We submit civil registry office certificates, certificates and diplomas for apostille
We make notarised copies when you need the original yourself
We translate the document together with the apostille stamp
We prepare the package for countries where an apostille is not accepted
We handle processing by power of attorney for those who are abroad
Write to me with the country and organisation where the document is needed — I will tell you whether an apostille is required, in what order to do the translation and how much time to allow.
Message us on WhatsAppWe help obtain an apostille on a birth certificate, an apostille on a marriage certificate — a certificate of marriage — a certificate of divorce and a death certificate, including duplicate certificates replacing old Soviet ones.
We order the certificate, help obtain an apostille on the criminal record certificate and translate it so that it remains fresh for submission abroad.
An apostille on a secondary education certificate, diplomas and their notarised copies, if you need to keep the original.
Powers of attorney for use abroad and consents for a child to travel with an apostille for school or a residence permit.
Copies of a passport, employment record book, pension certificate and other documents whose original cannot be apostilled.
Translation of a document together with the stamp, certification of the translator's signature and a second apostille, if the country requires it.
A chain of certifications for countries that are not party to the Hague Convention and do not accept apostilles.
We obtain duplicate certificates, affix apostilles and send the documents by courier while you live in another country.
Tell us where the document is needed and for what: "criminal record certificate for work in Korea" or "marriage certificate for a residence permit in Italy". We will tell you whether an apostille is needed, whether a second translation is required, and where to start.
Cost
Indicative figures for the practice's services. The final price — what an apostille costs in your particular case — depends on the number of documents, the translation language and the requirements of the country: we quote the full amount once we have seen the documents.
| Service | What is included | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Consultation on an apostille | Whether an apostille is needed, the sequence of steps, timelines | free of charge |
| Preparation and submission of a document for an apostille | Review of the document, application, collection | from 10,000 ₸ |
| Criminal record certificate with an apostille | Ordering the certificate, apostille, collection | from 15,000 ₸ |
| Notarised copy for an apostille | Per page of the document | from 500 ₸ |
| Translation of a document with an apostille | Translation and certification of the translator's signature, per page | from 6,000 ₸ |
| Double apostille | Apostille on the original and on the notarised translation | from 25,000 ₸ |
| Urgent processing | Parallel preparation of the translation and the submission | from 20,000 ₸ |
| Consular legalisation | Chain of certifications for countries outside the convention | from 40,000 ₸ |
| Processing by power of attorney from abroad | Duplicate, apostille, translation, courier delivery | from 30,000 ₸ |
Prices are indicative and do not constitute a public offer. The state fee for affixing an apostille is paid separately by receipt and is not included in these amounts.
We clarify where the document is needed and for which organisation. This determines whether an apostille, legalisation or nothing at all is required.
We check whether a translation is needed, into which language, whether it must be certified, and whether a second apostille is required on the translation.
We verify names, dates and seals. Errors are corrected before the apostille: the stamp confirms the signature, not the accuracy of the data.
If you need the original or it is too old, we make a notarised copy or order a duplicate document.
We submit the document to the authorised body under a power of attorney and monitor the deadline, so you don't have to stand in a queue.
The translator translates the document together with the apostille stamp and checks the spelling of names against the passport.
A notary certifies the translator's signature. If the country requires it, the translation receives its own apostille.
We hand over the package at the office or send it by courier to another city or abroad, with an inventory of contents.
Write to us with the country and organisation — we will send you the sequence of steps and a list of what you will need.
Team
A notarial act, translation and the legal part — in one office: the document is prepared, checked and certified without travelling between offices.
Notary
Certifies real estate transactions and gift agreements, handles inheritance cases from opening to the issue of the certificate.
Notary
Powers of attorney, consents, statements and witnessing of signatures. Travels to homes, hospitals and company offices.
Notary
Documents for use abroad: witnessing of translations, copies and signatures, preparation for apostille.
Translator
Translates personal and corporate documents for notarial certification, checks the spelling of names against passports.
Civil law lawyer
Checks the property before the transaction is certified, drafts contracts and handles inheritance disputes if the case goes to court.
