Apostille by country: who issues it and what it means for sworn translators

Overview

Dates are the entry into force of the Convention for each country, from the HCCH status table. Authorities are taken from each country's page on the HCCH site; most countries have more than one, by type of document. "Not listed" means the country does not appear in the HCCH e-APP chart, which lists only authorities that have reported electronic apostilles or registers — it does not prove that none exists.

Within the EU: Regulation 2016/1191

Between EU member states, the public documents covered by Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 — birth, death, marriage, residence, nationality, absence of a criminal record and others — and their certified copies are exempt from legalisation and from the apostille (Article 4). The same regulation introduces multilingual standard forms: attached to the document, they can make a translation unnecessary for the receiving authority (Articles 6 and 7). Outside that list, and for documents from or to non-EU countries, the apostille still applies.

Translating the apostille on the original

• Translate it with the document. The apostille is part of the document the client hands in. Leave it out and the translation is incomplete — most certification formulas confirm that the translation is complete.
• The title stays in French. Under Article 4 of the Convention the certificate may be in the language of the issuing authority, but its title "Apostille (Convention de La Haye du 5 octobre 1961)" is in French. Translate the numbered fields; keep the title.
• Electronic apostilles. An e-Apostille is a signed PDF; an e-Register lets the receiving authority check a paper or electronic apostille online by its number. If the client brings a printout of an e-Apostille, translate what is printed and note the form of the source document in your certification where your country requires it.

An apostille on the translation itself

Whether a sworn translation can carry its own apostille depends on whether the country treats it as a public document. Official sources state it for three countries in this table:

• Germany. For translations by a court-authorised translator whose specimen signature is deposited with the Landgericht, the Landgericht president issues the apostille (example: Landgericht Bielefeld).
• Poland. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs apostilles sworn translations — on the original translation only, not a photocopy; the fee is PLN 60 per document.
• Slovakia. The regional courts (krajské súdy) are the competent authority for translations made by official, court-appointed translators.

For the other countries we found no official statement and do not guess. Ask the authority listed in the table before telling a client that a translation can — or cannot — be apostilled.

Related

Sworn translation certification by country

Document terms for sworn translators: one glossary, 12 languages

Working with Lingverra

Lingverra produces a precise translation from a scan in the layout of the original — apostille, stamps and handwritten entries included — and adds the certification wording of your country. You check the highlighted spots and sign. Quotes and invoices for the client are built from the same document. Your first 5 pages of translation and 5 quotes are free.