Public Notice of Entry into Force of the Apostille Convention in Pakistan
Please be informed that the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan acceded to the Apostille Convention, which entered into force for that country on March 9, 2023, replacing the process of legalization of public documents issued in Pakistan for use in Mexico. During a transition period, the Embassy of Mexico in Iran, concurrent to Pakistan, continued to issue legalizations, taking into account the needs and requests of the public.
However, as of January 11, 2024, the Embassy of Mexico in Iran will stop issuing legalizations of public documents issued in Pakistan. This is due to the accession of the Government of Pakistan to the Apostille Convention, which aims to replace the legalization of public documents.
As of the aforementioned date, in order for public documents from Pakistan to be legally recognized in Mexico, these must be apostilled by the Ministry of Interior in Islamabad or by regional authorities in Pakistan, without the need for legalization at the Mexican Embassy.
Mexican authorities have already begun apostilling Mexican documents for use in Pakistan, ensuring a smooth and efficient transition. The implementation of Apostille in Pakistan will simplify and expedite the international validation of documents, reducing costs and time involved.
The Embassy of Mexico appreciates your understanding during this process of change and reiterates its commitment to facilitate efficient consular services.
LEGALIZATION
Legalization is the process by which it is certified that a foreign public document is valid in the receiving country. In this procedure, the consular offices of the receiving country verify that the signature or seal on the document matches the one registered in their records.
The Embassy of Mexico in Iran only legalizes documents issued in countries that are not parties to the Apostille Convention, such as Iran and Afghanistan. Pakistan acceded to the Convention with effect from January 11, 2024; therefore, public documents issued in Pakistan for use in Mexico must be apostilled by the Ministry of Interior in Islamabad or by regional authorities, without requiring legalization at this Embassy.
To request the legalization of documents at this Embassy, it is mandatory to schedule an appointment through the Mi Consulado online appointment system available at:
When booking your appointment, please ensure you select the correct service: “Certificates, legalizations and visas.”
During the appointment, consular staff will review the original documents directly; copies or scans are no longer accepted for prior review by email.
On the date and time of your appointment, you must present:
- The original document duly legalized/certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country of issuance, issued no more than six months prior.
A legible photocopy of the document. - Payment of the applicable consular fee in accordance with the Federal Rights Law (Article 22, Section III, Subsection a).
The Embassy will inform you whether the legalization can proceed or if verification by the relevant Ministry of Foreign Affairs is required. In the latter case, the process may take up to 8 weeks.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
- The consular fee for each legalization is USD $54, payable in cash. Please consult the fee schedule on our website: https://embamex.sre.gob.mx/iran/index.php/en/fees
- The Embassy does not arrange for the collection or delivery of documents and is not responsible for documents sent by mail or courier. Please note that courier services do not operate in Iran. If you reside outside Iran, you must designate a representative (acquaintance, family member, or friend) to deliver and collect the documents at the Embassy.
- No refunds are issued for consular fee payments.
(acquaintance, relative or friend) brings the documents to be legalized.