APOSTILLE or Document Legalization

What is an Apostille? 

An Apostille is a certification that confirms the authenticity and legal capacity of the person who signed an official document, as well as the authenticity of the seal or stamp.

For which documents is it necessary? 

Certifying documents with an Apostille is relevant if you are moving abroad to live, work, study, enter into or dissolve a marriage, or for similar purposes. Usually, the requirement to legalize a document with an Apostille is requested by the relevant institution in that country. To affix an Apostille, please submit the original document issued in Latvia!

How is a document legalized with an Apostille? 

It is crucial to understand that a document can only be legalized (authenticated with an Apostille) in the country where it was originally issued. Therefore, a document issued in Latvia must be legalized in Latvia.

You can do the following with a document issued in Latvia that is intended for legalization:

  1. Take it to any Sworn Notary office in Latvia and request its legalization (please note that a sworn notary can only affix an Apostille to documents issued within the Republic of Latvia).

  2. Submit it to the "Proxime" translation agency if you do not want to handle the document legalization yourself, and we will do it for you! The price for this service is: EUR 40.00 per 1 document.

What type of translation certification do I need?

A translation can be certified in one of two ways:

  • Notarial Certification: A notary certifies the authenticity of the translator's signature by confirming with their own signature and stamp that the translator signed the document in their presence;
  • Translator-Certified (Signature Only): The translator signs the document to certify the translation's accuracy and assumes full responsibility for its correspondence to the original. The document will include the translator’s name, surname, identity number, signature, place, and date of translation.
You can find out which type of certification you need by checking with the institution where you plan to submit the document.

Can I order a translation certified by a sworn translator?

Many translation agencies state on their websites and in their offices that sworn translator services are available, which is incorrect. In Latvia, the institution of sworn translators does not currently exist, and therefore offering the service of a sworn translator is illegal. Currently, no certification of translators or interpreters is performed either.
In many countries, there are indeed certified and sworn translators and interpreters, which is why you may be asked to provide such a translation. In such a case, we offer to certify the translation with the translator’s signature.
This means that the translation is certified by the translation agency with the translator’s signature and the agency’s stamp. Such translations are prepared in accordance with Cabinet Regulation No. 291 of 22 August 2000, "Procedures for the Certification of Document Translations in the Official Language." Translations into foreign languages are prepared in a similar manner.
Nearly always, when foreign organizations do not require a notarized translation, a translation certified with the translator's signature will suffice. It is best to clarify this with the organization where you are planning to submit the translation.
Should you have any questions, please contact us, and we will help you figure out the best solution!

How much does a translation cost?

The total cost of a translation depends on several factors:

  • Size of the source text (the translation cost is calculated based on the number of characters in the text; if the characters cannot be counted in the source text, these are then counted in the target text (in the translation); a standard translation page is 1800 characters with spaces);
  • Type of certification (the cost is provided in the Price list);
  • Urgency of the translation (extra charge is applied to especially urgent translations; this is usually discussed with the client prior to starting work);
  • Target language (into which (and from which) language the text is translated).

Can I submit someone else’s documents for translation?

Yes, if the persons mentioned in the documents and the owner of the documents have given you permission to do so. When submitting documents for translation, you will need to certify with your signature that you have the right to submit personal data of third parties to the translation agency (and allow us to process your own data if such are found in the documents). If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us in writing or by phone!

How long does it take to translate a document?

This process depends on several factors:

  • Source and target language. The rarer is the language combination, the more time such a translation takes. This is because translators working with rarer languages are busy and not always immediately available for work.
  • Size and complexity of the text. The more complex and longer the text, the more time is required to translate it. On average, a translator can translate 5-8 pages in a day (1 page is 1800 characters with spaces).
  • Certification of the translation (obtaining a notarial certification requires more time: on average, 1-3 business days).
  • Formatting and submission requirements for the translation. Please remember that formatting and printing a document (and sewing together) also takes certain time. If a document has to be received and sent by post, the time required for these services also needs to be taken into account.