- Home
- Kazakhstan
- Apostille, Legalization and Notarized Translation
Apostille, Legalization and Notarized Translation for Kazakhstan
First we find out whether your document needs an apostille, consular legalization or only a translation, and only then do the paperwork. We prepare documents for residence permits, citizenship, LLP registration and a BIN.
An apostille for Kazakhstan is not always required, and that is the first thing to check. Kazakhstan is a party to the 1961 Hague Convention, so documents from other member countries are usually certified with an apostille. Documents from countries outside the convention need consular legalization. And documents from Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and other parties to the 1993 Minsk Convention or the 2002 Chisinau Convention on legal assistance are generally accepted without an apostille or legalization.
The main rule: an apostille is issued in the country that issued the document. A certificate is apostilled where it was issued, a diploma where it was awarded, and in Kazakhstan only Kazakh documents can be apostilled. So it is best to check the requirements before you move. We review the document, the issuing country and the purpose, arrange the apostille or legalization under a power of attorney, and provide a notarized translation into Kazakh or Russian.
Who it is for
- People preparing an application for a temporary or permanent residence permit or Kazakh citizenship
- Foreign companies that need a BIN or plan to register an LLP
- Families filing marriage and birth certificates
- Professionals who need to confirm a diploma
- Anyone taking Kazakh documents to another country
Requirements
- What a document needs depends on the country that issued it and on where it will be used
- The apostille is issued by the authorized body of the issuing country
- Countries outside the Hague Convention: consular legalization
- Parties to the CIS conventions on legal assistance: an apostille is usually not needed in Kazakhstan
- Documents that are not in Russian or Kazakh are translated, and the translation is notarized
What we do
- Review your document and tell you what it needs: an apostille, legalization or only a translation
- Explain where and how to get an apostille in the issuing country
- Arrange the process under a power of attorney if you cannot handle it yourself
- Provide a notarized translation into Kazakh or Russian
- Check the finished document before it goes to a government office, a bank or a registration authority
Key documents
- Criminal record certificate, for a residence permit or citizenship
- Marriage, birth and name change certificates
- Diplomas and other education documents
- Powers of attorney and company incorporation documents
- Kazakh civil registry, notarial and corporate documents for use in other countries
How it works
- Reviewthe document, the issuing country and the purpose
- Decisionapostille, legalization or translation only
- Processingwe explain the procedure or handle it under a power of attorney
- Translationinto Kazakh or Russian, certified by a notary
- Filingthe document goes into your residence permit, LLP or BIN application
Timeline
Timing depends on the issuing country; an apostille is usually faster than consular legalization.
Timelines are approximate: government agencies, consulates and banks set them.
What to watch out for
- A foreign document cannot be apostilled in Kazakhstan, only in the country that issued it
- Misspelled names in a translation create a mismatch with your passport
- Consular legalization takes longer than an apostille
- An apostille on a document that does not need one costs you time and money
FAQ
How much does it cost?
Our service fee is on request. Government fees, translations, insurance and other mandatory costs are paid separately; we send the full estimate before you sign.
What is an apostille?
It is a certificate from an authorized body confirming that the signature and seal on an official document are genuine. All countries of the 1961 Hague Convention recognize it, and Kazakhstan has joined that convention, so the document does not need further legalization through a consulate. The apostille is placed on the document itself or on a sheet attached to it.
Do my documents need an apostille to be used in Kazakhstan?
It depends on where they were issued. Documents from Hague Convention countries usually need an apostille. Documents from countries outside the convention need consular legalization. Documents from parties to the CIS legal assistance conventions, such as Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, are generally accepted without either. Some programs have exceptions, so we check the requirements for your specific procedure.
Where do I get an apostille?
In the country that issued the document, at the authorized body for that type of document. A document from your home country is apostilled there; a Kazakh document is apostilled in Kazakhstan. A foreign document cannot be apostilled in Kazakhstan.
How is legalization different from an apostille?
An apostille is a simplified procedure for Hague Convention countries: a single certificate in the issuing country. Consular legalization is a multi-step procedure for all other countries, through consular offices, and it takes noticeably longer. Which route you need depends on the country that issued the document.
Does a criminal record certificate need an apostille for Kazakhstan?
That depends on the issuing country. A certificate from a Hague Convention country usually needs an apostille. A certificate from a country covered by the CIS legal assistance conventions generally does not when it is filed in Kazakhstan. We check this for your country and your procedure before you file.
Do my documents need to be translated?
If a document is not in Russian or Kazakh, it almost always has to be translated into one of these languages, and a notary certifies the translation. We provide the translation and separately check how names and dates are spelled against your passport, because that is where mismatches are found most often.
Do you guarantee the result?
No. Decisions are made by government agencies, consulates and banks. We are responsible for preparing and checking documents, filing and support, and we tell you about the risks upfront.
Related programs
Let’s discuss your case
We will check whether the program fits your citizenship, income and family, and send an estimate with the full list of costs.
