In Namibia, the process of obtaining an apostille follows the guidelines of the Hague Apostille Convention, which Namibia is a member of. The apostille is used to authenticate documents for international use in countries that are also parties to the Hague Convention.

Steps to Get an Apostille for Documents in Namibia:

1. Determine the Document Type: Documents that can be apostilled in Namibia include:
   • Birth certificates
   • Marriage certificates
   • Academic diplomas and transcripts
   • Notarized documents (e.g., powers of attorney, affidavits)
   • Court decisions and other official documents issued by state authorities
2. Obtain the Document: The document must be issued by an official Namibian authority. For example:
   • Birth, marriage, or death certificates issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security.
   • Academic diplomas issued by universities or educational institutions in Namibia.
   • Notarized documents from licensed Namibian notaries.
   • Official documents issued by government bodies or courts.
3. Notarization (if required): If your document requires notarization (such as powers of attorney, contracts, etc.), it must first be notarized by a licensed Namibian notary public before it can be apostilled.
4. Submit the Document to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: In Namibia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for issuing apostilles. The Ministry handles apostille requests for documents issued by Namibian authorities.You will need to submit your documents to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or one of its designated offices for apostille processing.
5. Complete the Apostille Application Form: When submitting your document, you will need to complete an apostille application form. This form can be obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or downloaded from their website.
6. Pay the Apostille Fee: There is a processing fee for obtaining an apostille in Namibia. The fee is typically paid at the time of submission.
7. Processing Time:
   • In-person submissions: Apostille processing typically takes 1–3 business days if submitted in person.
   • By mail: If submitting by mail, processing may take 5–7 business days, depending on postal delivery times and volume.
8. Collect the Apostilled Document: After the apostille is applied, you can collect the apostilled document from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or it can be mailed back to you if you submitted your request by post.

Key Points:

• Namibia is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so documents apostilled in Namibia are valid in other countries that are also members of the convention and vice versa.
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the only authority authorized to issue apostilles for documents in Namibia.
• Foreign documents must be apostilled in their country of origin before they can be used in Namibia.

Documents and Information You Will Need:

• The original document you want to have apostilled.
• A completed apostille application form.
• Proof of identity (passport or national ID card may be required).
• Payment for the apostille fee.

Where to Go for Apostille in Namibia:

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Namibia:
  • Address: 2nd Floor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Building, 15 Windoek, Namibia.
  • Phone: +264 61 202 3351
  • Website: Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Namibia

For the most up-to-date information on fees, application forms, and processing times, it is best to contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs directly or visit their official website.