Legalisation of foreign documents for the examination of impediments to marriage

 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 Portal.

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.

 

See the list of countries that have joined the Apostille Convention. 

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.

Check that the country has not joined the Apostille Convention. 

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 mission or a diplomatic mission of another Nordic country.  

Read the special instructions for West African countries  

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.

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 Education.

• By an official translator 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.