Welcome

Certifications

Seal

Seal, © German Embassy

01.12.2017 - Article

When dealing with German authorities you may need to have your signature or photocopies of your documents certified.

Certified Signature

In many cases German authorities or institutions only accept your applications or statements with a certified signature (“Unterschriftsbeglaubigung”). By certifying a signature, the consular officer confirms that the person indicated in the document was physically present and signed the document in front of the officer. It is a simple form of authenticating a signature.

If you need your signature certified on a document, you will have to come to the Embassy in person during the opening hours of the Consular Section. Please bring your valid passport/ID document and the document you need to sign (do not sign it at home). The fee to be charged by the Embassy depends on the value of the legal transaction for which the document is needed.

Fees are payable in Malawian Kwacha only according to the Embassy’s current exchange rate.

Certified Copies

Certified photocopies can replace the originals for most legal purposes and enable you to keep your originals in a safe place while using the copies as documentary evidence. In order to have a copy certified, please present the original and a clear photocopy during the opening hours of the Embassy. Copies of documents that do not bear an original signature or stamp/seal cannot be certified.

Fees are payable in Malawian Kwacha only according to the Embassy’s current exchange rate.

Malawian Documents

Apostille
Apostile© German Embassy

Germany and Malawi are both signatory states of the Hague Convention Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents. As a result, the Embassy does not need to assist with legalising Malawian documents as legalisation has been substituted by the so-called Apostille, which is issued by the competent Malawian authorities. For contact details, please visit the Website of the Hague Convention.

Top of page