ABC TranslationFinland Request a quote

Document legalization through the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and embassies

If your document is going to a country that has not joined the Hague Apostille Convention, it needs full legalization instead of an apostille. This is a chain of steps in which each authority confirms the previous stamp – and a single missing step can lead to rejection.

The steps of legalization

  1. A notary public certifies the signature or the copy
  2. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs legalizes the notary's signature
  3. The embassy or consulate of the destination country legalizes the document
  4. The document is officially translated into the destination language, if required

Which countries require legalization?

Full legalization is required by many countries in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, among others. Requirements change, and several countries have joined the Apostille Convention in recent years, so we always confirm current practice before we begin.

Company and export documents

We also legalize company documents such as trade register extracts, powers of attorney, commercial invoices and certificates of origin. Some countries additionally require commercial documents to be certified by a chamber of commerce.

How it works

  1. Send your documents

    Attach them to the form or email them to us. A clear scan or photo is enough for a quote.

  2. Get a quote

    We confirm the price, timeline and which certifications you need before any work starts.

  3. We handle the rest

    Translation, notary, apostille or legalization – all in a single order.

  4. Delivery

    Receive the finished documents electronically, by registered mail or by courier, anywhere.

Frequently asked questions

How long does legalization take?

It depends on the destination country's mission: some process documents within days, others take several weeks. We give you an estimate with the quote.

Do I have to visit the embassy myself?

Usually not. We act on your behalf with a power of attorney, and you can send us the documents by post.

What if the country has no embassy in Finland?

Many countries serve Finland from another capital, such as Stockholm or Berlin. Our international network also handles submissions at foreign missions.

Request a free quote

Fill in the form and attach your documents. We will reply by email as soon as possible.

Or contact us directly:
info@abc-office.eu
+33 9 70 44 01 21