Using Ghanaian documents abroad: notarisation and legalisation

Why an apostille is not available

Many countries use the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, under which a single certificate — an apostille — authenticates a public document for use in other member countries. As at October 2026, Ghana is not a party to the Apostille Convention. Documents from Ghana for use abroad therefore go through consular legalisation, a chain of certifications in which each authority confirms the signature and seal of the one before it.

The legalisation chain

1. Notarisation in Ghana. The document is signed, sworn or certified before a notary public, who applies the notarial certificate, signature and seal.
2. Judicial Service of Ghana. The Judicial Service attests the signature and seal of the notary public.
3. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration. The Ministry attests the document after verification by the Judicial Service. In a recent public notice, the Ministry stated that applicants should submit original documents verified by the Judicial Service, with valid ID; that the fee for attestation or legalisation is GH¢200; and that processing takes five working days.
4. Embassy or consulate of the destination country. The embassy or consulate of the country where the document will be used legalises it for use there.

Ghana's missions abroad describe the same sequence. The Consulate-General of Ghana in Hamburg, for example, lists notarisation by a notary public in Ghana, certification by the Judicial Service and attestation by the Ministry's Legal and Consular Bureau before the Consulate's own attestation.

Checks at the source

The Ministry has explained that its attestation verifies the seals and signatures of the Judicial Service, and that primary responsibility for confirming the authenticity of a document rests with the issuing authority and the notary public or commissioner for oaths. For official records — such as academic certificates or birth and marriage certificates — it is wise to confirm with the issuing institution whether it must verify the document first.

Before you start

• Ask the receiving authority exactly what it needs: the form of document, the language, whether translation is required and how recent the document must be.
• Allow time. Each step has its own processing period. Some missions also set time limits; the Hamburg Consulate-General, for example, asks that authentication documents be submitted within three months of the date of issue.
• Budget for disbursements. Government and embassy fees are separate from notarial fees.

This article is general information about the law and practice in Ghana as at October 2026. It is not legal advice. For advice on a particular matter, please consult a lawyer.