Certification with an "Apostille" and legalization of documents

In the case when you need to certify the authenticity of a document, we will take care of the translation of the document, the notarial certification of the translation, we will also submit your documents to the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Starting with 1st July 2019, any sworn notary in Latvia may authenticate a document with an Apostille.

For the authorities of the Republic of Latvia to accept public documents issued in foreign countries, or otherwise – for the foreign authorities of the relevant country to accept public documents issued in Latvia, those documents should be legalised at the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a diplomatic/consular mission of the Republic of Latvia in the respective country, or their authenticity should be certified with an Apostille at a competent institution of the foreign country, unless other document authenticity verification procedures are in place between Latvia and the respective country.

The certification of the authenticity (legalization) of a document is an administrative action, as the result of which a public document issued by another country is recognized as legally valid, by checking the signature and the authenticity of the official position of the person who has signed the current document. Most often this function is performed by state offices and consular officials of the diplomatic missions.

The authentication of document authenticity is regulated by several international conventions and intergovernmental agreements, and also by the Document Legalisation Law and the Regulations for Public Document Legislation of Latvia.

 When the legalization of a document issued in the Republic of Latvia and when – the Apostille are needed?

• Document authenticity should be certified with an Apostille: If a document is intended for use in a foreign country which has joined the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Documents of 5 October 1961. The document bearing an Apostille is valid for submission in the institutions of the relevant country and is not subject to any other confirmation.

• Document must be legalized if it is intended to use in a country other than a Member of the Hague Convention. If a document is issued in a foreign country which has not joined the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Documents of 5 October 1961, it must be legalised by the diplomatic/consular mission of Latvia in the relevant country or by the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, after their authentication by the competent institutions of the relevant country (the foreign ministry or a diplomatic/consular mission of the relevant country).

We highly recommend You to consult the diplomatic mission of the relevant country in advance, in order to find out if it is necessary to certify the authenticity of (legalise):

1. only the original document/ a copy of the original document certified by a notary;
2. only the original document;
3. both the original document/ a copy of the original document certified by a notary, and its translation.

To find out our price offer for these services, please contact us by calling the phone number + 371 22430888 or writing to our e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..