Who issues the apostille?
The main justice departments of the regional executive committees and the Minsk City Executive Committee issue apostilles for documents from Belarusian notaries. An apostille verifies the notary's signature and seal. The document is then accepted in countries party to the 1961 Hague Convention without consular legalisation.
When a notarised copy helps
Some documents cannot be apostilled at all: passports, driving licences, employment record books and military ID documents. In these cases, a notarised copy, which can be apostilled, sometimes helps. However, the institution abroad may refuse a copy and request another document, such as an archival certificate instead of an employment record book. We will advise which option is more reliable.
Consent for a child's travel and inheritance
If the other parent lives in Belarus and has had their consent notarised, it needs an apostille for a school, border authorities or court abroad. A certificate of inheritance rights issued by a Belarusian notary is also accepted only with an apostille and translation. If the document has already been prepared, we will arrange an apostille. If it still needs to be prepared, contact us and we will explain the options.
Is a translation needed?
Almost always, yes. Poland requires a translation by a sworn translator (tłumacz przysięgły), and Germany requires a certified translation. The document is translated together with the apostille. You can arrange a sworn translation through our partner as part of the same order.
Timeframes and what to prepare
An apostille is usually ready in 7–14 working days, or 5 with urgent service. We send a scan as soon as it is ready and the original by courier in 2–5 working days. For a quote, send a photo of the document and tell us which country it is for and why it is needed.