In India, the Consular, Passport and Visa (CPV) Division of the Ministry of External Affairs has been designated as the apostille authority. The relevant information is recorded on the official portal of the Hague Conference on Private International Law.
Who is authorized to apostille documents in India
Previously, the authority responsible for certifying documents by apostille was the Legal and Treaty Relations Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (although in practice the power was delegated to various services).
Now the body responsible for apostille certification is the Consular, Passport and Visa Affairs Division of the MFA. And in its structure there is a Joint Secretary. The Indian authorities have also clarified the official fee for apostilization. It amounts to 50 Indian rupees.
Recent сhanges in apostille authorities worldwide
As previously reported by Schmidt & Schmidt a number of countries have recently changed the authorities and officials authorized to legalize documents for use abroad. For instance, in Finland, the right to issue apostilles has been granted to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (Digi- ja väestötietovirasto).
The Colombian authorities have granted the power to authenticate documents to the Ambassador and the Head of Operations within the Apostille and Legalization Coordination Office.
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.
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In Saint Lucia and in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the Registrar of the High Court has been replaced by the Chief Clerk of the Supreme Court as the designated apostille authority.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.
