Apostille

Document Legalisation (Apostille)

Document legalisation — also known as authentication or Apostille — is the process of verifying the authenticity of signatures and official seals on a document. This procedure ensures that a document issued in one country is legally recognised in another.

An Apostille is typically required for documents intended for use in countries that are members of the Hague Convention. Apostilles can only be issued for documents originating in Latvia. If you need to use an official Latvian document abroad, it must be legalised in Latvia. Conversely, if you need to use a foreign document in Latvia, legalisation must be completed in the country where the document was originally issued.

Common Documents That Require Legalisation

Apostilles are frequently required for documents related to immigration, employment, education, marriage or divorce, inheritance procedures, or opening bank accounts abroad. However, many other situations may require legalisation of Latvian documents for international use.

Please note: A sworn notary public may only legalise (Apostille) documents issued within the Republic of Latvia.

Types of Documents Eligible for Apostille

• Original documents
• Notarised copies of documents
• Translations attached to originals or notarised copies

To determine whether your document requires legalisation, we strongly recommend contacting the authorities in the country where the document will be used.