Legalization and Apostille

When you need to use a public Faroese document abroad, it may be necessary to have it legalized or endorsed with an apostille before the document is accepted by the country in which it will be used.

Example: If you are applying for a visa to enter another country, you can expect the foreign authorities to request that you submit a legalized or apostilled birth certificate.

 

What is legalization?

Legalization is a confirmation that a document is genuine and that the signer has the necessary authority. This means that the legalization only verifies the authenticity of the document and the competence of the signer, without addressing the content of the document, such as the accuracy of grades on a diploma or the spelling of names on a certificate.

Is legalization the same as an Apostille?

Although the terms are often used interchangeably, there is a difference in the case of the Faroe Islands. It’s therefore a good idea to check whether the document needs to be legalized or also apostilled, depending on the requirements of the authority that has requested it.

Legalization

The procedure for legalization in this country involves first confirming the signature on the public document by the relevant authority (e.g., a ministry) responsible for the type of document in question. Then, the endorsement of the relevant authority is confirmed by the High Commissioner in the form of a signature, indication of office, and a stamp.

Example: If you wish to have your birth certificate legalized, the issuer’s endorsement must first be confirmed by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Culture, after which the endorsement must be confirmed by the High Commissioner.

Once the document is legalized, it will bear:

  • The issuer’s endorsement
  • The endorsement of the relevant authority
  • The endorsement of the High Commissioner

Apostille

An apostille is an international certification that confirms the authenticity of signatures, stamps, and offices on public documents. If a document is endorsed with an apostille, it’s valid in all countries that have acceded to the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961. Access this link for a list of all the countries that have acceded to the convention.

According to Article 6 of the convention, apostilles are issued by the Legalization Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Copenhagen. Therefore, if you want a Faroese document to be apostilled, it must first be legalized (as described above under ‘Legalization’), after which it can either be sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by regular mail or presented in person at their citizen service office.

Once the document is apostilled, it will bear:

  • The issuer’s endorsement
  • The endorsement of the relevant authority
  • The endorsement of the High Commissioner
  • The apostille on the back of the document

Price and Shipping

If you wish to have an apostille added, you can send the document to the Legalization Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by regular mail, or the High Commissioner can send it on your behalf by registered mail. It’s also possible to visit the Legalization Office in Copenhagen in person to have the document apostilled immediately.

There is no charge for having a document legalized by the relevant authority and the High Commissioner. However, if an apostille is required, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs charges DKK 230 per document.

If the document is sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by mail, you will also need to pay return postage. Payment is made online, and if the High Commissioner sends the document to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on your behalf, there is no extra cost.

Payment for the apostille endorsement and return postage is made online via this link. If the High Commissioner is to send the document, you must first pay via the link and either print the receipt and bring it to the High Commissioner or send the receipt to the High Commissioner via email at ro@fo.stm.dk before you show up.

Important Note

Only original documents can be legalized or apostilled—copies of public documents will be rejected.