Who issues an apostille for a birth certificate
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus issues apostilles for Belarusian birth certificates: it is responsible for documents issued by civil registry offices. An apostille verifies the authenticity of the signature and seal. The certificate is then accepted in countries party to the 1961 Hague Convention without consular legalisation. A Belarusian document can only be apostilled in Belarus, not abroad.
Where an apostilled document is needed abroad
In Poland, an apostilled birth certificate is usually requested by the foreigners' affairs office (karta pobytu), the USC when registering a marriage, and schools and ZUS for matters involving a child. In Germany, it is requested by the Standesamt and Ausländerbehörde. The procedure is similar in Lithuania, Czechia and other EU countries. The institution receiving your application sets the exact list of requirements; we will advise you when preparing your quote.
Citizenship and the Polish Card
When you obtain Polish citizenship, your Belarusian birth certificate is entered in the Polish register: this is called transkrypcja aktu urodzenia. The USC usually requires a document with an apostille and a sworn translation for this. Sometimes your parents' birth certificates are also needed; you can order those through us too.
Is a translation needed?
Almost always, yes. Institutions in Europe accept foreign documents with a translation into the official language; in Poland, it must be by a sworn translator (tłumacz przysięgły). Both the document and the apostille must be translated, otherwise the apostille will remain untranslated. You can order a sworn translation from us as part of the same order.
If the certificate is old, laminated or lost
Soviet-era certificates, laminated forms and documents with corrections are not always accepted abroad, and some cannot be apostilled at all. Obtaining a replacement birth certificate is more reliable: it is issued on a current form and apostilled straight away. You can also obtain a replacement for your child's certificate. There is no need for you to travel.
How long does it take?
An apostille is usually ready in 7–14 working days, or 5 working days with urgent service. If a replacement certificate is needed, it takes longer; we will give you an exact date in your quote. We send a scan with the apostille as soon as it is ready and deliver the original by courier to any European country in 2–5 working days.
What to prepare
Photos of both sides of the certificate, the country where you are submitting it and the date you need it by. If it is your child's certificate, let us know. We will explain everything else with your quote.