Certification of document authenticity (legalization) means approval of the genuineness of the signature and seal placed on it. This is done by a Consular Officer. Thus documents executed in one country become valid in another.

In order for you to be able to use a document issued in the Republic of Latvia in another country and vice versa:

1) if a document is intended for use in a country which is a member of the Hague Convention of 1961, its authenticity has to be certified by the Consular Department with an Apostille. Such a document does need to be certified in the diplomatic or consular mission of the particular country;

2) if a document is intended for use in a country which is not a member of the Hague Convention of 1961, it first needs to be legalized in the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia or in the Diplomatic or Consular Mission of the Republic of Latvia and then in the diplomatic or consular mission of the particular country.

Legalization of documents and certification with "Apostille" is done by the Consular Department of the Republic of Latvia in Riga, 57 Elizabetes Street, for more information call - (+371) 67016364.

List of member states of the Hague Convention of 1961. Convention of 1961.