Territory of):	Director, Department of Administration; Acting Director, Department of Administration; Deputy Director, Department of Administration; Acting Deputy Director, Department of Administration
Northern Mariana Islands (Commonwealth of the):	Attorney General; Acting Attorney General; Clerk of the Court, Commonwealth Trial Court; Deputy Clerk, Commonwealth Trial Court
Puerto Rico (Commonwealth of):	Under Secretary of State; Assistant Secretary of State for External Affairs; Assistant Secretary of State; Chief, Certifications Office; Director, Office of Protocol; Assistant Secretary of State for International Affairs, Chief, Certification Office
Virgin Islands of the United States	no authority designated".

* By Note dated 12 December 1997, the Embassy of the United States of America in The Hague informed the depositary that in accordance with Article 6, paragraph 2, the Legislature of the State of Georgia has designated the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority as the only appropriate entity to issue apostilles in the state of Georgia effective 1 February 1998.
By communication dated 2 November 2006, the State Department informed the Permanent Bureau that for New Jersey, the competent authority is now the New Jersey Division of Revenue.
By communication dated 3 August 2009, the Embassy of the United States of America in The Hague informed the depositary of additional competent authorities for the state of Connecticut.

Contact details:

Full contact details:

States competent authorities - Secretary of State (NASS website)

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 31 January 2013)

Uruguay - Competent Authority (Art. 6)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Venezuela - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Directorate General of Consular Affairs

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 9 December 2008)

Andorra - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

click here for the previous authorities

Designated Competent Authorities (as per 13 June 2012):

• El/la ministre/a d'Afers Exteriors, (The Minister of Foreign Affairs)
• El/la coordinador/a d'Afers Bilaterals i Consulars (The Coordinator of Bilateral and Consular Affairs)
• El/la director/a d'Afers Multilaterals i Cooperacio (The Director of Multilateral Affairs and Cooperation)
• El/la cap de l'Àrea d'Afers Generais i Jurfdics (The Head of Unit of General and Juridical Affairs)

Contact details:

Address:	Ministre/a d'Afers Exteriors (Minister of Foreign Affairs) C/ Prat de la Creu 62-64 (edifici administratiu del Govern) AD500 Andorra la Vella Principat d'Andorra
Telephone:	+376 875 704
Fax:	+376 869 559
E-mail:	exteriors.gov@andorra.ad
Languages of communication:	Catalan, French, Spanish, English
General website:	http://www.mae.ad

Practical Information:

Price:	€ 8.58
Useful Links:	Information on Apostilles: http://www.amb-andorre.ad/legalitzaciosig.pdf (in Catalan only) The application form can be downloaded at http://www.tramits.ad/ . Please type in “Busqueu a Tràmits" the word "postil" (in Catalan only)
E-Register:	Please click here.

(This page was last updated on 10 August 2012)

Antigua and Barbuda - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

Contact details:

Practical Information:

Armenia - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2. The Ministry of Justice

Contact details:

Practical Information:

Azerbaijan - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

1. Ministry of Justice - for documents emanating from courts, public prosecutors and justice authorities, including documents certified in notarial order and state civil acts registration documents;
2. Ministry of Foreign Affairs - for other documents.

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 11 May 2012)

Bahamas - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

1. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2. Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
3. Under Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
4. Senior Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
5. Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
6. First Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 1 August 2012)

Bahrain - Competent Authority
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
P.O. Box 547
Government Road
Manama
Kingdom of Bahrain
Tel.: +973-17227555
Internet: http://www.mofa.gov.bh

Barbados - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

1. Solicitor-General
2. Deputy Solicitor General
3. Registrar of the Supreme Court
4. Registrar of Corporate Affairs
5. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry responsible for Foreign Affairs
6. Chief of Protocol

Contact details:

Practical Information:

Belize - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

the Registrar General

Contact details:

Practical Information:

Botswana - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

1. The persons for the time being exercising the functions of

(i) Permanent Secretary,
(ii) Registrar of High Court,
(iii) District Commissioner,

1. Any person appointed or empowered to hold a subordinate court of the first class; and
2. Such other persons as the President may appoint by notice in the Gazette.

Contact details:

Practical Information:

Brunei Darussalam - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 16 January 2012)

Cape Verde - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

(Translation)
...in accordance with Article 6 of this Convention, the authorities of the Republic of Cape Verde which are competent to issue the certificate referred to in Article 3, (...), are the Direcção-Geral dos Registos e Notariado of the Ministry of Justice and the Direcção-Geral dos Assuntos Consulares e Comunidades of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Colombia - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Area de Legalizaciones

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 7 May 2012)

Cook Islands - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

Contact details:

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Dominica - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

Contact details:

Practical Information:

Dominican Republic - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority:

Secretariat of State of Foreign Relations of the Dominican Republic,
Legalisations Section of the Consular Department

Contact details:

Address:	Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ave. Independencia No. 752 Estancia San Gerónimo, Santo Domingo Distrito Nacional Dominican Republic
Telephone:	+ (809) 987 7001 + (809) 535 6280
Fax:	-
E-mail:	relexteriores@mirex.gov.do
General website:	http://www.serex.gov.do/

Practical Information:

Price:	620 Dominican pesos (approx. 16 USD)
Useful Links:	Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (only in Spanish)
e-Register	Click here

(This page was last updated on 18 August 2011)

El Salvador - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

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Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 26 November 2008)

Fiji - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
International Cooperation and Civil Aviation

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 26 July 2010)

Grenada - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
The Permanent Secretary and the Senior Administrative Officer

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Honduras - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Secretaría de Estado en el Despacho de Relaciones Exteriores

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Kazakhstan - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

Designated Competent Authority(ies):

1. 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;
2. 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;
3. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan - for official documents issued by the structural subdivisions of the Migration Police;
4. 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;
5. 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;
6. 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;
7. 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;
8. 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;
9. 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;
10. The designated bodies are entitled to delegate the authority to their territorial bodies to issue the apostille.

Attachment: The Hague Convention of 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.

Contact details:

Practical Information:

(This page was last updated on 18 August 2011)

Kyrgyzstan - Competent Authority (Art. 6)

State institutions having the right to apostil documents of the Kyrgyz Republic in relation to the Convention:

• Ministry of Justice of the Kyrgyz Republic;
• State Service on National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic;
• General Prosecutor Office of the Kyrgyz Republic;
• Court Department of the Kyrgyz Republic;
• Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic;
• State service of financial police of the Kyrgyz Republic.

  Contact details:

Address:	Ministry of Justice 32 M.Gandi Str. 720010 BISHKEK Kyrgyzstan
Telephone:	+996 (312) 656490
Fax:	+996 (312) 656502
E-mail:	-
General website:	http://www.minjust.gov.kg/

Address:	Ministry of Internal Affairs 469 Frunze Str. 720040 BISHKEK Kyrgyzstan
Telephone:	+996 (312) 662450
Fax:	+996 (312) 266280
E-mail:	-
General website:	http://www.mvd.kg/