Serbia is a member of the Hague Convention of 1961, which allows for the use of the apostille process to authenticate documents for international use in countries that are also signatories to the Hague Convention.

Steps to Obtain an Apostille in Serbia:

1. 1. Prepare Your Document:
      

       

      • • The document to be apostilled must be a public document issued by a Serbian authority. This includes documents such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, academic diplomas, notarial acts, court judgments, and other government-issued documents.

       

      • • If your document is not in Serbian (the official language), it may need to be translated into Serbian before it can be apostilled, depending on the destination country’s requirements.

       

       

1. 1. Notarization (if required):
      

       

      • • If the document is a private document (such as a contract or agreement), it will need to be notarized by a notary public in Serbia before it can be apostilled.

       

       

1. 1. Submit the Document to the Relevant Authority:
      

       

      • • In Serbia, the authority responsible for issuing apostilles is the Ministry of Justice. Specifically, the Department for Legalization of Documents at the Ministry of Justice handles the apostille process.

       

      • • Documents that require apostilles (public documents or notarized private documents) must be submitted to this office.

       

       

1. 1. Required Documents for Apostille:
      

       

      • • The original document you wish to apostille.

       

      • • A valid identification (passport or national ID card).

       

      • • If someone other than you is submitting the document on your behalf (e.g., a lawyer or representative), they may need to provide a power of attorney or written authorization.

       

       

1. 1. Apostille Process:
      

       

      • • After submitting your document, the Ministry of Justice will verify the document’s authenticity and apply the apostille. This will be a stamp or certificate that authenticates the document for use in other Hague Convention countries.

       

      • • The apostille ensures that the document is legally recognized in any other country that is a member of the Hague Convention.

       

       

1. 1. Fees:
      

       

      • • The fee for obtaining an apostille in Serbia is generally affordable, and the cost varies depending on the type of document and processing time. The typical fee is around RSD 1,000 to RSD 3,000 (Serbian dinars) per document.

       

       

1. 1. Receiving the Apostilled Document:
      

       

      • • Once the apostille has been applied, you can 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 foreign language, it may need to be translated into Serbian (the official language of Serbia) before the apostille can be applied.

• • Hague Convention Countries: The apostille is valid only in countries that are signatories of the Hague Convention. If your document is intended for use in a non-Hague Convention country, you will need to go through consular legalization.

• • Legalization vs. Apostille: If the document is going to a country outside the Hague Convention, consular legalization will be required. This involves having the document authenticated by the embassy or consulate of the country where the document will be used.

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