In Mauritius, the process of obtaining an apostille follows the guidelines of the Hague Apostille Convention, which Mauritius 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 Mauritius:
- Determine the Document Type: Documents that can be apostilled in Mauritius 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
- Obtain the Document: The document must be issued by an official Mauritian authority. For example:
- Birth, marriage, or death certificates issued by the Civil Status Division.
- Academic diplomas issued by universities or educational institutions in Mauritius.
- Notarized documents from licensed Mauritian notaries.
- Official documents issued by government bodies or courts.
- Notarization (if required): If your document requires notarization (such as powers of attorney, contracts, etc.), it must first be notarized by a licensed Mauritian notary public before it can be apostilled.
- Submit the Document to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: In Mauritius, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration, and International Trade is responsible for issuing apostilles. The Ministry handles apostille requests for documents issued by Mauritian authorities.You will need to submit your documents to the Legalisation Section of the Ministry for apostille processing.
- 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.
- Pay the Apostille Fee: There is a processing fee for obtaining an apostille in Mauritius. The fee can be paid at the Ministry when submitting the document in person or through other available payment methods.
- 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.
- Collect the Apostilled Document: After the apostille is applied, you can collect your 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:
- Mauritius is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so documents apostilled in Mauritius are valid in other countries that are also members of the convention and vice versa.
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration, and International Trade is the only authority authorized to issue apostilles for documents in Mauritius.
- Foreign documents must be apostilled in their country of origin before they can be used in Mauritius.
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 Mauritius:
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration, and International Trade:
- Address: 5th Floor, New Government Centre, Port Louis, Mauritius.
- Phone: +230 210 4800
- Website: Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Mauritius
For the most up-to-date information on fees, the apostille application form, and processing times, it is best to visit the Ministry’s website or contact them directly.