The purpose of the Apostille and superlegalization is to credibly prove the fact that a document issued abroad and submitted for official purposes was verified by the pertinent body of the state whose body issued the document (Apostille) and, if required, superlegalised by the Czech Embassy. The authenticity of the official stamp and signature on the document is therefore verified, not the content of the document itself.
What type of document usually needs Superlegalization or Apostille?
Documents issued by courts and authorities abroad that are valid in the place of issue as public documents such as:
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate
- Diploma (for students or for purpose of nostrification)
- Criminal record
- Contracts
- Extract from the Commercial Register
- Certificate of taxable incomes
- Certificate of the tax-payer's residence
1. Apostille
The Apostille is a specialized certificate, attached to your original document which is issued by the competent authorities designated by the government of the state. Here is a list of the offices of each state that are competent to issue an Apostille.
The Apostille is required for all documents submitted for official purposes from countries that have acceded to the Hague Convention and must be officially translated into the Czech language.
The list of the signatories of the cited convention can be found here.
With some states the Czech Republic has signed an Agreement on Legal Assistance in Civil and Family Affairs. These agreements specify documents that can be used at the Czech authorities without further verification. These documents only need an official translation into the Czech language.
The list of the signatories of the above agreement can be found here.
The document is exempt from further verification if it’s issued by diplomatic representatives or consular officers of states that are signatories to the European Convention on the Abolition of Legalisation of Documents Executed by Diplomatic Agents or Consular Officers. This exception to superlegalization likewise concerns documents issued or confirmed by the pertinent foreign consulates if a bilateral consular treaty has been signed.
2. Superlegalization
Superlegalization is the highest degree of authentication of a public document which allows it’s use abroad. It is done at the Czech Embassy or at the Czech Ministry of Foreign affairs.
If the document was issued by a state with which the Czech Republic does not have an Agreement on legal assistance in civil and family affairs and this state has not acceded to the Convention on Abolishing the Requirements for Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents, the Hague Convention, then the foreign document must be provided with superlegalization and an official translation into the Czech language
First step is to verify the public document at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or a competent authority to issue an Apostille in your home country (or the country where it was issued).
Second step is to make a certified (official) translation of the public document into the Czech language.
Third step is to submit this translated document for verification at the Czech Embassy (which represents the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs). The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs will verify the stamps and signature of the competent authority of your home country. This final step is called the superlegalization. It is usually done during your appointment at the Czech Embassy.