If you want to legalize or apostillate a document or certificate issued abroad, but you're not sure how to proceed, read on. We'll explain everything you need to know about legalizing foreign documents and explain the most important steps to take.
What is document legalization and what is its purpose?
Legalization of foreign documents for public administration is an authentication procedure aimed at verifying the accuracy of the signature, the role and authority of the signer, and the identity of the seal or stamp. Legalization allows foreign documents to be legally certified in the signer's country of origin.
This authorization may be required in the following situations:
Returning from abroad Establishing an overseas subsidiary Participating in overseas bidding Applying for a certificate of qualification after studying at an overseas university Applying for naturalization Marriage of a couple of different nationalities Adoption procedures
Conversely, it is also possible to legalize documents issued in one country destined for another country. Legalization rules and procedures may vary depending on the document being legalized and the target country.
Which documents can be legalized?
Most foreign public and private documents can be legalized. This concerns, among other things: pain:
death certificate, birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc. Notarized documents Documents issued by the court (e.g. divorce decree) Excerpts from commercial registers Certificates from administrative authorities Personal documents (e.g. oath, letter of recommendation, handwritten will, power of attorney, informal sales contract)
Legalization vs. Apostille: Which should you choose?
Apostille is a simpler and faster authentication procedure than legalization and is regulated by the Hague Convention. This is the certification of a document for use in another country. Apostille certificates (similar to legalization) confirm that the seal, signature, and identity of the signer are genuine.
Which authentication method you use also depends on the country involved.
Additionally, certain foreign documents do not need to be legalized or apostilled if the country issuing the document has bilateral agreements regarding these types of documents. This is especially true for certain public documents.
How do I legitimize or evangelize a document or deed?
Step 1: The document needs to be translated
Before a foreign language document can be legalized, it must first be translated by a certified translator or certified translation company. Only certified translators or certified translation agencies can create official translations. This certified translation is an exact copy of the original and confirms the legal validity of the translated document. This step is mandatory before applying for legalization or apostille.
At Alphatrad, we create certified translations of all types, regardless of the language combination (English-Danish, French-Danish, Spanish-Danish, Arabic-Danish, etc.). Your documents will be entrusted to a qualified and experienced translator, who or our agency will also process the legalization and apostille of your foreign documents. This ensures that an official translation is immediately available. Please contact us for more information.
→ What you need to know: If a document or certificate is translated in the country where it will be used, the translation will definitely be accepted.
Step 2: You need to apply for legalization or apostille
Once the translation is available, the original must be submitted along with the translation to the embassy or consulate of the issuing country. The document must also be previously certified by the competent authority of the issuing country (most often the Ministry of Foreign Affairs). Once the process is complete, the document will receive an official legalization stamp, confirming its authenticity.
In some cases, your approval request may be denied. For example:
The document does not have an original signature or original stamp The signature or seal is unknown or cannot be verified The document is a religious certificate (such as a baptismal certificate) The document is laminated or glued The document is issued by the issuing authority unrecognized organs.
Foreign document legalization and apostille costs and deadlines
The time required for legalization depends on the processing time required for pre-certification by the authorities of the country issuing the document. This process requires double legalization and therefore takes longer than the Apostille legalization procedure.
To legalize foreign documents, you can also use an agency that specializes in this type of certification service.
The cost of legalizing a document or certificate varies depending on the country of issue. Depending on the country, it varies from 150 DKK (20 euros) to over 750 DKK (100 euros).
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Frequently asked questions about foreign document legalization and apostille
Legalization of a foreign document or instrument is an authentication procedure aimed at confirming the accuracy of the signature, the role and authority of the signer, and the identity of the seal or stamp.
Both procedures are used to confirm the authenticity of a document. However, an apostille is always issued by a designated authority in the state where the document was issued (i.e. it is different from legalization).
In some countries, certified translations must be created by certified translators or translation companies that specialize in official translations. Apostilles can be obtained from the competent authorities. Our translation agency can provide certified translations with apostille on your behalf. Contact us via online form or email.
