Tajikistan is a member of the Hague Convention of 1961, meaning it can issue apostilles for documents intended for use in other countries that are also signatories of the Hague Convention.
Steps to Obtain an Apostille in Tajikistan:
- Prepare Your Document:
- The document you wish to apostille must be an official or public document issued by a Tajik authority. Common examples include birth certificates, marriage certificates, academic diplomas, notarial acts, and court documents.
- If the document is not in Tajik or Russian (the primary languages in Tajikistan), it may need to be translated into Tajik or Russian or the language required by the destination country.
- Notarization (if necessary):
- If your document is a private document (such as a contract or agreement), it will need to be notarized by a notary public in Tajikistan before it can be apostilled.
- Submit the Document to the Relevant Authority:
- In Tajikistan, the authority responsible for issuing apostilles is the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Tajikistan. This ministry is in charge of applying apostilles to public documents.
- Required Documents for Apostille:
- The original document you want to have apostilled.
- A valid ID (e.g., passport or Tajik national ID).
- If a third party (e.g., a lawyer or representative) is submitting the document, a notarized power of attorney or written authorization may be needed.
- Apostille Process:
- The Ministry of Justice will verify the authenticity of the document and then apply the apostille. This apostille serves as confirmation that the document is genuine for use in other countries that are parties to the Hague Convention.
- Fees:
- The fee for obtaining an apostille in Tajikistan is usually around 20 to 50 Tajik somoni per document, but the amount can vary depending on the specific type of document or processing time.
- 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 Tajik or Russian, it may need to be translated into Tajik or Russian before submission for an apostille.
- Hague Convention Countries: The apostille is valid only in countries that are members of the Hague Convention. If the document is needed for use in a non-Hague Convention country, consular legalization will be required.
- Legalization vs. Apostille: For countries outside the Hague Convention, you will need to undergo the consular legalization process, which involves authentication at the embassy or consulate of the destination country.
By following these steps, your document from Tajikistan will be legally recognized in other Hague Convention countries.