Family and social law lawyer
Drafts maintenance and property division agreements, consents for a child to travel abroad and documents for the guardianship authorities.
Practice
Details have been changed and anonymised: the content of the case is protected by professional privilege.
Useful information
You have put together a package for a university, an employer or an embassy and suddenly discover that a school certificate, diploma or marriage certificate will not be accepted abroad without an apostille stamp. Or the opposite situation: the paper was issued in another country, and it is required in Almaty for employment, applying for a residence permit or getting married. At first glance it is simple — get the stamp — but this is exactly the stage where people most often lose weeks and money.
Mistakes start small: someone certifies a copy when the apostille is needed on the original, someone translates the document before the apostille and then has to redo the translation. Some take the papers to the wrong authority, or expect the apostille to “work” where full legalisation is required. Below is a workable procedure for the typical situations faced by residents of Almaty.
An apostille is a stamp confirming the authenticity of a signature and seal on a document so that it is recognised abroad. It is simplified legalisation under the 1961 Hague Convention: for member states, consular legalisation is not required. For countries outside the convention, only consular legalisation applies.
Whether an apostille is needed depends on the country and the document: between the countries of the Minsk Convention it is usually not required. What matters is where the document is going, who issued it and whether a translation is needed. An apostille is not always placed on a translation: first the document itself is apostilled, and then it is translated together with the stamp. An apostille on a consent or a marriage certificate is also not always needed — sometimes a notarised copy is enough.
| Situation | Apostille | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Document to a country of the Hague Convention | Needed | Apostille on the original or a notarised copy |
| Document to a country of the Minsk Convention | As a rule, not needed | Notarised copy or translation |
| Document to a country outside the conventions | Not placed | Consular legalisation |
| Document for personal use within the country | Not required | Notarial certification |
Always check the requirements of the receiving party: they can change.
Apostille and legalisation of documents are two ways to give a paper effect abroad. The apostille is affixed by an authority of the country that issued the document. If the country is not party to the Hague Convention, consular legalisation is required.
To obtain an apostille on a marriage certificate or a criminal record certificate from Kazakhstan, submit the document to the authorised authority depending on the type of document: civil registry office certificates, notarial documents and documents of the justice authorities are apostilled by the Ministry of Justice and its territorial departments, criminal record certificates — by the Committee on Legal Statistics and Special Records of the Prosecutor General's Office, diplomas and school certificates — by the authorised authority in the field of education. For a foreign document, the apostille or consular legalisation of foreign documents is done in the country of issue.
| Situation | Where to apply | What is arranged |
|---|---|---|
| Kazakhstani document for a country party to the Hague Convention | Authorised authority of Kazakhstan | Apostille |
| Kazakhstani document for a country not party to the convention | Authorised authority of Kazakhstan and consulate | Consular legalisation |
| Foreign document for Kazakhstan | Authority of the country of issue | Apostille or consular legalisation |
| Document with translation | Notary, then the authorised authority | Certification of the translation and, if required, a second apostille |
The procedure for translation and legalisation depends on the requirements of the receiving party.
If a document was issued in Russia, Ukraine or another country, a Kazakhstan authority will not place an apostille on it: only the issuing state may apostille it. But first check whether an apostille is needed at all: documents from the countries of the 1993 Minsk Convention, including Russia and Ukraine, are accepted in Kazakhstan without one. But first check whether an apostille is needed at all: documents from the countries of the 1993 Minsk Convention, including Russia and Ukraine, are accepted in Kazakhstan without one. But first check whether an apostille is needed at all: documents from the countries of the 1993 Minsk Convention, including Russia and Ukraine, are accepted in Kazakhstan without one. A Russian apostille is issued in Russia, a Ukrainian one in Ukraine, so the document will have to be sent there or processed through the consulate of the country that issued it. A document can also be submitted for apostille in the country of issue remotely — through a representative acting under a power of attorney or through that country's consulate.
An apostille on a birth certificate abroad or an apostille on a marriage certificate abroad only half solves the problem: the stamp and its text are almost always in a foreign language. A translation is then needed both of the document itself and of the apostille text into Russian — it is more convenient to do them as one set. Below is how this works in practice.
