Apostille

What an apostille is

An apostille is a certificate. It confirms the signature on a document, the authority of the person who signed it and, where needed, the seal or stamp. It does not confirm that the content of the document is correct. A public document with an apostille can generally be used in all countries that are party to the Hague Apostille Convention.

In Estonia, notaries issue apostilles (Chamber of Notaries (Notarite Koda) guidance).

Which documents can have an apostille

You can get an apostille for public documents issued in Estonia, for example:

• a school diploma, certificate or attestation;
• an extract from the Commercial Register or the Land Register, or a certificate from the Criminal Records Database;
• a copy of a court judgment;
• a notarised power of attorney;
• a translation certified by a sworn translator.

Apostille and translation

In most cases, a document with an apostille also needs a sworn translation into a language that the receiver accepts. Dmitri Šmorgun makes sworn translations from Estonian into English and Russian, and between Russian and English. Read more on the sworn translation page.

Before you order, ask the receiver of the document:

• whether it needs an apostille;
• whether it needs the original document or accepts a certified copy;
• which language it accepts;
• whether the translation must come from a sworn translator.

When you do not need an apostille

An apostille is not always needed. Under EU Regulation 2016/1191, some public documents submitted to an authority in another EU member state need no apostille, for example documents that prove birth, marriage or death. Exceptions also apply to countries with which Estonia has a mutual legal assistance agreement. If a country is not party to the Apostille Convention, the document may need legalisation instead.

Price

To find out the price for arranging an apostille, use the get-a-price form. Tell us what the document is and in which country you will use it.