Procurement of documents in the Bahamas

The company Schmidt & Schmidt provides services for the reclamation of civil status documents, as well as obtaining duplicates, lost or damaged documents in the Bahamas with their subsequent legalization and translation.
It often happens that civil status documents are lost or damaged, or it is necessary to obtain current copies of documents. In this case, it is necessary to reclaim duplicates of documents.

Often, those who have left the Bahamas face difficulties in this procedure. Our service allows you to reclaim documents in the Bahamas remotely, and we can carry out courier delivery of the document to anywhere in the world.

Validity of civil status documents in the Bahamas

Civil status documents issued in the Bahamas are generally valid indefinitely. However, the receiving party may impose time limits.

When to obtain duplicate documents in the Bahamas

A duplicate birth certificate, marriage certificate, name change certificate, divorce certificate, criminal record certificate or death certificate may be required to register a marriage abroad, a newborn child, citizenship, inheritance, data verification for pension applications, opening bank accounts, employment and other bureaucratic issues.

What documents may be required in the Bahamas

• Birth certificate
• Marriage certificate
• Certificate of change of surname
• Divorce certificate
• Death certificate
• Certificates of good conduct
• Educational documents
• Other civil status documents

Birth certificate

A birth certificate is an official document provided by the Registrar or acting Registrar of the relevant Civil or Consular Register. It verifies details of an individual's birth, including the date, sex, and, if applicable, the time of birth and family relationships.

To obtain a certified copy of a birth certificate in The Bahamas, you can utilize the online services provided by the Registrar General's Department through the MyGateway portal. Applicants must be Bahamian citizens, 18 years or older, applying for their own birth certificate. Fill out the form with accurate personal details, including the required parental information and your NIB number. After submission, you'll receive a confirmation email with details of your application. Processing times can vary. It's advisable to check the MyGateway portal or contact their help desk for current processing durations.

If you prefer not to apply online, you can request a birth certificate by mail and send the completed form and payment to the Registrar General's Department.

Required documents

• Mother's first and last names
• Mother's maiden name
• Father's first and last names
• National Insurance Board (NIB) Number

Marriage certificate

The marriage certificate is the legal record of marriage, used to verify marital status. It is usually required for procedures such as changing the last name, applying for spousal benefits, immigration applications and for inheritance matters.

Bahamian citizens aged 18 and older can request a certified copy of their marriage certificate online through the MyGateway portal by completing the application form.

For the case that you are not a Bahamian citizen or cannot access the MyGateway portal, you can request a certified copy of your marriage certificate by mail or through a local representative.

Required information (for non-Bahamian citizens)

• Full names of both spouses
• Date and place of marriage
• Written formal request

Divorce certificate

A divorce certificate serves the purpose to verify the legal dissolution of a marriage. It is required for procedures such as remarrying, updating marital status on legal records, immigration applications, and legal matters involving custody, support, or property division.

Divorce decrees in The Bahamas are issued by the Supreme Court. After determining the specific court where your divorce was finalized, one can gather all necessary information and contact the Supreme Court Registry and submit a formal request.

Required documents

• Full names of both parties involved
• Date of the divorce decree
• Case or docket number (if available)

Death certificate

The death certificate serves as an official confirmation of an individual's death. It is required for settling the deceased's estate, claiming life insurance and closing financial accounts. These documents can be obtained through the provincial vital statistics office.

Also this certificate can be obtained from the MyGateway portal by creating a profile with all of your credentials or logging into an existing one. After having logged in, search for “death certificate” service under the Registrar Generals Department. After completing the application form it's only a matter of reviewing, submitting and paying for confirmed finalization of the request.

Required documents

• Full name of the deceased
• Date of death
• Place of death

Police clearance certificate

A criminal record certificate, also known as a police certificate, is a document used to verify an individual's criminal record or confirm the absence of one. It is required for employment in sensitive fields, visa or immigration applications, volunteering, firearm permits and adoption proceedings.

To obtain a Police Character Certificate from The Bahamas, you need to submit a written request to the Headquarters of the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

The application process varies depending on your current location. If you live in Nessau in the Bahamas you must apply online on the Royal Bahamas Police Force website and check the special considerations for a complete list of stations that accept applications. If you don't live in Nessau but still in the Bahamas you can obtain your certificate at the station where you applied. In some cases fingerprints will be required. If you're located outside of the Bahamas you have the options to apply online or on paper.

Required documents

• Valid ID
• NIB Number
• Completed Application Form
• FIngerprints

Educational documents

Foreign educational documents only carry the same legal value if they are exempt from legalization or have undergone the necessary legalization process. Documents from countries with bilateral agreements with the Bahamas are fully exempt from legalization. Documents from countries that are part of the Hague Convention of 1961 undergo a simplified procedure called apostille. If neither countries are part of the convention or have bilateral agreements they undergo consular legalization

Commercial documents cannot be apostilled. Therefore, if you received a certificate of educational courses from a private company, which does not have an educational license, you will not be able to certify it with an apostille. Only documents from certified educational institutions with an official state license can be legalized through the apostille procedure.

Steps to obtain an apostille

Begin by submitting the document (such as a diploma or certificate) to the relevant Bahamian authority for authentication. This is typically the Ministry of Justice of the Bahamas or other designated bodies, depending on the nature of the document.

The designated authority will verify the document's legitimacy. Once the document is authenticated, it will be eligible for the apostille process.

After authentication, the document is sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of the Bahamas for apostille certification. The MFA is the official body responsible for affixing the apostille to the document.

Once the apostille is attached, the document is certified as authentic and legally valid for use in other countries that are signatories to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents.

Steps for consular legalisation

Begin by submitting your document (such as a diploma or certificate) to the appropriate authority for authentication. This is typically the Ministry of Justice or other relevant government bodies. The specific requirements for authentication, such as notarization, translation, or additional supporting documents, may vary depending on the authority.

Once the document has been authenticated by the relevant authority, it should be submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of the Bahamas. The MFA will verify the document and may request further supporting documentation or charge a fee. Processing times can vary depending on the workload.

After the MFA has certified the document, it must be taken to the embassy or consulate of the country where the document will be used. You may need to make an appointment or submit additional documents, and fees could apply for the certification. Processing times may differ depending on the embassy's requirements.

Once the embassy or consulate has legalized the document, it will be returned to you, and you can use it in the destination country for its intended purpose. Please note that the overall process may take some time due to the multiple stages involved.

You can always contact Schmidt & Schmidt, we have extensive experience in the legalization of a variety of documents and we provide all the necessary services in this area, including the making of notarized copies, translation, preparation of the necessary powers of attorney, legalization of documents before government agencies and foreign consulates, as well as delivery of finished documents to most countries in the world.