Education documents are the most common category for apostilling after civil registry office certificates. An apostille on a secondary education certificate, a college or university diploma, as well as school references and their supplements, is placed by the authorised body in the field of education: it confirms the signature of the head and the seal of the educational institution. It is important that the form is of the current format, without corrections, blots or traces of lamination — otherwise the apostille will be refused.
An apostille on an education document abroad will be accepted only if two conditions are met. First — the apostille is placed on the document you are submitting: if the receiving party requires an apostille on the original, a notarised copy with an apostille will not replace it, and vice versa. Second — the destination country may require a translation of the document with the apostille into its own language, in which case the translation and apostille of the education certificate are arranged together. It is also worth remembering: an apostille on a certificate does not certify the content, it only legalises the signature and seal, so a university admissions committee is entitled to request additional confirmation.
An apostille is placed on a document issued by a Kazakhstan authority, not on an arbitrary photocopy. If you need an apostille on a copy of a document, a notary first certifies that the copy is true — and the authorised body then apostilles the certified notarial copy. An apostille on a notarial copy is a workable option for a birth certificate, marriage certificate or diploma: the original stays with you, and the apostilled copy goes abroad.
Many people look for a notary with an apostille, but a notary does not place the apostille itself: they only certify that the copy is true and the translator's signature, while placing the apostille is the job of the authorised body. What is certified and apostilled in practice:
The sequence matters when translating documents and placing an apostille: the document itself is apostilled first, then it is translated together with the stamp, and only then does a notary certify the translator's signature. If done the other way round, the translation will not contain the apostille text and the work will have to be redone. For translating documents into English with an apostille, into French with an apostille or into Hebrew with an apostille, the scheme is the same: apostille, translation, certification of the translator's signature, and, if the country requires it, a second apostille on the translation.
A translation of documents with an apostille must not diverge from the original — errors in names, dates and job titles lead to the document not being accepted abroad. It is also worth noting that a second apostille — on the translation of a marriage certificate or a reference — is placed only after a notary has certified the translator's signature. Check which language the receiving country requires: for universities, a translation of documents into English with an apostille is more often needed, for Israel — into Hebrew.
A notarised translation with an apostille is a sequence of steps that cannot be reordered. First the apostille is placed on the document itself, then the translator produces a written translation including the text of the stamp, after which a notary certifies the authenticity of the translator's signature (the notary certifies the accuracy of the translation themselves only if they speak both languages). A second apostille — this time on the notarised translation — is placed if the destination country requires it. If the document is translated before the apostille is affixed, the translation will not contain the text of the stamp and the work will have to be redone.
For a notarised translation and an apostille you will need: the original document or its notarised copy, the applicant's identity card or passport and, if the document was not issued in Kazakhstan, the apostille or consular legalisation of the country of issue. It is also worth checking separately whether the apostille itself needs to be translated into English: sometimes a foreign authority asks for the stamp to be translated too. Notarised translations of documents with an apostille are often ordered for a criminal record certificate, consent for a child to travel abroad, a court decision and a certificate of marital status. Where exactly the apostille is placed on documents depends on who issued the document, so it is important to establish this before starting the translation.
Most often what is required abroad are civil registry office certificates: birth, marriage, divorce and death certificates. An apostille on a birth certificate is needed for study, work, a residence permit or marriage abroad; an apostille on a marriage certificate and an apostille on a divorce certificate — to confirm marital status, and an apostille on a death certificate — to arrange an inheritance or a pension. Apostilling a marriage certificate, like other civil status records, is possible only if the document was issued by an authorised body of Kazakhstan and contains all the mandatory details.
If the certificate has been lost or was issued back in Soviet times, a duplicate certificate is first obtained from the civil registry offices at the place where the civil status record is kept or through the eGov portal, and only then is the apostille affixed. An apostille on a Soviet birth certificate is placed only after a duplicate certificate in the Kazakhstan format has been obtained. The time limit for placing an apostille is set by the rules for the provision of the public service, so the stamp itself cannot be expedited — time is saved on preparation: a duplicate certificate ordered in advance and a ready translation. For an apostille on a birth certificate with a translation, it is important to check the requirements of the destination country in advance: sometimes a second apostille is needed on the notarised translation.
