The competent authorities entitled to affix an apostille to a document being certified:

1) documents issued by judicial authorities, including documents issued or certified by notaries

(Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic)

2) documents issued or certified by state administration bodies or other authorities

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic)

Take care to consider where you intend to use a document bearing an apostille. In every country where you plan to use it, the document must be accompanied by a translation (usually into English).

If you require your documents to be translated while still in the Slovak Republic, we recommend giving the sworn translator the document only once it bears the “Apostille” certification clause.

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.

Practical Tips Before You Apply for an Apostille in Slovakia

An apostille confirms that a Slovak public document is genuine, so that it can be accepted in another country that is party to the Hague Apostille Convention. Knowing which authority is responsible for your document is the first step, but a few other practical points can save you time and avoid a document being rejected abroad.

Identify the Type of Document

Responsibility for issuing an apostille depends on who issued or certified the original document. Court documents and notarial deeds follow one route, while certificates issued by state administration bodies, such as registry offices or other public authorities, follow another. If you are not sure which category your document falls into, it is better to check before submitting it, as sending it to the wrong authority can cause delays.

Check What the Receiving Country Requires

The authority or institution abroad that will receive the document may have its own requirements. Before you start, it is worth confirming:

  • Whether they need an original, a certified copy or a recently issued document
  • Whether the apostille must be attached to the document or to its translation
  • Which language the translation should be in
  • Whether a sworn translator from a particular country is required
  • Whether the receiving country is party to the Hague Convention at all

Order of Steps

In many cases it makes sense to obtain the apostille first and then have both the document and the apostille translated, so that the receiving authority can read everything. However, practice differs between countries, and some may expect a translation to be legalised as well. Planning the order of steps in advance avoids having to repeat any of them.

Countries Outside the Convention

If the document is going to a country that does not recognise apostilles, a different process of legalisation, often involving the embassy of that country, may be needed instead.

Need an apostille on a Slovak document, or on a document from abroad? Contact eTuls and we will help you identify the right authority, arrange translations and handle the process on your behalf.