Consular legalization is a confirmation of authenticity of the signatures on documents and legal acts and certification of the correspondence of those documents and legal acts to the laws and regulations of the country where the consulate is established. 

The legalization serves to confirm the legal force of documents and legal acts in the international arena. 
Article 54 of the Consular Charter of the Republic of Azerbaijan empowers consuls to perform functions in the sphere of legalizing documents and legal acts.

These legalizing functions are performed: 

a) abroad - by the consulates or consular sections of embassies of the Republic of Azerbaijan. 
b) within the Republic of Azerbaijan - by the Consular department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan. 

Certain documents and legal acts emanating from individuals and corporations of foreign countries are considered and recognized by official bodies and enterprises of the Republic of Azerbaijan only after legalization has been made and if other conditions of the laws and regulations of the Republic of Azerbaijan are complied with, or if they comply with specific international agreements to which the Republic of Azerbaijan and the respective foreign state are both party to. 

Documents and legal acts of a foreign state body, or companies related to international agreements to which the Republic of Azerbaijan is party, can be considered on the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan without legalization. 

The legalization of documents and legal acts by consulates and consular sections of embassies of the Republic of Azerbaijan

The consul shall legalize the documents and legal acts performed by participation of the government authorities of a foreign state within a consular district or received from those authorities. 

The legalization of documents and legal acts in the Republic of Azerbaijan 

The Consular department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan shall legalize the documents of both foreign state individuals and corporate bodies only after they are legalized by the embassies or consulates of those states in the Republic of Azerbaijan or, as an exception, after the legalization by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of any state not represented in the Republic of Azerbaijan. 

 The Consular department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan shall have the specimens of those officials' signatures and stamps of foreign embassies in the Republic of Azerbaijan authorized for legalization, and shall also have specimens of the signatures and stamps of duly authorized officials of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of states not represented through embassies or consulates in the Republic of Azerbaijan. 

The Consular department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan legalizes documents and legal acts of individuals and corporate bodies of the Republic of Azerbaijan intended to be submitted abroad. 

Civil registry certificates, issued as a result of the registration of state civil acts of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and originals of education diplomas of the Republic of Azerbaijan issued to foreigners are legalized by the Consular department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Such certificates and diplomas will be legalized only if issued by appropriate bodies for the intention of use abroad and if their authenticity is not doubted. 

The Consular department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan shall have the specimen signatures and stamps of notaries authorized to confirm documents and legal acts. 

A fee will be charged for legalization in accordance with the law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On state duty". 

The legalization of documents 

For foreigners; 
       
The documents to be submitted to the Embassy for legalization must be translated into Azerbaijani by a certified translator. Applicants must be advised that documents should also be: 
1 Acknowledged by a Notary Public; 
2 Certified by your MFA. 

For azerbaijani citizens; 

The document to be submitted to the Embassy for legalization must be translated into English by a certified translator. Applicants must be advised that documents should also be: 

1 Certified by MFA of the Republic of Azerbaijan 
Documents and translations must be printed.