In Kazakhstan a criminal record certificate is issued by the Committee for Legal Statistics and Special Records of the Prosecutor General's Office, and it can be obtained through a Public Service Centre or the eGov portal. The document is valid within the country, but abroad it will be accepted only once an apostille has been placed on it. So the question of whether an apostille is needed on a criminal record certificate is easily answered: if the paper is going to a country of the Hague Convention — yes; within Kazakhstan and in the countries of the Minsk Convention — no.
An apostille on a criminal record certificate is placed not by the Ministry of Justice but by the Committee for Legal Statistics and Special Records of the Prosecutor General's Office: the stamp confirms the signature and seal of the body that issued the certificate. A criminal record certificate with an apostille can be obtained in person or by power of attorney, when the applicant has already left. For this, a power of attorney is drawn up for obtaining a criminal record certificate with an apostille — for a representative who will submit the application, collect the ready document and pass it on for apostilling.
A power of attorney issued in Kazakhstan for use abroad often needs to be apostilled: without the stamp, a foreign notary or authority will not accept it. The apostille on a power of attorney is affixed by the authorised body on the original or on a notarised copy. If the power of attorney is drawn up on a Kazakhstan form and certified by a notary, the apostille is placed on the document itself.
If the power of attorney is needed in a foreign language, the procedure is the same: first the apostille on the notarised power of attorney, then the translation together with the stamp and certification of the translator's signature. An apostille on a translation of a birth certificate, a court decision or a criminal record certificate is arranged in the same way. A power of attorney to obtain an apostille or to have an apostille affixed allows documents to be submitted through a representative: notarial acts, translation and submission for apostille are handled in one set. Whether a power of attorney is valid without an apostille depends on the requirements of the country, but most often it will not be accepted without the stamp.
The time limit for affixing an apostille is established by the rules for the provision of the state service and does not depend on any additional payment: there is no separate paid "urgent" procedure in Kazakhstan. What can be shortened is the overall time for the package — through a correctly prepared document, a ready translation and submission to the right authority on the first attempt. The promise of an "apostille in 1 day" refers to the preparation of documents, not to the time taken by the state authority.
What speeds up the process: preliminary checking of the document, a correct notarial translation, submission to the right authority and a complete set. If the authority does not have a specimen signature and seal of the official who signed the document, it is sent for additional verification, and the time limit increases. The request "apostille 24" means round-the-clock acceptance of applications, not the affixing of the stamp within 24 hours. Translation and certification by a notary also take time, and this is allowed for separately.
The apostille stamp itself is indefinite: neither in Kazakhstan nor abroad does it have a date after which it ceases to be valid. But the receiving party may have its own validity period for the document. For example, a criminal record certificate with an apostille is usually recognised for several months from the date of issue, while the validity period of an apostille on a birth certificate is effectively equal to the validity period of the document itself — birth and marriage certificates are indefinite, so the apostille on them does not expire either.
Frequent questions: how long an apostille is valid — indefinitely; the law does not establish a validity period for an apostille; does an apostille have a validity period — no, but a criminal record certificate with an apostille, medical reports and some powers of attorney do. A double apostille is not a myth, but it is not the rule either: the second stamp is not placed on the same document again, but on the notarial translation, and only if the destination country requires it.
The main rule: first find out exactly which document and in what form the receiving party requires, and only then start the apostilling and translation — otherwise the work has to be redone from scratch.
Reviews
I was getting married in Italy, and I needed to apostille my marriage certificate — I didn't understand any of these papers myself, so I looked for a lawyer. Zhanna did everything, for which I thank her. True, sometimes I had to wait half a day for a reply, and once I had to bring in a copy of my passport. But they warned me that for Italy a second apostille on the translation was needed — I wouldn't have known that myself.
Service: Apostille of documents in Almaty
I needed a criminal record certificate with an apostille for Korea, I would have got confused with these dates myself. They calculated everything by dates so that the certificate would be fresh at the time of submission. It took a week and a bit, thank you.
