Starting 9 December 2024, the UK Land Registry will implement its first fee increase in over a decade, a move expected to generate an additional £27 million annually. The adjustment has sparked attention, particularly for its impact on the real estate sector, where access to accurate property information is crucial.
The Kyrgyz Republic has been an official contracting state of the Hague Convention of October 5, 1961 (also known as the Apostille Convention) since June 1, 2011. This international agreement simplifies the recognition of public documents abroad by replacing the lengthy consular legalization process with a streamlined apostille procedure.
In November 2024, Uruguay'sMinistry of Foreign Affairs introduced significant updates to its apostille processes, reflecting the country’s ongoing efforts to modernize and improve access to essential services.
In 2024, the Cayman Islands government introduced a new procedure for legalizing extracts from the General Register, simplifying the process for obtaining apostilled documents. The service is now fully available through the government's online portal.
Iranian Economy Minister Abdolnasser Hemmati expressed optimism about advancing Iran’s compliance with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) during a recent meeting with journalists, as reported by Intellinews. The minister highlighted efforts to pursue alternative legal routes to align with the FATF’s international standards, which are seen as vital to Iran's economic interests.
Azerbaijan is set to introduce an automated consular legalization system, part of the country’s broader digitalization efforts aimed at streamlining government services. This initiative will simplify the legalization process for documents to be used internationally, reducing bureaucratic delays and making the procedure more efficient for citizens and businesses. The new system is expected to allow applicants to submit and track their documents electronically, aligning Azerbaijan with international standards for document verification and legalization.
The State Council of the People's Republic of China (also known as the Central People's Government of the PRC) has posted a section on its official portal dedicated to apostille and consular legalization of documents.
A digital apostille service for several types of documents is now available on the Israeli government portal. These apostilles can be used in countries that have ratified the 1961 Hague Convention, accept electronic apostilles, and maintain diplomatic relations with Israel.
