Barbados is a party
to the 1961 Convention abolishing the requirements of diplomatic or
consular legalization for foreign public documents. (i.e. The Hague
Convention). The Hague
Convention has legal effect in Barbados by virtue of the Public Documents
(Exemption from Diplomatic or Consular Legalization) Act, Cap. 122.
Who is
authorized to issue an Apostille certificate in Barbados?
This
Act authorizes the following six (6) officials as persons who may issue a
certificate or Apostille for purposes of the Convention:-
1) The Solicitor
General;
2) The Deputy
Solicitor General;
3) The Registrar of
the Supreme Court;
4) The Registrar of
Corporate Affairs & Intellectual Property;
5) The Permanent
Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and
6) Chief of
Protocol.
What is an
Apostille?
An Apostille is an internationally
recognized certificate which certifies the authenticity of official
signatures appearing in the following categories of of "public documents".
a) documents which
emanate from an authority or an official connected with the courts or
tribunals of the State, including those emanating from a public
prosecutor, a clerk of a court or a process server ("hussier de
justice");
b) administrative
documents;
c) notarial acts;
d) official
certificates recording the registration of a document or the fact that it
was in existence on a certain date and notarial authentication of
signatures.
What is the
purpose of an Apostille?
An Apostille certificate facilitates the production and
recognition overseas of Barbados-issued public documents and is accepted
in foreign jurisdictions which are parties to the 1961 Hague Convention.
What is the cost
of an Apostille in Barbados?
The fee for issuance of an
Apostille certificate in Barbados is Bds $50.00.[See FEES]
