What Is an Apostille and When Do You Need One?

What is an apostille?

An apostille is a standardized international certification that verifies the authenticity of public documents. Established by the Hague Convention of 1961, it allows documents issued in one member country to be recognized in another without further legalization. 120+ countries are members.

When do you need an apostille?

You need an apostille when submitting official documents to authorities, companies, or institutions in another Hague Convention country. Common use cases include business registrations abroad, real estate purchases, academic enrollment, adoption proceedings, and immigration applications. For a broader overview, see our guide on how to legalize documents for international use.

Which documents can be apostilled?

Corporate documents (articles of incorporation, board resolutions)
Powers of attorney
Notarized signatures and certified copies
Academic transcripts and diplomas
Birth, marriage, and death certificates
Court documents and judgments

The apostille process

The document is first notarized by a licensed Notary Public, who verifies signatures and document authenticity. The apostille is then issued by the designated authority (in Sweden, the Notary Public — Notarius Publicus). The entire process can often be completed the same day when documents are correctly prepared. View all available apostille and notarization services.

Apostille vs. embassy legalization

For Hague Convention member countries, an apostille is sufficient. For non-member countries, full embassy or consulate legalization is typically required, which involves additional steps and longer processing times. Always verify the requirements for your specific destination country. Companies handling documents across jurisdictions may benefit from our guide on cross-border document handling.

Frequently Asked Questions

It depends entirely on the country. In many jurisdictions the apostille is a two-step process – notary first, then a ministry, court or state office – with typical waits ranging from several days to several weeks, and for some routes months. In Sweden the notary public issues the apostille directly, so notarisation and apostille are completed in one step: typically within 24 hours, often the same day.

An apostille is recognized in all Hague Convention member countries (120+). For non-member countries, embassy or consular legalization is required instead.

Apostille coordination is 75 EUR per document, and notarisation is a separate 75 EUR — 150 EUR when your case needs both. See our pricing page for full details.