Service: Apostille of documents in Almaty
Thank you for the review! We're glad the certificate made it in time for submission. If you need anything else — do get in touch.
I live in Germany and couldn't deal with the documents myself, so I looked for a lawyer — I needed an apostille on my birth certificate, still the Soviet one. Dinara suggested that a duplicate could be made by power of attorney. They did the apostille, the translation, and sent it by courier. Thank you so much.
Service: Apostille of documents in Almaty
I needed to apostille my degree certificate for work abroad, I didn't know where to start myself, so I went to lawyers. Everything went quickly and clearly, they explained every step.
Service: Apostille of documents in Almaty
My daughter was applying to a university in Turkey and we needed an apostille on her school certificate. At first I thought it had to go on the original, and I almost handed it over. But here they advised making the apostille on a notarised copy, and the original stayed with us for the admission. That was very handy, because we still needed the original. They did everything quickly, without unnecessary running around. They explained which documents were needed and in what order. We didn't even expect everything to go so smoothly. They really helped us out, thank you.
Service: Apostille of documents in Almaty
I needed documents for a LLP for a branch in Georgia, I spent a long time looking for a company that would take on the whole package. Gulnara organized everything, they made copies of the charter, a certificate, a decision. The whole package in a week, translation into English also with them. Thank you
Service: Apostille of documents in Almaty
Thank you for the review! I'm glad we could help with the full package of documents. Reach out if you need anything.
I wanted to apostille a Russian power of attorney, but Zhanna explained that for Kazakhstan it isn't needed. Saved both time and money, honestly.
Service: Apostille of documents in Almaty
Thank you for trusting us! We're always glad to help sort things out so you don't pay extra.
A degree certificate for work — it turned out the country isn't in the convention and legalisation was needed. Alexey warned me about the timelines straight away, it's long, more than a month, but everything went through. Thank you.
Service: Apostille of documents in Almaty
Thank you for the review! Yes, in such cases the timelines really are longer — we're glad everything ended well.
I needed to translate a divorce court decision and apostille it for the USA. I didn't know where to start and was afraid the documents would get lost somewhere. The company explained everything and helped me gather the papers. The translation was done neatly, and the apostille was placed without delays. They sent it by courier, and I was very worried whether it would arrive. But everything arrived in 5 days, as promised. I got confirmation and breathed a sigh of relief. Thank you for the work.
Service: Apostille of documents in Almaty
I needed an apostille on my marriage certificate for Spain, I didn't know where to turn myself, so I looked for a lawyer. The translation was delayed by a day, the translator was checking the spelling of the surname against the passport. But afterwards there were no discrepancies at all.
Service: Apostille of documents in Almaty
Thank you for the review! Sorry for the small delay — clarifying the details helps avoid mistakes in the documents. We're glad everything came out without discrepancies.
My son needed his birth certificate for school in the Emirates, I thought an apostille was needed, but there they said legalisation was required, and I looked for someone to help. Asel knew this straight away and organised everything, thank you.
Service: Apostille of documents in Almaty
I had to submit a copy of my passport to a bank in Georgia with an apostille, and I had absolutely no time. I came in the morning, it was ready after lunch, I didn't have to wait. The apostille was placed on the same day the copy was made, so I didn't have to go back a second time. The guy who took my documents explained everything clearly and even told me where to take it. Thank you, and I wish you easy work
Service: Apostille of documents in Almaty
Thank you, we appreciate your feedback! Good luck with everything, and get in touch again if you need anything.
I translated the criminal record certificate myself, thinking it would be faster and cheaper. I came to get the apostille, and it turned out the translation had to be notarised, so everything had to be redone. It was frustrating to lose time. That's when I contacted the company. They explained the procedure to me and helped me do everything correctly. The second time there were no problems. I should have gone to them straight away. Thank you for your patience and clear explanations
Service: Apostille of documents in Almaty
Employment record book to confirm work experience in Israel, a copy with an apostille and a translation into Hebrew. All fine, no problems.
