A Nigerian document headed abroad may need more than the paper itself. Nigeria has no apostille, so up to two Nigerian steps can stand between the paper and the foreign desk: a notary and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It can help to do them in order, and to ask what the receiving side wants before you book.
The order
If the receiving side wants both Nigerian steps, a sensible working order is:
- A notary handles the document.
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs authenticates it.
- The receiving side may add a step of its own.
| Step | Who does it | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Notarise | A notary public | Takes affidavits, verifies identity and signatures |
| Authenticate | The Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Handles authentication for use abroad |
| Legalise | The receiving country's embassy or authority, if it asks | Adds its own step |
For example, take a marriage certificate for a spouse's file abroad. It might go to a notary, then the Ministry, then the embassy if it asks. Not every desk wants steps one and two, and we found no rule that the Ministry needs the notary first. Ask first, then book.
Step 1: the notary
The Notaries Public Act, 2023 sets out what a notary does. It covers affidavits, identity checks and signatures.
Our post on which documents need notarising in Nigeria lists the papers involved, so we will not repeat it. The same Act allows remote, audio-visual notarisation by notaries registered for it. Remote and electronic notarisation explains how that works.
Check the notary first. The public register is at notary.gov.ng. Do this before you hand over an original.
Step 2: Ministry authentication
Next is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at foreignaffairs.gov.ng/services/document-authentication. Its page covers business, educational and legal documents. Typical uses are immigration, study, work and legal proceedings.
The Act also lists getting authentication from the Ministry among a notary's functions. So a notary may be able to help with this step.
Authenticating a Nigerian document for use abroad covers how the step works. Police certificates are covered separately in authenticating a police certificate abroad.
Apostilles, and what comes after Nigeria
Many countries accept one apostille stamp on foreign papers. Nigeria cannot offer one. It is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention.
Ministry authentication is what Nigeria has instead. Does Nigeria issue apostilles explains what that means in practice.
After Nigeria is done, the embassy or authority abroad may add its own step. That is its decision, and it varies by country and purpose.
The Ministry's page publishes no fee or processing time. Do not trust a figure from somewhere else. Ask the office and note the answer in writing.
Three questions to ask before you book
- Which documents do you need from Nigeria, exactly?
- Do you want them notarised, authenticated, or both?
- Does the embassy or receiving authority add its own step, and how does it want it done?
Keep the replies. If a desk changes its mind later, you still have the earlier answer to show.
Common mistakes
- Sending your only original off to be stamped without keeping a copy.
- Booking a trip to Abuja before asking the receiving side what it accepts, and the Ministry whether a remote route exists.
- Treating Nigerian authentication as the last step when the embassy abroad may add one.
- Using a notary who is not on the public register.
If the paper belongs to a life event, such as a marriage or a birth abroad, start from the diaspora and life events hub.