An apostille or legalisation can make a document valid for use in another country. The correct solution depends on the country that issued the document, the country that will receive it, and whether the document is public, private or translated.
What do apostille and legalisation mean?
Apostille and legalisation confirm the signature and role of the person who signed the document. The certification does not confirm that the document's contents are correct.
An apostille stamp is a simplified form of legalisation. It is used between countries that are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention. Standard legalisation is normally used when the receiving country is not a party to the convention.
You may encounter this requirement for documents such as:
- a birth or marriage certificate
- a police certificate
- a diploma or transcript of grades
- a document from a company
- a power of attorney or declaration
- a translation by a government-authorised translator
Before ordering anything, ask the authority, school or employer that will receive the document. They must tell you whether they require the original, a copy, a translation, an apostille or full legalisation.
SamfunnPrep also has a guide to recognition of foreign education. Recognition assesses the education itself. An apostille only confirms the document's signature and official origin.
Which country issued the document?
A document must be legalised or apostilled in the country where it was issued. Norwegian authorities cannot place a Norwegian apostille on a foreign passport, diploma or other foreign certificate.
If you have a foreign document that will be used in Norway, you must contact the authorities in the issuing country. The process may go through that country's notary, foreign ministry or another apostille authority. A Norwegian embassy abroad can provide information, but the certification itself follows the rules of the issuing country.
If you have a Norwegian document that will be used abroad, you must use the Norwegian process. First find out whether the receiving country is a party to the Hague Convention. Use the current list of countries linked by Statsforvalteren and Utenriksdepartementet.
Do not rely only on an old list from a blog. Countries can join the convention, and individual recipients may have their own requirements.
When do you use an apostille from Statsforvalteren?
Use Statsforvalteren when a Norwegian document will be used in a country that is a party to the Apostille Convention. The apostille normally replaces several steps involving an embassy and the foreign ministry.
Statsforvalteren can place an apostille on an original document or a true copy certified by a public authority. The document must normally have:
- the name and title of the person who signed it
- a genuine signature, preferably in blue ink
- an official stamp from a public body when required
- a signature that Statsforvalteren can verify
Many Norwegian public documents can go directly to Statsforvalteren when the signature and stamp are correct. Private documents often have to go to notarius publicus first.
Documents for use in Denmark, Finland, Iceland or Sweden do not normally need an apostille. Statsforvalteren states that notarial certification is sufficient within the Nordic countries. Nevertheless, confirm the requirement with the recipient before sending an important original document.
When do you need standard legalisation?
Use standard legalisation when a Norwegian document will be sent to a country that is not a party to the Apostille Convention. The standard chain has up to three steps.
| Step | Who | What is certified? |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Notarius publicus, usually tingretten | Signature, copy or other basis when necessary |
| 2 | Utenriksdepartementet (UD) | That the Norwegian signature and stamp are genuine and authorised |
| 3 | The receiving country's embassy or consulate | That the document can be used in the receiving country |
Some public documents can be sent to UD without notarial certification when they already bear the correct official signature and stamp. A police certificate, for example, must be the original paper version with a stamp and signature.
UD states that the receiving country's embassy or consulate must answer whether the document requires legalisation. The embassy may also require an additional fee or a particular translation. This is not a Norwegian fee.
What does notarius publicus do?
Notarius publicus provides official certification before an apostille or legalisation when the document requires it. In Norway, this is usually done by tingretten.
Tingretten can, among other things, certify:
- that you signed the document in front of the notary
- that a copy matches an original document
- the signature of a government-authorised translator
- the authority to sign for a company
- certain Norwegian original documents
You often have to attend with valid identification. To have your signature certified, you must sign in front of the notary. Tingretten does not certify every type of document. It never certifies copies of foreign documents.
Notarial certification costs 336 kroner per document as of 25 July 2026. Check the current price and whether tingretten requires an appointment before attending. An apostille from Statsforvalteren and legalisation by UD are free of charge.
Must the document be translated first?
The recipient decides whether a translation is necessary and which language is accepted. An apostille does not translate the document.
When the receiving country requires a translation, UD states that you must use a government-authorised translator. The translation and a copy of the original must be certified by notarius publicus before Statsforvalteren or UD can certify the document package.
The order may vary depending on the recipient's rules. You should therefore ask:
- Do both the original and the translation need certification?
- Must the translation be produced in Norway or in the receiving country?
- Is a government-authorised translator required?
- Must the documents be bound together before the apostille?
Statsforvalteren and UD do not provide translations for the public. Use Translatørportalen to find a government-authorised translator in Norway.
If the documents concern a regulated healthcare profession, you can also read about authorisation for healthcare personnel. The authorisation authority may require different documents from an embassy.
How to send the document
Original paper documents must usually be sent by post or delivered in person. Statsforvalteren will not apostille an email, an image of a document or an ordinary digital PDF.
For Statsforvalteren, include a cover letter stating:
- the country where the document will be used
- the address to which the document should be returned
- your telephone number
The service is free. You can send the document by post or deliver it at reception. Choose Statsforvalteren in the area where you live, and check the local address and opening hours.
UD also accepts documents in person or by post. When using the post, you must state the receiving country and include a stamped return envelope bearing your name and address. As of 8 July 2026, UD states that return delivery within Norway can take up to ten working days. Allow extra time for notarius publicus, the embassy, translation and international post.
Do not send your only original document until you have checked the requirements, address and return method.
Common mistakes that cause a document to be returned
The most common mistakes are using the wrong process for the country, sending a digital document and lacking the required certification. Check the entire chain before paying for a translation or postage.
Avoid these mistakes:
- sending a foreign document to the Norwegian Statsforvalteren
- requesting an apostille when the receiving country is not a party to the convention
- sending an email, a printout of a digital file or an uncertified copy
- omitting a name, title, signature or official stamp
- sending a private declaration before it has been certified by notarius publicus
- believing that an apostille proves the contents are true
- forgetting the embassy's final certification in the standard legalisation process
- ordering a translation without asking which language and format are required
Documents are often used in several processes. See, for example, the requirements for family immigration, but always follow the document list in your own UDI application.
If you are new to Norway, the checklist for your first week can help you organise ID, e-ID and other important document tasks. SamfunnPrep gives you short explanations, while the recipient decides which certification is actually required.
