Legalisation of foreign documents for the examination of impediments to marriage
The original document is always required for the examination of impediments to marriage. In addition, the document may need to be legalised and translated. The need for them depends on the country that issued the document and the language of the document.
Which country has issued the document?
Does the document need to be legalised?
There are public documents issued by EU Member States that you do not need to legalise. For more information on these documents, see the European e-Justice PortalLink to an external website, Opens in a new tabyja-external-link-opens-in-a-new-tab.
Documents that are not public documents must be legalised.
Does the document need to be translated?
We can always process a Finnish, Swedish or English document.
If the document is in another language, you may also need a standard form, a translation produced by an official translator in an EU Member State or a translation by an authorised translator in Finland. We will request a translation from you if necessary.
We recommend that you always request an EU standard form to be attached to the document, in which case you do not need to translate the document.
Does the translation of the document need to be legalised?
You do not need to have the translation legalised when it is for the examination of impediments to marriage.
Does the document need to be legalised?
You do not need to have the document legalised.
Does the document need to be translated?
You do not need to have the document translated.
Does the document need to be legalised?
The document must be legalised using an Apostille if it is not a public document issued by an EU Member State or a certificate issued by a Nordic country.
However, please note that
documents issued by the Philippines must first be legalised using an Apostille and then by a Finnish diplomatic mission.
documents issued by Pakistan cannot be legalised by Apostille for use in Finland.
Does the document need to be translated?
We can always process a Finnish, Swedish or English document.
If the document is in another language, you may need a translation produced by an official translator abroad or by an authorised translator in Finland. We will request a translation from you if necessary.
Does the translation of the document need to be legalised?
You do not need to have the translation legalised when it is for the examination of impediments to marriage.
Does the document need to be legalised?
The document must be legalised twice: first by the foreign ministry of the country that issued the document and then by a Finnish diplomatic missionLink to an external website, Opens in a new tabyja-external-link-opens-in-a-new-tab or a diplomatic mission of another Nordic country.
Does the document need to be translated?
We can always process a Finnish, Swedish or English document.
If the document is in another language, you may need a translation produced by an official translator abroad or by an authorised translator in Finland. We will request a translation from you if necessary.
Does the translation of the document need to be legalised?
You do not need to have the translation legalised when it is for the examination of impediments to marriage.
Frequently asked questions
Legalising a document is a matter of legal protection.
Legalisation ensures that
the issuer is entitled under the laws of the country to issue the document in question.
the information that we enter in the Population Information System is reliable.
In practice, legalisation can be a stamp on a document or a separate page attached to a document.
If you are unable to obtain a legalised document (e.g. you have refugee status in Finland or your document has been issued in Pakistan), please contact us.
You can get a document translated in several different ways:
By an authorised translator in Finland. For more information about authorised translators, go to the website of the Finnish National Agency for EducationLink to an external website, Opens in a new tabyja-external-link-opens-in-a-new-tab.
By an official translatorLink to an external website, Opens in a new tabyja-external-link-opens-in-a-new-tab in another EU Member State.
A standard form, which you can use as a translation aid, can be attached to a public document issued by an EU Member State. You can request more information on the standard form from the authorities of the country from which you obtain the certificate.
By other official or authorised translator abroad.
Contact us
Please use secure email Link to an external websiteyja-external-link-opens-in-a-new-tabif your message contains personal or otherwise confidential information. Choose vihkiminen@dvv.fiyja-external-link-opens-in-a-new-tab as the recipient.
Send secure emailLink to an external website, Opens in a new tabyja-external-link-opens-in-a-new-tab
Telephone
Telephone service number is +358 295 536 244
Service hours: Mon–Fri 9–15
Postal address
Digital and Population Data Services Agency, P.O. Box 1003, FI-00531 Helsinki