The Director of Legalization and Apostille has been designated as the primary contact person at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic for matters related to the authentication of documents for use abroad. The corresponding update has been published on the official portal of the Hague Conference on Private International Law.
Who is responsible for apostilles in the Dominican Republic?
Previously, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores), specifically its Department of Document Legalization, served as the competent authority for issuing apostilles in the Dominican Republic.
An administrative clarification has recently been made regarding this matter — the relevant department has been granted separate authority and is now officially named the Directorate of Document Legalization of the Central Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Dirección de Legalización de Documentos de la Sede Central de la Cancillería).
In addition, the authorities of the Dominican Republic have clarified that the primary contact person for matters related to document authentication is Ms. Lía Díaz, Director of Legalization and Apostille.
Recent сhanges in apostille authorities worldwide
As previously reported by Schmidt & Schmidt, the government of Andorra has extended apostille powers to the Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as to the Director of International Legal Affairs and Human Resources.
The Colombian authorities have granted the authority to issue apostilles within the Coordination Office for Apostille and Legalization to a designated ambassador and the head of operations.
In turn, the political leadership of Venezuela has authorized the Director General of the Directorate of Consular Affairs and the Coordinator of the Legalization and Apostille Sector of the Ministry of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs to authenticate documents by means of apostille.
The authorities of Uzbekistan have authorized regional justice departments to issue apostilles.
In Uruguay, the General Directorate of Consular Services has been officially designated as the competent authority for issuing apostilles.
In the British Virgin Islands (a British Overseas Territory), the Office of the Deputy Governor has been designated as the sole authority responsible for issuing apostilles.
The Bermuda Islands have transferred the apostille function to the Parliamentary Registry Office.
In Saint Lucia and in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the Registrar of the High Court has been replaced by the Chief Clerk of the Supreme Court as the designated apostille authority.
Additionally, Cuba has transferred responsibility for consular legalization from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Ministry of Justice. This measure is temporary.
Havana has expressed its intention to join the Hague Convention and adopt the use of apostilles.
The authorities of Saint Kitts and Nevis have removed the Attorney General, the Chief Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office, and the Registrar of the Supreme Court from the list of officials authorized to issue apostilles. A new official has been added to the list — the Legal Adviser of the Legal Department of the Nevis Island Administration.
In Malta, the competent authority has changed as a result of an administrative reform. Apostilles are now issued by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade.
What is an apostille?
What is an apostille? Why do I need an apostille? How do I get an apostille? - Our video will explain everything you need to know about the apostille. If you have a document that needs to be certified with an apostille for use abroad, Schmidt and Schmidt will assist you! We provide apostille services in more than 100 countries worldwide.
