An apostille is a certification clause confirming the authenticity of a signature. It is attached to official documents and, in certain respects, takes the place of superlegalisation.

Once certified with an apostille, the document can be used abroad. The states listed under the Hague Convention have agreed that, when documents are “exchanged”, they need not be legalised by the embassy in the country of origin; instead, final certification takes place in the country where the document was issued.

An apostille is issued in the official language of the issuing state, but the document must also be translated into another language. A certified translation is therefore usually required for submission in the destination country.

You will find the list of Hague Convention countries on our website.

Whether you need an apostille from domestic state authorities or from abroad, for your company or for yourself, you can make use of our apostille services. For further information, please get in touch via our contact form.

When You Might Need an Apostille

An apostille is a simple certificate, but it plays an important role whenever official documents cross borders. Without it, a foreign authority, bank or court may refuse to accept a document because it cannot verify that the signature and seal are genuine. Knowing in advance when an apostille is required helps you avoid delays at a crucial moment.

Common Situations

Individuals and businesses ask for apostilles in many different circumstances. Some of the most frequent include:

  • Setting up a company or branch abroad and proving the existence of the founding company
  • Opening a business bank account in another country
  • Applying for residence, a work permit or a visa
  • Registering a marriage or the birth of a child abroad
  • Submitting educational certificates for study or recognition of qualifications
  • Using powers of attorney or court decisions in another jurisdiction

What the Apostille Does and Does Not Confirm

An apostille confirms the authenticity of the signature, the capacity in which the person signing acted and, where relevant, the identity of the seal or stamp. It does not confirm that the content of the document is true or correct. The receiving authority will still assess the document itself and may have its own requirements regarding how recent it is or what information it must contain.

Translations

The apostille is usually issued in the language of the country that issues it, often with standard headings in other languages. In many cases the receiving authority will still require an official translation of the document, and sometimes of the apostille as well. Check whether the translation must be carried out by a sworn translator in a particular country.

Countries Outside the Convention

Not every country is party to the Hague Apostille Convention. Where the destination country does not recognise apostilles, a longer process of legalisation through the relevant ministry and embassy is usually required.

If you need a document legalised for use abroad, contact eTuls. We can tell you which procedure applies, arrange the apostille and organise any translations required.