To obtain an apostille for documents in São Tomé and Príncipe, the process is governed by the Hague Convention of 1961, to which São Tomé and Príncipe is a signatory. This means that official documents issued in São Tomé and Príncipe can be apostilled for use in other countries that are also members of the Hague Convention.

Steps to Obtain an Apostille in São Tomé and Príncipe:

1. Prepare Your Document:
   • The document you want to apostille must be an official or public document. Examples include birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, academic diplomas, notarial documents, and court judgments.
   • If the document is not in Portuguese (the official language of São Tomé and Príncipe), you may need to have it translated into Portuguese before it can be apostilled, depending on the requirements of the country where the document will be used.
2. Notarization (if necessary):
   • If the document is a private document (such as a contract or agreement), it may need to be notarized by a notary public in São Tomé and Príncipe before it can be apostilled.
3. Submit the Document to the Relevant Authority:
   • In São Tomé and Príncipe, the authority responsible for issuing apostilles is the Ministry of Justice, specifically the Public Registry or Notary Public services.
   • The apostille process is typically handled by the Public Notary Service or Supreme Court of São Tomé and Príncipe. The document must be submitted to this authority for verification and the apostille stamp to be applied.
4. Required Documents for Apostille:
   • The original document to be apostilled.
   • A valid identification (passport or national ID card).
   • If a third party (e.g., lawyer or representative) is submitting the request, you may need to provide a notarized power of attorney or authorization.
5. Apostille Process:
   • Once your document is submitted, the Ministry of Justice or Public Registry will verify the document’s authenticity and apply the apostille, which will be a stamp or certificate confirming the document’s authenticity for international use in other Hague Convention countries.
6. Fees:
   • The fees for apostille services in São Tomé and Príncipe are generally reasonable and typically range from ST$ 200 to ST$ 1000 (São Tomé and Príncipe currency), depending on the type of document and the processing time.
7. Receiving the Apostilled Document:
   • After the apostille is applied, you can either pick up the apostilled document in person or arrange to have it mailed to you, depending on the submission method.

Important Notes:

• Translation: If the document is in a foreign language, it may need to be translated into Portuguese (the official language of São Tomé and Príncipe) before it can be apostilled.
• Hague Convention Countries: The apostille is valid only for countries that are members of the Hague Convention. If you need to use the document in a non-Hague Convention country, you will need to go through consular legalization at the relevant embassy or consulate of the country where the document will be used.
• Legalization vs. Apostille: For countries outside the Hague Convention, you will need consular legalization, which is a process of having the document authenticated by the embassy or consulate of the destination country.

By following these steps, you can ensure that your document from São Tomé and Príncipe will be legally recognized in other countries that accept apostilled documents under the Hague Convention.