To obtain an apostille for documents in Seychelles, you can follow the process outlined below. Seychelles is a member of the Hague Convention of 1961, so documents issued in Seychelles can be apostilled for use in other countries that are also signatories of the Hague Convention.

Steps to Obtain an Apostille in Seychelles:

  1. Prepare Your Document:
    • The document you want to apostille must be an official or public document issued by a Seychelles authority. This includes birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, academic diplomas, court judgments, and notarial acts.
    • If the document is not in English, you may need to have it translated into English, as this is the language used for apostille purposes.
  2. Notarization (if necessary):
    • If the document is a private document (such as a contract or agreement), it will need to be notarized by a notary public in Seychelles before it can be apostilled.
  3. Submit the Document to the Relevant Authority:
    • In Seychelles, the authority responsible for issuing apostilles is the Registrar General’s Office, which falls under the Department of Legal Affairs.
    • The document must be submitted to the Registrar General’s Office, where it will be verified, and the apostille will be applied.
  4. Required Documents for Apostille:
    • The original document that you want to be apostilled.
    • A valid ID (such as a passport or national ID card).
    • If a third party (e.g., a lawyer or representative) is submitting the request, you may need to provide a notarized power of attorney or written authorization.
  5. Apostille Process:
    • The Registrar General’s Office will verify the document’s authenticity and then apply the apostille, which is a certificate or stamp confirming the document’s authenticity for international use in other Hague Convention countries.
    • The apostille serves as confirmation that the signature, seal, or stamp on the document is genuine and meets the requirements for recognition in other signatory countries.
  6. Fees:
    • The fee for obtaining an apostille in Seychelles is generally affordable, and the exact cost may vary depending on the type of document. The typical fee is around SCR 100 to SCR 200 (Seychelles Rupees) per document, though fees can vary.
  7. Receiving the Apostilled Document:
    • Once the apostille is applied, you can either pick up the apostilled document in person or arrange for it to be mailed to you, depending on the submission method.

Important Notes:

  • Translation: If your document is in a language other than English, it may need to be translated into English before it can be apostilled.
  • Hague Convention Countries: The apostille is valid for use in countries that are signatories of the Hague Convention. If the document is intended for use in a non-Hague Convention country, you will need to go through consular legalization at the relevant embassy or consulate.
  • Legalization vs. Apostille: For countries outside the Hague Convention, consular legalization will be necessary, which involves getting the document authenticated by the embassy or consulate of the country where it will be used.

By following these steps, you can ensure that your document from Seychelles will be legally recognized for use in other countries that accept apostilled documents under the Hague Convention.