Certification, Legalisation and Apostille stamp

General Information

On July, 3^rd 2021 the Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (the Hague Apostille Convention) came into effect in relation between Jamaica and Germany. From this date onward Jamaican public documents will be accepted in Germany with an Apostille stamp rather than a legalisation (see also below).

The following information relates to public documents, such as court certificates, official documents issued by governmental authorities or by “person of public trust” (e. g. notary).

Detailed information about international legal relations can be found on the webpage of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs (only in German).

Please note that an appointment is needed for all consular services at the Embassy.

Official copy certification

The Embassy certifies copies of public documents for the purpose of processing by German authorities, as well as copies of German public documents. Please provide us with the original or a certified copy of the original document along with the simple copy meant to be certified.

Certification of signature

For certain types of documents, a simple certification is not sufficient. In these cases, a certification of signature is necessary. Please bring the prepared document with you – you will need to sign it in front of the consular officer, and if you have signed already before, your signature will have to be approved by the consular officer. This requires your presence at the Embassy in person. Please bring also a valid ID with a signature with you.

Legalisation for Jamaican public documents

On July, 3^rd 2021 the Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (the Hague Apostille Convention) came into effect in relation between Jamaica and Germany. From this date onward Jamaican public documents will be accepted in Germany with an Apostille stamp rather than a legalisation (see also below). The Embassy therefore does not legalise Jamaican public documents any more.

The “Hague Apostille”

In countries that are party to the Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (the Hague Apostille Convention) public documents no longer need to be legalised. All that is required for these documents is the Apostille stamp, which confirms the authenticity of a public document and seals of the signing persons, as well as the competence for issuing the document. The original of the document must be submitted to the designed authority of the country, which issued the document.

You can apply for an Apostille stamp on an official Jamaican document at the Jamaican Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (2 Port Royal Street, Kingston. Tel.: 001 876-926-4220 or 001 876-929-6733). Documents issued in the Cayman Islands or in the Turks and Caicos Islands require an Apostille from the respective Governor General’s Office.