In Norway, the process of obtaining an apostille follows the guidelines of the Hague Apostille Convention, of which Norway is a member. The apostille is used to authenticate documents for international use in countries that are also parties to the Hague Convention.
Steps to Get an Apostille for Documents in Norway:
- Determine the Document Type: Documents that can be apostilled in Norway include:
- Birth certificates
- Marriage certificates
- Death certificates
- Academic diplomas and transcripts
- Notarized documents (e.g., powers of attorney, affidavits)
- Court decisions and other official documents issued by state authorities
- Obtain the Document: The document must be issued by an official Norwegian authority. For example:
- Birth, marriage, or death certificates issued by the Norwegian National Registry (Folkeregisteret).
- Academic diplomas issued by universities or educational institutions in Norway.
- Notarized documents from licensed Norwegian notaries.
- Official documents issued by government bodies or courts.
- Notarization (if required): If your document requires notarization (such as powers of attorney, contracts, etc.), it must first be notarized by a licensed Norwegian notary public before it can be apostilled.
- Submit the Document to the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI): The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) is responsible for issuing apostilles in Norway. This government agency handles apostille requests for documents issued by Norwegian authorities. Note: For some types of documents, apostilles are issued through the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Complete the Apostille Application Form: When submitting your document, you will need to complete an apostille application form. This form can typically be found on the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or UDI website.
- Pay the Apostille Fee: There is a processing fee for obtaining an apostille in Norway. The fee is typically paid at the time of submission.
- Processing Time:
- In-person submissions: Apostille processing typically takes 1-2 business days.
- By mail: If submitting by mail, processing may take 5-7 business days, depending on postal delivery times.
- Collect the Apostilled Document: After the apostille is applied, you can collect the apostilled document from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or UDI, or it can be mailed back to you if you submitted your request by post.
Key Points:
- Norway is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so documents apostilled in Norway are valid in other countries that are also members of the convention.
- The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs handles apostille requests in Norway.
- Foreign documents must be apostilled in their country of origin before they can be used in Norway.
Documents and Information You Will Need:
- The original document you want to have apostilled.
- A completed apostille application form.
- Proof of identity (passport or national ID card may be required).
- Payment for the apostille fee.
Where to Go for Apostille in Norway:
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Utenriksdepartementet):
- Address: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Akershusstranda 9, 0030 Oslo, Norway.
- Phone: +47 23 95 00 00
- Website: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI):
- Address: Norwegian Directorate of Immigration, Telefon, Oslo, Norway.
- Phone: +47 23 35 18 00
- Website: UDI – Norway
For the most up-to-date information on fees, application forms, and processing times, it is best to contact the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs directly or visit their official website.