Legalization and Apostille
Apostille – how to legalise Faroese documents
Since 13th December 2021 the Faroe Islands have been part of the Hague Convention of 5th October 1961, also termed the Apostille Convention. This Convention abolished the requirement of further legalisation of public documents between the countries that are party to the Convention.
If you need to use public documents issued in the Faroe Islands abroad, you may require an apostille. An apostille is a special certificate issued in accordance with the so-called Apostille Convention, which authenticates the signature or stamp in your document and certifies that the signer is endowed with the required authority.
All countries that have signed up to the Apostille Convention have a duty to recognise this certificate, which facilitates the use of public documents abroad.
How to obtain an apostille for public documents issued in the Faroe Islands
In order to obtain an apostille on a document issued by a public authority in the Faroe Islands you must complete the following steps:
1. Check the status of the country
Apostilles are relevant if the country where you need to use the document has signed up to the Apostille Convention. You can find out using this link.
If the country is not on the list, the document can still be legalised with an apostille. In such cases, it must subsequently be certified by the country's representation in Denmark, which confirms the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' signature and stamp.
If you need guidance on legalisation for countries outside the Apostille Convention, you can contact the High Commissioner’s Office in the Faroe Islands.
2. Document issued, signed, sealed or stamped by a public authority
Your document must be issued by, signed, stamped or otherwise attested by a public authority. This means that documents such as name certificates, birth certificates, exam certificates and other official documents meet the criteria.
Documents attested by a notary, such as powers of attorney, certified copies of passports or driver’s licences, can also be authenticated with an apostille. If you require guidance or have any questions regarding notarial acts, you may contact the Faroe Court of Justice by e-mail post@sorinskrivarin.fo or by telephone +298 31 10 03.
For further information regarding whether your document is covered by the scope of the Apostille Convention, you can visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs via this link.
3. Original document
The document you wish to legalise must be original. Copies cannot be legalised, because the physical signature of the issuer must be present on the document.
However, if a public authority issues a ‘true copy’ with a physical signature, then that document can be legalised.
In addition, the document must be drawn up on a computer. Handwritten documents are, as a rule, not accepted.
4. Payment, return postage and receipt
The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Legalisation Office in Copenhagen is the only authority, which can issue an apostille on Faroese documents. You must therefore pay for legalisation on its website, which is accessible via this link.
When you pay for the legalisation you can chose how the document is returned to you. Remember to add payment of return postage abroad, if you would like the document returned to your Faroese address after it has been legalised.
You can also choose to provide an address other than your own, if the document needs to be sent somewhere else.
Keep your receipt for payment as you will need it later.
5. Hand in or send in the document
You can either hand in the document in person at the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Legalisation Office in Copenhagen or send it in by regular post. Remember to enclose the receipt for payment.
Alternatively, the Office of the High Commissioner in the Faroe Islands can send the document for you free of charge. If you would like this service, you must come to our office in person during our opening hours and bring the document as well as the receipt for payment.
6. Case handling time
Legalisations will usually be done within a few days after receipt of the document by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Legalisation Office in Copenhagen.
Remember to consider the time it will take to send the document from as well as back to the Faroe Islands, if the document is to be returned to you by post.
Further help and guidance
If you have any questions regarding legalisation, you may contact the Office of the High Commissioner in the Faroe Islands by e-mail ro@fo.stm.dk or by telephone +298 201200.
You can also contact the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Legalisation Office if you have any questions regarding apostille attestation of Faroese documents. Its contact details and opening hours are available via this link.