Document legalization is needed when the destination country does not recognise apostilles and expects the full consular path. This most often concerns documents for work, marriage, studies or business matters outside the apostille system.
When is legalization needed instead of an apostille?
If the document is going to a country that does not honour apostilles, legalization is usually required. This procedure is longer than an apostille and covers more than one institution.
The most important step is to check the destination country and the type of document, because that determines the correct path of action.
What is the order of the formalities?
Most often you first need to obtain the required authentication of the document in Poland, then legalization at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and then confirmation at the embassy or consulate of the destination country. Only after this path is established is it worth ordering a translation in the appropriate version.
In practice this planning stage is the most important, because the same type of document can have a different path depending on the destination country.
How much does document legalization cost and how long does it take?
The fee for legalization at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is 26 PLN per document, but the total time of the matter also depends on earlier certifications and the requirements of the embassy or consulate. That is why it is best to start the formalities earlier than the translation itself.
If the deadline matters, the safest option is to send a scan of the document right away and indicate the destination country, to avoid losing time on an incorrect sequence.
Which documents do we legalize most often?
Most often these are civil status records, diplomas, school certificates, powers of attorney, business documents, criminal record certificates and documents for marriage abroad. If you are unsure whether legalization or an apostille is needed, we will check it after receiving a scan and information about the country.
See also the apostille page, the marriage-abroad documents and the office contact.