Apostille

Document Legalisation and Apostille

Document legalisation, or authentication, is the process of certifying the authenticity of a signature, seal, or stamp on a document. This ensures that a document issued in one country is officially recognised in another.

Legalisation by Apostille is commonly required for documents intended for use abroad. Apostilles are applicable only to documents issued in Latvia that are to be used in countries that are signatories to the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961.

If you need to use a foreign-issued official document in Latvia, the Apostille must be obtained in the country where the document was originally issued.

Documents Commonly Legalised

Apostilles are typically required for purposes such as moving abroad, employment, studies, marriage or divorce proceedings, inheritance matters, or opening a bank account. However, there are many other instances where foreign authorities may request the legalisation of Latvian-issued documents.

The Apostille issued in Latvia is provided in English and typically looks as follows:

Types of Documents That Can Be Apostilled

• The original document
• A notarised copy of the document
• A certified translation attached to the original document or a notarised copy