Designated competent authority(ies) to issue an apostille in Kazakhstan

In accordance with the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan Decree No 545 of April 24, 2001 the following government agencies have the right to endorse apostille:

• The Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan
• Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan
• The Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Kazakhstan
• The Committee of Information and Archives of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan
• The Committee on Court Administration of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan
• The Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan
• The General Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan
• The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan
• The National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan

What apostille is? Where and how to get it?

In accordance with The Hague Convention on the documents executed by the competent authorities of one country and intended for use on the territory of another state, the special stamp (apostille) is to be put.

According to Article 5 of the Convention apostille authenticates the signature, the capacity of the person signing the document, and when appropriate, the identity of the seal or stamp which the document bears.

The signature, seal and stamp on the certificate by the competent authority, requires no further certification or legalization, and the document on which the apostille can be used in any of the countries – members of the Hague Convention.

How to differentiate whether I need an apostille or consular legalization?

If the country, in which the document is to be used, is a party to The Hague Convention of 1961 then you will need a stamp “Apostille”. Otherwise – consular legalization.

In any case, the most important source of reliable information is the organization to which legalized document to be submitted as sometimes even different organs of the state have different requirements for legalization of foreign documents. So you need to specify the requirements for legalization where you are going to apply a legalized document.

What is an apostille?

Stamping “apostille” (sometimes this procedure is also called “simplified legalization” or “Apostille”) is used to send a document to the countries that joined the Hague Convention of the 5th October, 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of consular legalization and introducing a simplified procedure of legalization – stamping “apostille. “

Simplified this procedure is called because, on the one hand, the apostille is fast enough and involves the only one authorized body, and, on the other hand, the document becomes valid in all countries that have acceded to the Hague Convention.

According to the 1961 Hague Convention, Apostille has a square  shape with a side of not less than 9 cm and should be the model annexed to the Convention.

In Kazakhstan it is not necessary to attach the Apostille to the documents:

• Issued by the Embassies or Consular Offices of the Republic of Kazakhstan abroad;
• Directly related to commercial or customs operations.

In order to endorse documents with the Apostille in Kazakhstan it will be required to present:

• The documents requiring apostalization;
• The document which certifies the identity of a citizen;
• Power of Attorney, if documents are presented for apostalization by an attorney or authorized representative;
• The receipt confirming the payment of the State Duty.

The text of the apostille must contain the following details:

• The name of the State issuing an apostille
• Name of the person signing the document certifies the Apostille
• Title of the person signing the document certifies the Apostille
• Name of the institution, the seal/stamp is affixed to the document certifying the Apostille
• The name of the city where apostille
• The date of the certificate
• The name of the apostille body
• The number of apostille
• Seal/stamp of the apostille
• Signature of the officer

Apostille can be made up in one of the official languages ​​of the Convention (French or English), and the national language of the state apostille. In practice, the inscription on the certificate are often duplicated in two languages ​​(one of the languages ​​of the Convention and national).

According to the Convention, Apostille can be placed on the document itself or on a separate sheet attached to the document.

In practice in different countries use different methods of the certificate: rubber stamp, glue, (colored) ribbon, wax printing, relief printing, self-adhesive stickers, etc., as well as an appendix to the document, which is carried out by means of adhesive mounting rings, clips, etc.

States which have acceded to the Hague Convention, which abolished mandatory consular legalization and introduced simplified legalization by the stamp “Apostille”