Apostille for Liberia

In Liberia, the process of obtaining an apostille follows the guidelines set by the Hague Apostille Convention, of which Liberia is a member. The apostille certifies the authenticity of documents for international use in countries that are also part of the Hague Convention.

Steps to Get an Apostille for Documents in Liberia:

1. Determine the Document Type: Documents that can be apostilled in Liberia include:
   • Birth certificates
   • Marriage certificates
   • Academic diplomas and transcripts
   • Notarized documents (e.g., powers of attorney, affidavits, etc.)
   • Court decisions and other official documents issued by state authorities
2. Obtain the Document: The document should be issued by an official Liberian authority. For example:
   • Birth, marriage, or death certificates issued by the Liberian Civil Registry.
   • Academic diplomas issued by universities or educational institutions in Liberia.
   • Notarized documents from licensed Liberian notaries.
   • Other official documents issued by government bodies or courts.
3. Notarization (if required): If your document requires notarization (such as powers of attorney or contracts), it must first be notarized by a licensed Liberian notary public before it can be apostilled.
4. Submit the Document to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia is responsible for issuing apostilles. The Ministry is the central authority for apostille requests for documents issued by Liberian authorities. You will need to submit your documents to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Monrovia, the capital city, to process the apostille.
5. Complete the Apostille Application Form: You will need to fill out an apostille application form. This form can be obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or may be available on their website.
6. Pay the Apostille Fee: There is a processing fee for obtaining an apostille in Liberia. The fee can be paid in cash at the Ministry if you are submitting your document in person or through other approved payment methods if submitting by mail. You should check with the Ministry for the current fee schedule.
7. Processing Time:
   • In-person submissions: Apostille processing generally takes about 1–3 business days if submitted in person.
   • By mail: If submitting by mail, the process can take around 5–7 business days depending on the volume of requests and postal delivery times.
8. Collect the Apostilled Document: After the apostille is applied, you can collect the apostilled document from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Monrovia, or it can be mailed back to you if you submitted your request by post.

Key Points:

• Liberia is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so documents apostilled in Liberia are valid in other countries that are also members of the convention and vice versa.
• Only the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is authorized to issue apostilles for documents in Liberia.
• If you have foreign documents, they need to be apostilled in their country of origin before being used in Liberia.

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).
• Payment for the apostille fee.

Where to Go for Apostille in Liberia:

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
  • Address: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 18th Street, Sinkor, Monrovia, Liberia.
  • Phone: +231 77 013 0231

For up-to-date information, including the current fees, application form, and processing times, it is best to contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs directly or visit their website.