An Apostille is a certification by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade pursuant to the Hague Convention which certifies that the notary who has signed the document is known to the Department. The Department verifies for his or her signature and that document can then be presented in any legal proceedings overseas without the need of any notation from the Consulate of the country to which it is presented. For example, if there is a Power Of Attorney (POA) for Germany, that POA is signed before a notary and then lodged with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for the affixing of the Apostille. That document can then be used in Germany without the need to be presented to the Consulate of Germany. If you need official certification for a document with an Apostille stamp, Charles Reichman can assist with your particular requirements.
How Do I Know If I Need an Apostille Stamp?
An Apostille stamp is required for all countries that are part of the Hague Convention. These countries include all countries in Europe (including those not part of the European Union such as Serbia, Albania and Russia) and all countries in Central and South America. We can provide you with a full list of countries that are part of the Hague Convention.
Generally, an Apostille stamp is not required for Commonwealth countries, except for Malta South Africa and Mauritius.
What is the Process of Getting an Apostille Approved and How Long Does It Take?
We can arrange for documents to be lodged with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs without any additional charge for the processing, but we cannot affix an Apostille in our office, as this is affixed by an officer of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) after the documents are notarised by us. Generally, it is a four business day turnaround to get the documents back, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade sends the documents directly back to you. Alternatively, you can make an appointment directly with DFAT for them to affix the Apostille stamp.
How Much Does an Apostille Stamp Cost?
Currently, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade charges $80 for an Apostille and there is an additional charge of $7.70 for the envelope for the documents to be returned express, directly to the client.
While some organisations charge up to $220 simply to process and lodge the application, we do not charge any extra processing fees
What is an Authentication/Legalisation of Documents?
An authentication is essentially the same certification by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as an Apostille stamp but only applies to countries that are NOT part of the Hague Convention. Such countries include most countries in the Middle East, except Israel, and many other countries outside Europe. We can provide a full list of the countries where an authentication is required. Countries that are not part of the Hague Convention also require that after the authentication by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is presented to the local embassy of the country where the documents are to be used, a stamp must be affixed. For example, the People's Republic of China requires an authentication, and after authentication requires these documents to be presented to its consulate in Melbourne (the same process applies for the Republic of the Philippines). Hong Kong, on the other hand, may require an Apostille as it was a former British colony and adapted its laws, but does not require the document to be presented to its consulate.
How Much Does It Cost to Authenticate a Document?
The cost of authentication is essentially the same as the Apostille stamp cost.
While some organisations charge up to $220 simply to process and lodge the application, we do not charge any extra processing fees.charge of $7.70 for an express post stamp.
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade charges $80 an authentication and there is a
Organise Apostille Stamps [or authentication] with Us Today
Ensure your important documents have been properly certified with an Apostille stamp in Melbourne from Charles Reichman of Forbes, Reichman and Galasso. To discuss anything from Apostille stamp cost through to any other Apostille services, contact us by phone to arrange an appointment.