Legalisation of documents

How to legalise a document?

Documents from Malawi

How to legalize documents from Malawai
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If you want to use a document from Malawi in Belgium, you must first have the document legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Malawi. This is done through an apostille. 

Attention: if you want to use a Belgian document in Malawi, visit the website of Foreign Affairs.

Important

  • Documents in Chichewa must be translated into a Belgian national language for use in Belgium. 

  • Your document must be original, without lamination. If there are references to other documents or attachments, they must also be included.  

  • Date of issue of the document must be less than 6 months old to be legalized.

Translate your document 

The document will be translated in Malawi: 

  • Translate the original document into a Belgian national language
  • Have the original document legalized along with the translation with an apostille

OR

The document will be translated in Belgium: 

  • Have the original document legalized with an apostille
  • Have the legalized document translated by a sworn translator in Belgium. The translation does not need to be legalized. 

Legalization of the document 

You can obtain an apostille through the competent authority in Malawi. See the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) for contact information. 

Once legalized, you can use the document in Belgium. 

Where can you apply for official documents in Malawi

Birth certificates, marriage certificates, certificates of unmarried status and death certificates

You can request certificates of civil status from the Department of the Registrar General.  

Divorce certificate

You can obtain an official copy of a divorce certificate from the High Court in Lilongwe.  

Other documents

If you need any other type of document, please ask the local authorities for information. 

Legalization of diplomas and credits issued in Malawi

  • Take the original credit lists and degrees, and make colored copies of them, without lamination.
  • The colored copies must be stamped "certified copy of original' by the respective school.
  • Go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Malawi for apostille 

Legalization of Annex 32

The sponsor's signature is legalized. The person whose signature is being legalized must be present in person and he/she must be in possession of his/her identity card. He/she signs the document at the counter in front of the person authorized for legalization (i.e. do not sign the document in advance). 

Assistance in obtaining and having documents legalized 

The Belgian consulate in Lilongwe can help Belgian nationals obtain documents and have them legalized.