Why an employment record book cannot be apostilled
In Belarus, employment record books are on the list of documents that cannot be apostilled, alongside passports and driving licences. Employment history is therefore confirmed through other documents: archival employment and salary certificates. These are issued by the employer if it is still operating, or by the archive to which a closed organisation's records were transferred.
Who issues apostilles for archival certificates?
The Department for Archives and Records Management of the Ministry of Justice issues apostilles for certificates from state archives. The procedure is different for certificates issued by employers themselves: the apostille is placed on a notarised copy. We choose a type of certificate that can be apostilled and accepted in your country.
Pensions abroad
Belarus has social security agreements with some EU countries, and pension funds request some information directly from one another. If ZUS in Poland or Deutsche Rentenversicherung in Germany asks you for employment and earnings certificates, send us the pension fund's request and we will obtain the exact certificates listed in it.
Is a translation needed?
Almost always, yes. Poland requires a translation by a sworn translator (tłumacz przysięgły), and Germany requires a certified translation. Salary certificates can run to several pages with tables; we will account for this in the timeframe and price. You can arrange a sworn translation through us as part of the same order.
Timeframes and what to prepare
The timeframe depends on where the records are held: an operating employer responds faster than an archive. We will give you an exact date in your quote. An apostille for a completed certificate takes 7–14 working days, or 5 with urgent service. For a quote, send photos of the pages containing entries in your employment record book so we can identify where to apply. Tell us why you need proof of employment history: a pension, work or a residence permit.