About Norway Apostille

Norway Apostille and Document Legalization Services by
Hague Apostille Services

Norway became a member of the Hague Apostille Convention on May 30, 1983, and the agreement officially took effect on July 29, 1983. This international treaty simplifies the authentication process for public documents, making them legally recognized in participating countries.

An apostille is an official certification that verifies the authenticity of a public document, such as birth and marriage certificates, court rulings, business records, or notarial attestations. It confirms both the signature’s legitimacy and the issuing authority’s competence.

Documents issued in Norway that are authenticated with an apostille in accordance with the Hague Convention of 1961 are legally valid in 120+ member countries. This eliminates the need for additional certification, such as consular legalization, which significantly reduces processing time and costs.

However, for countries outside the Hague Convention, an apostille alone is not sufficient. In such cases, consular legalization is required to ensure international acceptance of Norwegian public documents.

Norway Apostille Sample

Apostille Authorities in the Norway

In Norway, the County Governors handle the authentication of documents through Apostille certification. Before obtaining an Apostille, the document must first be notarized by a Public Notary in Norway. Additionally, applicants must inform the County Governor of the destination country where the document will be used before legalization.

The Apostille stamp is placed on the back of the original document. However, in certain cases, an authenticated photocopy may be required. In such instances, a Public Notary in Norway must certify the photocopy before submission for Apostille legalization.

Competent Authorities for Apostille in Norway

The following Norwegian authorities are responsible for issuing Apostille certification:

County Governors
Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Characteristics of the Norwegian Apostille

Norway’s Apostille stamp follows international standards and includes:

A square format with a minimum side length of 9 cm
Text in Norwegian, featuring the mandatory heading “Apostille“
A reference to the 1961 Hague Convention in French (Convention de La Haye du 5 octobre 1961)

This streamlined process ensures that Norwegian documents are legally recognized in Hague Convention member countries, simplifying international transactions and legal procedures.