Authentication with an apostille and legalisation in Tallinn
Certifying documents for use in Apostille Convention countries and beyond.
- Apostille for official Estonian documents
- Notary- or sworn-certified translation
- Legalisation for non-convention states
- We advise you through the process
About the apostille service
Apostilles are required for official documents issued in Estonia (e.g. school diplomas, register extracts, notarised authorisations) that are to be used in a country that has acceded to the Apostille Convention.
An apostille certifies the capacity in which the person signing the document acted. An apostille is attached inseparably to the document. An apostille can be attached to:
- the original public document
- a notarised or officially certified copy
- a printout or extract
Since 1 January 2010 all notaries in Estonia certify public documents with an apostille; names and contacts are at notar.ee/en/notaries/list. Notaries certify documents with an apostille regardless of their jurisdiction, but not a document they themselves certified. More info: notar.ee.
Public documents to be used in a country with which Estonia has signed an agreement on mutual legal assistance are not subject to apostillation.
Translation pairs for apostilled documents
We offer document translations certified by a notary or a sworn translator. We translate from and into Estonian, English, Russian, Finnish, German, Swedish, Latvian, Lithuanian, Ukrainian, Polish and French.
About the legalisation service
In international law, legalisation is the process of certifying the authenticity of a document issued in one country so it is valid in another.
A public document must be legalised if it is to be used in a country that is not party to the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation, or with which Estonia has no mutual legal assistance agreement.
The document is submitted to a competent authority – the consular department of the ministry of foreign affairs or a foreign mission – which verifies it and forwards it to the competent authority of the other country. Both countries add legalisation marks. More at vm.ee.
| What is certified | When needed | Validity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sworn translation | Accuracy of the translation (sworn translator is liable) | Official translation Estonian ↔ foreign | Estonia and abroad |
| Notarial certification | Authenticity of the translator's signature | When an authority requires a notary | Estonia and abroad |
| Apostille | Capacity of the document's signatory | Document for an Apostille Convention country | Convention member states |
| Legalisation | Authenticity of the document (two states) | Country not party to the Convention | Non-member states |
Frequently asked questions
An apostille is an international certificate that confirms the capacity and signature of the official who signed a document. An Estonian official document with an apostille is valid in all countries party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, without further legalisation.
The apostille is affixed by a notary and is usually issued quickly, often within one business day. The exact time depends on the notary's schedule and the document type. With translation and certification, plan a couple of business days; our express translation helps when it's urgent.
The state fee and notary fee are set by the notary. Our agency price depends on the document's length, language pair and the certification required. Send us the document and we'll prepare an accurate, non-binding quote.
An apostille is valid in Convention member states and is a single step. Legalisation is needed for countries that are not members – there the document is certified by the competent authorities of both states. See the comparison table above.
Areas of translation
Slogans and advertising headlines, advertisements, labels, banners, brochures, website texts, video texts, subtitles for commercials, product catalogues, etc.
Contracts, agreements, documents, acts of law, regulations, court documents, powers of attorney, applications, notarial instruments, contract notices and tender documents, etc.
Business plans, reports, balance sheets, B-cards, powers of attorney, official applications, analyses, market research, annual reports, valuation reports, etc.
Medicinal product package leaflets, clinical reports and research, medical histories, articles, product presentations, medical equipment manuals, medical legislation, etc.
User manuals for machines and equipment, installation and maintenance instructions, production process descriptions, catalogues, etc.
Resumes, theses, graduation certificates, CVs, motivation and recommendation letters, medical certificates, population register extracts, birth/marriage/divorce/death certificates, diplomas, passports, ID cards, etc.
Let's make your translation the next one
Send your documents or describe the job – on working days we reply within one hour with an offer stating the price and delivery time. We are located in central Tallinn, Rävala Business House.