Apostille

The word “apostille” is of French origin. An apostille is a certificate that confirms the signature and seal on a public document are genuine, so that the document can be used in any State party to the Convention of October 5, 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (the Hague Convention). It also replaces superlegalisation, meaning that an apostilled foreign public document can be used before any authority anywhere in the territory of another party to the Convention without further verification. The apostille does not confirm that the content of the public document is accurate. When properly completed, it certifies that the signature is genuine, the capacity in which the signatory acted and, where relevant, the authenticity of any seal or stamp impressed on the document.

The apostille is placed on the public document itself or on an attachment that forms part of the document being verified. It must include the required details, namely:

• Details of the issuing country
• Identification of the person who issued the public document,
• Place and date of issue,
• Details of the institution that issued the apostille,
• The document’s identification number,
• Stamp and signature of the person who issued the apostille.

Once an apostille has been placed on a public document, the document can be used and must be accepted by the public authorities of States that have joined the Hague Convention. For countries outside the Convention, higher legalisation is needed at the embassy or consulate of the country concerned.

How we can help

Whether you are in Slovakia or abroad, we can deal with your request quickly and reliably. We arrange all the necessary paperwork and deliver the apostilled documents straight to you. We can obtain apostilles for documents from every jurisdiction in the world (including Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Great Britain and the USA).

Simply complete the form and send it to us or hand it in in person, and we will do the rest. We oversee the preparation of the documents, their certification with an apostille and, if needed, their official translation. The apostilled documents can be posted to you or collected in person from our office.

When is an apostille needed?

People living abroad frequently need apostilled documents. If you are in a country that belongs to the Hague Convention, an apostille must be added to confirm that a public document is authentic.

Under the Hague Convention, documents issued by diplomatic and consular officials and administrative documents relating directly to commercial or customs activities do not count as public documents. On the other hand, the Convention treats all documents issued by a judicial authority or judicial official as public documents, as well as notarial acts, administrative documents and official certificates.

Private documents are not verified. However, public documents of a personal nature, such as birth and marriage certificates, and commercial documents, such as an extract from the commercial register or confirmation of a trademark registration, can be apostilled.

Situations in which you will need an apostille:

• Marrying abroad – a birth certificate or identity card must be presented.
• Enrolling children in school – their birth certificates will be required.
• Recognition of qualifications gained abroad.
• Recognition of qualifications for a job abroad.
• A power of attorney allowing a representative abroad to act on your behalf.
• Buying property abroad.
• Proving your identity in legal proceedings abroad.
• A death abroad, or recognition of a death certificate issued abroad, for example to claim an insurance payout.
• Opening a branch or a company bank account abroad.
• Confirming the authenticity of a document abroad in a country that has joined the Hague Convention. In every country party to the Apostille Convention, an apostille is all you need.

In some countries neither an apostille nor legalisation is required, mainly where a bilateral agreement on legal assistance has been concluded between the states concerned.

Every country that is not party to the Convention requires superlegalisation.