Apostille

The word „apostille“ has its origins in France. An apostille is a stamp that confirms the authenticity of a signature and seal on a public document for the purpose of its use in one of the states that are parties to the Convention Abolishing the Requirement for Legalization of Foreign Official Documents of October 5, 1961 (the so-called Hague Convention). Apostille also replaces super-legalization, that is, a foreign government document that is apostilled can be used without further verification in the territory of any other party to the Convention and in any of its bodies. Apostille does not certify the authenticity of the content of the public document to which it is attached. If the certificate is filled out correctly, it certifies the authenticity of the signature, the position of the person who signed the document, and possibly the authenticity of the impression of a seal or stamp on the document.

An apostille is placed on a state document, or on its annex, which is part of the act it verifies. The certificate must contain the necessary details, namely:

• Information about the issuing country
• Identification of the person who issued the public document,
• Place and date of issue,
• Information about the institution that issued the apostille,
• Identification number of the document,
• Stamp and signature of the person who issued the apostille.

If the apostille has been affixed to a public document, this document is usable and acceptable by public authorities of states that have joined the Hague Convention. In the case of countries that have not joined the Convention, higher legalization is required at the embassy or consulate of the country in question.

We will help you

Regardless of whether you are in Slovakia or abroad, we can fulfill your request quickly and reliably. We will provide all the necessary documentation and deliver the apostilled documents directly to you. We can provide you with an apostille of documents in all jurisdictions of the world (including: Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Great Britain, USA).

All you need to do is fill out the form that you will send to us or bring in person, and we will take care of everything else for you. We will control the preparation and certification of documents by apostille or even their official translation, if necessary. We will send you the apostilled documents by mail, or you can pick them up in person at our office.

When is an apostille required?

People who are abroad often have to use documents with an apostille. If you are in a country that is a member of the Hague Convention, you need to affix an apostille to confirm the authenticity of a public document.

According to the Hague Convention, public documents are not documents issued by diplomatic and consular officials, and administrative documents that directly relate to commercial or customs activities. According to this Convention, all documents issued by a judicial authority or a judicial official are considered public documents, including notarial documents, administrative documents and official certificates.

Private documents are not verified, but public documents of a private nature, such as a birth or marriage certificate, as well as commercial documents, such as an extract from the commercial register or confirmation of the registration of a trademark, can be apostilled.

Cases when you will need an apostille:

• Marrying abroad – You need to present a birth certificate or identity card.
• Enrollment in school for studies – birth certificates of children will be required.
• Recognition of education obtained abroad.
• Recognition of education for employment abroad.
• Power of attorney to represent your interests from a representative abroad.
• Purchase of real estate abroad.
• Confirmation of identity in legal proceedings abroad.
• Death of a person abroad, recognition of a death certificate of a person abroad, for example, for payment of insurance compensation.
• Opening branches or a bank account for a company abroad.
• Confirmation of the authenticity of the document abroad in a country that has joined the Hague Convention. An apostille is sufficient in all countries that are parties to the Apostille Convention.

There are also countries where apostillation or legalization is not required. These are primarily states between which a bilateral agreement on legal assistance has been concluded.

Superlegalization is required in all countries that are not parties to the Convention.