Apostille and document translation
Translation, certification and apostille are separate formalities. I help identify the appropriate route for documents used in Portugal or abroad.
What does the Hague Apostille do?
The Hague Apostille authenticates certain public documents for use in another State that applies the 1961 Apostille Convention. It does not certify that a translation is accurate and does not replace a translation where one is required.
Translation, certification and apostille are different steps
A document may require translation, certification of that translation, an apostille on the underlying public document, or a combination of these. The correct route depends on the issuing country, destination country, document type and receiving authority.
Should the document be apostilled before translation?
Often the source public document is apostilled first so that the translator can include the apostille in the translated document. This is not a universal rule, however. If the receiving authority has specified a particular sequence or form of certification, that requirement should be checked before work begins.
Which document is apostilled: the original or the translation?
An apostille authenticates a public act. In many cases, the relevant act is the original public document. In other procedures, additional formalities may relate to the certification attached to the translation. The requirement must be assessed for the country and authority concerned.
Documents frequently apostilled and translated
- Birth and marriage certificates
- Criminal-record and police certificates
- Diplomas, certificates and academic records
- Powers of attorney, deeds and notarial documents
- Succession and inheritance documents
- Corporate certificates and company documents
Who issues the apostille?
The apostille is issued by the competent public authority, not by the translator. In Portugal, official information and the apostille service are available through the Portuguese Public Prosecution Service.
I do not issue apostilles. I can assess the document route, translate the material and, where the procedure allows and the service is agreed, coordinate steps that may be carried out by a third party.
Public documents within the European Union
For certain categories of public documents circulating between EU Member States, Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 can remove the need for an apostille and may simplify translation requirements. The scope is limited to the categories covered by the Regulation.
What if the destination country is not covered?
If the Apostille Convention does not apply between the issuing and destination States, consular or diplomatic legalisation, or another authentication route, may be required. An apostille does not replace the procedure applicable to a non-covered route.
Price and turnaround
The total cost may include separate components: translation, certification, documentary handling, apostille and delivery. Translation fees depend on language pair, length, complexity and format; official and third-party costs are itemised separately.
How it works
- Send a copy: state the issuing country, destination country, receiving authority and deadline where known.
- Define the route: I identify whether the request concerns translation, certification, apostille or another formality.
- Translation and agreed formalities: I translate the document and coordinate the steps included in the quote where applicable.
- Delivery: digital or physical delivery is defined according to the documents involved.
Frequently asked questions
Is an apostille always required for a foreign document?
No. It depends on the issuing country, destination, type of document, receiving authority and any treaty or EU rules that remove the requirement.
Should I apostille first and translate afterwards?
Often yes, especially when the apostille itself needs to be included in the translation, but the correct sequence depends on the receiving authority.
Does the apostille also need to be translated?
Often it does when it forms part of the document submitted and the receiving authority must understand its content. The exact requirement should be confirmed for the procedure concerned.
Can a foreign public document be apostilled in Portugal?
As a general rule, the apostille is issued by the competent authority of the State in which the public act originated.
Is apostille the same as certified translation?
No. The apostille authenticates a public act; certification relates to the formalisation of the translation. A procedure may require one, both or neither.
Document for international use?
Send the document and, if known, the issuing country, destination country, receiving authority and deadline.
Request a quote
