Legalisation of documents by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs

In order to have the authenticity of a signature certified or a document authenticated, a foreign authority, company or private person may ask Finnish authorities for an official certification for documents executed in Finland.

An Apostille Certificate issued by a Finnish notary public suffices as certification in case the State in which the document has to be produced is a Party to the Hague Apostille Convention. No other measure of legalisation of documents is required. For more information, please contact your local register office.

• Local register offices 

As to States other than those Parties to the Hague Apostille Convention, the legalisation procedure of documents has three stages. First, the notary public certifies the document or the signature. The original document issued by a state authority can be signed by its official. Next the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Consular Services/Legalisations) certifies the signature of the notary public or an official. Last, the Mission of the State in question certifies the legalisation certification issued by the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

Charges (certification)

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs charges a 20 euro fee per certification. At the most, six (6) documents may be certified while one waits.

You can pay the fee using a bank card or a credit card (not in cash) or pay it in advance into the ministry's bank account:

Pohjola: IBAN FI20 5000 0120 2508 64 BIC: OKOYFIHH

Nordea: IBAN FI36 1660 3000 1069 74 BIC: NDEAFIHH

Danske Bank: IBAN FI59 8919 9710 0004 76 BIC: DABAFIHH

Please enter in the Message to the recipient field the following numbers: 30194/2401011/2652.

Account holder:
Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland
P.O.Box 176
FI-00023 Government
FINLAND

Notice. Take the receipt of the payment with you.

Contact information (MFA /Customer service)

Visiting address:
Merikasarminkatu 5 D
00160 Helsinki
Customer service
Tel. +358-9-16005
Customer service is open from 9-12 am Mon-Fri

Postal address:
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Consular Services
Passport and Visa Unit KPA-20
P.O. Box 423
00023 Government, Finland

Notice. Documents are returned cash on delivery. Enclose the receipt of the payment, if you already paid to the ministry's bank account.