Service: Apostille of documents in Almaty
Many thanks to Dinara, I had 6 documents for a residence permit, and each one had its own requirements. She explained everything in order and told me what to do and where. I'm grateful for her patience. Everything was ready on time
Service: Apostille of documents in Almaty
I was in Poland and needed to get a criminal record certificate through a power of attorney. They did everything without me being present and sent scans by email before sending the original. Thank you
Service: Apostille of documents in Almaty
Thank you for your feedback! We're glad we could do everything remotely and conveniently for you.
I was planning to move to Kyrgyzstan after getting married and didn't know whether I needed an apostille on my marriage certificate. The information online was contradictory, some said it was needed, some said it wasn't. I decided to check with lawyers so as not to do anything unnecessary. They told me that for Kyrgyzstan an apostille is not required under the convention. They consulted me for free and explained everything. I'm very grateful that I didn't have to spend money and time on an unnecessary procedure. Now I know where to go
Service: Apostille of documents in Almaty
I needed a double apostille on a birth certificate for Spain, I didn't even know what that was, so I had to find a lawyer. Everything was done exactly within the deadlines they gave, thank you
Service: Apostille of documents in Almaty
We got an apostille on a school certificate and a college diploma for Czechia, with a translation into Czech. Zhanna organised everything well, but the translation into Czech took a bit longer to wait for than into English
Service: Apostille of documents in Almaty
I needed consent for my child to travel abroad, with an apostille. I didn't know how it was done, so I came here. They did it quickly
Service: Apostille of documents in Almaty
For German citizenship I needed my father's birth certificate from 1956, I thought it was hopeless, so I looked for a lawyer. They found the record through the archive and issued a duplicate with an apostille. Though sometimes I had to wait a long time for a reply. Thank you
Service: Apostille of documents in Almaty
I applied for a criminal record certificate, I needed it for processing documents abroad. They explained in detail about the validity period of the certificate so I wouldn't waste money for nothing. They advised when it's better to order so I'd make it in time for submission. They did it quickly, without delays. Thank you very much, I'll recommend to friends
Service: Apostille of documents in Almaty
Blog
Which documents to collect and in what form they are accepted.
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What the employer and the employee themselves need for lawful employment.
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Two routes to certifying documents and why a ready-made package is not accepted.
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What to include in the consent so that no questions arise at the border.
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Which powers to set out and how to make sure the power of attorney is valid.
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The language of the contract, the applicable law and documents for a foreign partner.
Read the analysisFAQ
It is a stamp confirming the authenticity of a signature and seal on an official document so that it is accepted in another country party to the Hague Convention. An apostille does not verify the content of the document. Apostilling documents means the same as affixing an apostille.
For the countries of the Minsk Convention, including Russia and Kyrgyzstan, official documents are usually accepted without an apostille. If an organisation nevertheless asks for one, it is worth first referring to the convention in writing.
No. An apostille is affixed by an authorised state body. A notary makes notarised copies and certifies a translator's signature, while our practice submits documents for an apostille under a power of attorney.
Often it cannot: there is nothing against which to verify the signature on an old document. In that case a duplicate certificate is ordered from the civil registry office on the basis of the archival record, and the apostille is affixed to it. Documents issued in Russia or Ukraine — for example, свідоцтво про народження — are apostilled by the body of the issuing country: in Russia an application is submitted through the state services portal or a civil registry office, while in Kazakhstan no apostille is affixed to such documents.
The apostille itself is indefinite. But certificates — of no criminal record, of marital status — are usually requested by the receiving party to be recent, issued within a few months before submission.
Yes, the stamp is translated together with the document. That is why the translation is done after the apostille, not before it.
The first apostille is affixed to the original document, the second to its notarised translation. It is required by certain countries, and this is established before work begins.
Yes, under a power of attorney. It must expressly state the right to submit and collect documents with an apostille. If you are abroad, the power of attorney is arranged before a consul or a local notary.
The apostille itself usually takes a few working days; the timeframe is set by the state authority. The full package, including a duplicate certificate, translation and certification, takes longer, so we count the deadlines from the date the document is needed.
On an identity card or passport — no. If needed, an apostille is placed on a notarised copy of the passport.
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