Document legalisation for countries outside the Hague Convention
If a Serbian document is to be used in a country that does not accept the apostille, it needs full (diplomatic) legalisation. This is a chain of certifications in which each authority confirms the signature and seal of the previous one. The procedure is long and easily stalls at one step; we run it from start to finish.
Legalisation steps
- Certification of signature and seal at the competent basic court
- Certification at the Serbian Ministry of Justice
- Certification at the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Certification at the embassy or consulate of the destination country in Belgrade
- Certified translation into the destination country's language, if the embassy or institution requires it
For documents issued by national and provincial authorities the procedure is shorter, because the Ministry of Foreign Affairs certifies them directly. Some embassies also require the translation to be legalised, so we always align the order with the specific embassy's requirements.
Which countries require legalisation
Most often the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Vietnam and other countries that have not joined the Hague Convention. The list changes: China, Canada and Saudi Arabia have all moved to the apostille in recent years. That is why we check the current status before starting.
Consular and embassy certification
Almost all embassies and consular sections are in Belgrade and each has its own rules: submission hours, fees payable in advance, processing times and translation requirements. We follow these requirements and submit documents on your behalf, so you do not need to travel to Belgrade.
Price
The total price depends on the number of documents, the consular fees of the destination country and whether translation is needed. Before we start, we send a cost breakdown including all fees.
Frequently asked questions
How long does legalisation take?
It mostly depends on the embassy. The Serbian part of the procedure usually takes a few working days, while some embassies keep documents longer. You receive an estimated timeline with the quote.
Can I legalise a document while I am abroad?
Yes. We run the procedure based on the original you send us or on a power of attorney, and courier the legalised document to your address.
Available across Serbia
We collect and deliver documents by courier to any address in Serbia and abroad. See the information for your city:
Belgrade, Novi Sad, Niš, Kragujevac, Subotica, Zrenjanin, Pančevo, Čačak, Novi Pazar, Kraljevo, Smederevo, Leskovac. All cities