Sweden is a member of the Hague Convention of 1961, which means that documents issued in Sweden can be apostilled for use in other countries that are also members of the Hague Convention.
Steps to Obtain an Apostille in Sweden:
- Prepare Your Document:
- The document you wish to apostille must be an official or public document issued by a Swedish authority. These documents can include birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, academic diplomas, notarial acts, and court documents.
- If the document is not in Swedish, it may need to be translated into Swedish or the language required by the destination country.
- Notarization (if required):
- If the document is a private document (such as a contract), it will need to be notarized by a notary public in Sweden before it can be apostilled.
- Submit the Document to the Relevant Authority:
- In Sweden, the authority responsible for issuing apostilles is the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Utrikesdepartementet).
- The Ministry for Foreign Affairs handles the apostille process through its Legalisation Division.
- Required Documents for Apostille:
- The original document you want to have apostilled.
- A valid ID (e.g., passport or national ID card).
- If someone else (e.g., a lawyer or representative) is submitting the document on your behalf, you may need to provide a notarized power of attorney or written authorization.
- Apostille Process:
- Once the document is submitted, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will verify the authenticity of the document and apply the apostille. The apostille will be a certificate or stamp attached to the document confirming its validity for use in other Hague Convention countries.
- Fees:
- The fee for obtaining an apostille in Sweden is typically around SEK 250 (Swedish Krona) per document. However, this may vary depending on the specific type of document and processing time.
- Receiving the Apostilled Document:
- After the apostille is applied, you can either pick up the apostilled document in person or arrange for it to be mailed to you.
Important Notes:
- Translation: If your document is in a language other than Swedish, you may need to have it translated into Swedish or the required language before it can be apostilled.
- Hague Convention Countries: The apostille is valid only in countries that are members of the Hague Convention. If you need to use the document in a non-Hague Convention country, you will have to go through consular legalization instead.
- Legalization vs. Apostille: For countries outside the Hague Convention, the document must undergo consular legalization, which involves getting it authenticated by the embassy or consulate of the country where it will be used.
By following these steps, your document from Sweden will be legally recognized in other Hague Convention countries.