A foreign document may need translation, an apostille or legalisation for use in Norway. Requirements depend on the recipient, case and issuing country. Check the specific document list at UDI, the Norwegian Tax Administration or HK-dir before ordering anything.
Four questions to ask before ordering anything
- What is the case about? Family immigration, marriage registration, recognition of education and employment are different processes.
- Who is the recipient? UDI, the Norwegian Tax Administration, HK-dir, an employer or an educational institution may require different evidence.
- Where was the document issued? Apostilles and legalisation are usually obtained in the issuing country, not from a Norwegian County Governor for a foreign document.
- What does your personal checklist say? Check whether an original, copy, translation and certification are required, and in what order.
This applies to common documents such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce documents, police certificates and diplomas. A document may be in the right form for one Norwegian agency but lack the required form for another.
Three different checks
| Check | What it does | What it does not do |
|---|---|---|
| Translation | Makes the text readable in a language accepted by the recipient. | Does not by itself confirm that the original is genuine. |
| Apostille | Certifies the public signature, official capacity and seal under the Hague Convention. | Does not prove that the contents of the certificate are true. |
| Legalisation | Provides a chain of certification for public documents from countries outside the apostille system. | Does not replace any translation requirements or assessment of the contents. |
These terms are explained more generally in SamfunnPrep's guide to apostilles and legalisation. This article covers how to prepare foreign documents for use in Norway. A Norwegian County Governor puts apostilles on Norwegian documents for use abroad. For a foreign certificate, follow the system in the country that issued it.
When the recipient is UDI
UDI provides personal checklists in its application portal. The list for your case should determine what you submit. General checklists may be useful guidance, but another applicant's list may not be right for you. This is especially important for family immigration: UDI has a country selector for apostilles and legalisation of documents. It may say that some documents from a particular country do not need an apostille or legalisation. Do not add such a requirement yourself.
UDI's family immigration guide says documents in languages other than Norwegian or English must be translated into one of those languages by an approved translator, and the translation must state who translated it and when. According to the guide, you must present original documents and your passport when submitting the application, and have copies; requirements for stamped copies may vary depending on whether you submit through the police in Norway or abroad. Always check the current country guidance and the list in My applications. Requirements may differ for other types of cases.
Example: You are applying for family immigration with a foreign marriage certificate. First open your personal UDI checklist and the country selector for the document's issuing country. Then check whether the certificate needs certification, whether it must be translated, and whether UDI will need to see the original at your appointment. The fact that the marriage is already registered in the National Population Register does not necessarily mean you can skip the documents required for the UDI application. See the family immigration guide for the residence requirements themselves.
When the recipient is the National Population Register
The Norwegian Tax Administration has separate requirements for registering a marriage entered into abroad. For this type of case, it requires the original marriage certificate with signature and stamp, sent on paper; an electronic certificate is not accepted. The documentation must be in English or a Nordic language. If it is in another language, a translation is required. If translated in Norway, the Tax Administration says it must be done by a state-authorised translator. If translated abroad, the translation must also have an apostille or legalisation. The Tax Administration says foreign documentation usually needs an apostille or legalisation, but also describes country-specific differences and special assessments. A stamp does not automatically make every certificate sufficient evidence.
These are the rules for registering a foreign marriage, not a universal rule for every National Population Register case or every UDI application. If you need to document a birth, name or divorce, find the Tax Administration's page for that specific registration. If names or dates do not match across documents, prepare an explanation or correction before submitting; see the guide to names and name changes.
When the document is a diploma
A foreign diploma is often used for work or further education. HK-dir assesses certain types of foreign education, but its requirements follow the application for recognition, not UDI's country selector for family immigration. HK-dir says, among other things, that it does not require apostilles on translations, and that self-translations or translations by a private individual are not accepted. Uploaded documents must be clear PDF files; include every page, including backs with text. See recognition of foreign education to find the correct recognition scheme.
An employer or educational institution may have its own document list. General recognition from HK-dir is also not the same as authorisation to practise in a regulated profession. So do not send your whole document package to the wrong recipient just because the papers have already been translated.
How to put together one clear document package
Make a short list before paying for anything:
| Document | Used by | Original/copy | Language and translation | Apostille/legalisation | Source checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marriage certificate | UDI family immigration | As stated in personal checklist | As stated in UDI checklist | Check issuing country in UDI guide | Date and link |
| Same marriage certificate | National Population Register | Original on paper | English/Nordic or required translation | Tax Administration's country requirements | Date and link |
| Diploma | HK-dir | Digital file according to portal | HK-dir's language requirements | Do not assume UDI requirements apply | Date and link |
Scan the entire document clearly and keep the original. Give files descriptive names, for example marriage-certificate-original-2026.pdf and marriage-certificate-translation-2026.pdf. Note who issued the document and check that names and dates of birth match the passport. Do not send your only original document to an office before finding out whether it will be returned and how. For example, the Tax Administration says it returns original marriage certificates by registered mail.
Sources checked 2 October 2026. SamfunnPrep explains Norwegian processes and offers practical guides and tools. When the question is whether your document will be accepted, the recipient must answer: UDI, the Norwegian Tax Administration, HK-dir or another relevant agency.
