An Apostille is an official certification issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Malta. It confirms that a Maltese document is genuine, so it can be used in other countries that have signed the Hague Apostille Convention.
Apostille of MBR certificates
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs applies an Apostille to an MBR certificate after the Malta Business Register has issued it. The Apostille does not change the certificate. It adds a separate certificate, with a unique number, that verifies the signature and seal on the MBR certificate and the capacity of the official who signed it.
Why an Apostille is usually better than notarisation
We do not offer notarisation. An Apostille is a government certification, and countries that have signed the Hague Apostille Convention accept it without further legalisation. For most foreign authorities, an Apostille carries more weight than a notarised copy.
Apostille or certification?
Certification and an Apostille are different. A CPA who certifies a copy checks that it matches the original they have seen. They do not check whether the MBR certificate itself is authentic.
An Apostille is stronger proof of authenticity. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs verifies the signature and seal on the MBR certificate and the capacity of the official who signed it, so a foreign authority can rely on it without checking the certificate itself.
How long it takes
Apostilled documents are sent within 48 hours of the MBR issuing the certificate.
How to order
You can order an Apostille online. It costs €85 for each certificate, excluding VAT. It is added to your order total. You can choose certification or an Apostille for an order, but not both. Documents are sent by email or by courier.