Attesting Jamaican Documents (FAQs)

Yes - Jamaica is a member of the Apostille Convention.

Jamaican documents can be legalized for use abroad with an Apostille Stamp when destined for other signatory countries without additional certification by the destination country.

When Jamaican documents are required for non-apostille countries, such as United Arab Emirates - Taiwan - Malaysia - Thailand - Qatar they need additional authentication by the embassy of the destination country.

For further information see:
Jamaica Apostille Services

Jamaican Apostille Stamps are issued to authenticate documents issued by a recognised public authority, including:

• Jamaican birth, death and marriage certificates issued by the Registrar General's Department
• Criminal Record Certificates
• University degrees certified by the Ministry of Education
• Court documents
• Medical documents certified by the Ministry of Health
• Letters of Good Standing and Confirmation issued by the Companies Office of Jamaica
• Commercial certificates of free sale

Other documents can be authenticated with an Apostille in Jamaica when certified by a Jamaican notary or Justice of the Peace, including sworn declarations, affidavits and powers-of-attorney.

To confirm whether your document is eligible for apostille authentication in Jamaica, please contact us and we’ll check your document free of charge. For further information about our Jamaican apostille services and for assistance obtaining official copies of Jamaican documents, see:
Jamaica Apostille Services

Jamaican Apostilles from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade are normally processed in 2-3 weeks

You can see reviews from past clients who have used our attestation and apostille services:

• ISAREY reviews on Trustpilot
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A Jamaican Apostille is a certificate that is affixed to a public document. It certifies the authenticity of the signature appearing on the document as that of an authorized public official in Jamaica and confirms the capacity of that official.

Jamaican Apostille stamps are often required when submitting a Jamaican document, such as a birth certificate, to the authorities of a foreign country or to a foreign embassy in Jamaica (for example, as part of a visa or citizenship application). Apostilles are recognised by the authorities and embassies of countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention

For more information on Apostilles, see:
The ABCs of Apostilles (PDF)

Document legalization (or attestation) is a procedure which authenticates a public Jamaican document so that it can be submitted in another country for official or legal purposes - for example, if you need to submit a Jamaican birth certificate to the authority or embassy of another country, it will often need to be legalized.

Legalzing a document in Jamaica certifies the authenticity of the signature appearing on the document as that of an authorized public official in Jamaica and confirms the capacity of that official.

• Because Jamaica is a member of the Apostille Convention, Jamaican documents can be legalized by means of an Apostille Stamp when being submitted to countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention
  See: What is a Jamaican Apostille Stamp?
• If a Jamaican is required for a country that is not a member of the Apostille Convention, it will need to be legalized both by Jamaican authorities and by the embassy of the recipient country (embassy in Jamaica or non-resident embassy accredited to Jamaica).
  See: Document legalization - Wikipedia

Certified copies of Jamaican birth, death and marriage can be obtained from the Registrar General's Department

Isarey can obtain Jamaican marriage certificates and other civil status certificates directly in Jamaica for overseas clients who need an Apostille Stamp. For further information, please contact us or see:
Jamaican birth, death and marriage certificates

Apostilles for Jamaican birth, death and marriage certificates can be obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. An original certificate is required, issued by the Registrar General's Department

For further information on authenticating Jamaican marriage certificates and other civil status certificates, please see:
Jamaican birth, death and marriage certificates

If you need an apostille on a Jamaican birth, death or marriage certificate, we can normally obtain a new certificate, so you don’t need to send your copy. If you need to submit your certificate in a country where English is not an official language, we offer certified translations recognised by authorities in Italy, Spain, France, Germany and many other countries.
See: Certify Jamaica Documents

Letters of Good Standing for Jamaican companies are issued by the Companies Office of Jamaica and be authenticated with an Apostille Stamp from the Jamaican Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. Letters of Good Standing required for submission in Qatar or the United Arab Emirates must be attested by the embassy in Havana.

Certified copies of company registration and incorporation certificates issued in Jamaica by the Companies Office of Jamaica can be authenticated with an Apostille Stamp from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Jamaican Record Certificates can be authenticated with an Apostille Stamp from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade in Kingston. The original certificate is required, issued by the Criminal Records Office

For assistance obtaining a Jamaican Criminal Record certificate, please contact us

To have your fingerprints taken outside Jamaica, contact the local police force. For more information on having your fingerprints taken in different countries, see:
Getting your fingerprints taken

Jamaican criminal record certificates can be obtained from the Criminal Records Office

Applications from overseas must include fingerprints (signed and stamped by the police or reputable agency in your country of residence), two passport-sized photographs, certified copy of passport ID page, bank draft/money order made payable to the Commissioner of Police.

Applicants in Jamaica can visit any Tax Administration Office to make payment, then after submitting the application online, you can then make an appointment to attend the Criminal Records Office.

Jamaican university degrees required for submission to the authorities of Qatar must be certified by the Jamaican Ministry of Education, then legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade in Kingston. Once legalized in Jamaica, diplomas need to be attested at the Qatari embassy in Havana.

Jamaican university degrees required for submission to the authorities of the United Arab Emirates must be certified by the Jamaican Ministry of Education, then legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade in Kingston. Once legalized in Jamaica, diplomas need to be attested at the UAE embassy in Havana.

Jamaican university degrees required for submission to the authorities of Taiwan must be certified by the Jamaican Ministry of Education, then legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade in Kingston. Once legalized in Jamaica, diplomas need to be attested at the Taiwan embassy in St. Kitts and Nevis.

Jamaican university degrees and transcripts must be certified by the Ministry of Education. They can then be authenticated with an Apostille Stamp from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.

Powers of Attorney must be sworn before a Jamaican notary or Justice of the Peace. They can then be authenticated with an Apostille Stamp from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.

Jamaican medical certificates must be certified by the Ministry of Health. An Apostille stamp can then be obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.