If the country, in which the document is to be used, is a party to The Hague Convention of 1961 then you will need a stamp “Apostille”. Otherwise - consular legalization.

In any case, the most important source of reliable information is the organization to which legalized document to be submitted as sometimes even different organs of the state have different requirements for legalization of foreign documents. So you need to specify the requirements for legalization where you are going to apply a legalized document.

Stamping “apostil” (sometimes this procedure is also called "simplified legalization" or "Apostille") is used to send a document to the countries that joined the Hague Convention of the 5^th October, 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of consular legalization and introducing a simplified procedure of legalization - stamping "apostille. "

Simplified this procedure is called because, on the one hand, the apostille is fast enough and involves the only one authorized body, and, on the other hand, the document becomes valid in all countries that have acceded to the Hague Convention.

If a country you are drawing up a document to is not a member of the Hague Convention, consular legalization is required. This is a more complicated procedure, which includes certification of a document in the bodies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and then in the consulate of a country of destination in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Thus, a document will have legal force only on the territory of a country whose consulate marks it.

Also the choice of the legalization procedure may be based on the type of document, as there are many documents which are not subject to any consular legalization or apostille. This applies mainly to commercial documents: contracts, invoices, bills of lading, and various documents of title and other documents related to foreign trade activities, and for them there is a separate procedure - legalization of the document in the Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of Kazakhstan (most recently part of the National Economic Chamber Kazakhstan "Atameken"), and then at the consulate of the destination country.

According to the 1961 Hague Convention, Apostille has a square  shape with a side of not less than 9 cm and should be the model annexed to the Convention.

• The name of the State issuing an apostille
• Name of the person signing the document certifies the Apostille
• Title of the person signing the document certifies the Apostille
• Name of the institution, the seal/stamp is affixed to the document certifying the Apostille
• The name of the city where apostille
• The date of the certificate
• The name of the apostille body
• The number of apostille
• Seal/stamp of the apostille
• Signature of the officer

Apostille can be made up in one of the official languages ​​of the Convention (French or English), and the national language of the state apostille. In practice, the inscription on the certificate are often duplicated in two languages ​​(one of the languages ​​of the Convention and national).

Title “Apostille (Convention de la Haye du 5 octobre 1961)" shall be given in French.

According to the Convention, Apostille can be placed on the document itself or on a separate sheet attached to the document.

In practice in different countries use different methods of the certificate: rubber stamp, glue, (colored) ribbon, wax printing, relief printing, self-adhesive stickers, etc., as well as an appendix to the document, which is carried out by means of adhesive mounting rings, clips, etc.