Apostille or
legalize?
Foreign paperwork only counts once it's certified for the country you're moving to. Tell us the corridor and pick your documents — we'll say whether each needs an apostille, a full legalization chain, or nothing, and the steps in order.
Pick both countries to see how your documents get accepted.
A general guide, not legal advice — requirements vary by the exact receiving authority, and a certified/sworn translation is often required on top. Always confirm with the destination's consulate or the office that will accept the document. Apostille-convention status via the HCCH competent-authority directory.
Mostly no apostille — EU documents
Both countries are in the EU, so under the 2019 Public Documents Regulation your civil-status documents (birth, marriage, divorce, name) are accepted with no apostille — ask the issuing office for the free multilingual standard form. Diplomas and other non-civil documents still need an apostille.
One apostille per document
Both countries are in the Apostille Convention, so each document needs a single apostille from the competent authority in the country that issued it — no embassy step. Fast and cheap as legalization goes.
Full legalization chain
One of the two countries isn't in the Apostille Convention, so each document goes through the longer legalization chain — several offices, weeks of lead time, embassy fees. Start early.
- Order the document from the issuing authority and ask for the EU multilingual standard form (free) to skip translation.
- For a diploma or any non-civil document, get an apostille from the issuing country's competent authority instead.
- Hand it to the destination office — no embassy step, no legalization.
- Get the original or a certified copy from the issuing authority.
- Pre-authenticate first if needed — a university degree usually must be certified by the issuing body or education ministry before it can be apostilled.
- Get the apostille from the issuing country's competent authority (often the foreign ministry; in the US, the Secretary of State of the issuing state).
- Add a certified translation if the destination requires it — sometimes the translation itself is apostilled.
- Notarise or certify the document at home.
- Authenticate it at the issuing country's foreign ministry (or state-level authentication office).
- Legalize it at the destination country's embassy or consulate in the issuing country.
- Add a certified translation as required by the destination.
Order a recent certified copy — some authorities only accept one issued within the last 6 months.
A certified copy; needed for spouse and family visas, and for name changes.
The final decree (not the petition) — needed if you've remarried or to explain a name history.
Usually must be authenticated by the issuing university or the education ministry before it can be apostilled or legalized.
Nearly always required for a visa, and most authorities accept it only within 3–6 months of issue — get it late and certify it fast.
Sign it before a notary — often needed so someone can act for you back home once you've moved.
No apostille (EU) Apostille Legalize