Document legalisation
Document legalisation for abroad: the whole process handled
Legalisation makes a Finnish document valid abroad. For Hague Convention countries a DVV apostille is enough, from 138 € per document. The UAE, Kuwait and Qatar require full consular legalisation, from the Finnish certifications to the embassy. Our service fee is 100 € per document; tell us the destination and the document, and we handle the chain.
Over 20 years of experience · Helsinki office · DVV → MFA → embassy handled
Certifying a document for use abroad
Legalisation certifies that a Finnish document is genuine and issued by an authority, so it's accepted abroad. The chain starts with certifying the signature in Finland (DVV or a notary, depending on the document) and runs through the Ministry for Foreign Affairs to the destination country's embassy and finally its Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). The required legalisation chain depends on the document and the country of use: the procedure can be an apostille alone, MFA + embassy, or DVV + MFA + embassy.
What does legalisation mean?
A foreign authority accepts a Finnish document only once it carries the right stamps. We collect them for you, the whole chain from start to finish.
Certification in Finland
DVV confirms the signatory's competence, or a notary certifies the signature or copy, depending on the document.
approx. 1 week
Foreign Ministry stamp
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs legalises the signature on that certification. After this the document is valid for authorities abroad.
approx. 1 week
Embassy stamp
The destination country's embassy in Helsinki adds the final stamp its own authorities recognise.
1–2 weeks
Document returned
After the agreed legalisation stages are completed, we return the document to you. Depending on the destination and receiving authority, an additional local MOFA attestation may still be required.
Which countries
Most common destinations
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Requires full legalisation
Kuwait
Requires full legalisation, package from €350
Thailand
Full legalisation, from €145 (apostille from 2027)
Qatar
Requires full legalisation
Iraq
Requires full legalisation
Saudi Arabia
Apostille is enough (since 2022)
Other countries. Ask us and we'll check the requirements for your destination. A possible final attestation in the destination country (e.g. MOFA) is arranged through a partner when needed, it is not automatically included.
For international partners
Visa, legalisation and relocation agencies: Rustravel Oy, the operator behind viisumit.fi, handles Finnish document legalisation as your local fulfilment partner, white-label if needed.
Document types
The most commonly legalised documents
Degree certificate
Degree and employment certificates for work or study abroad.
Power of attorney
Powers of attorney for acting and representation abroad.
Trade register extract
Company register extract for entity setup and work permits.
Contract
Commercial and cooperation contracts for international use.
Board minutes
Board decisions and minutes for corporate arrangements.
Apostille or legalisation?
Which one your document needs depends on the destination country. Read the clear guide and check your country.
Transparent pricing
Legalisation pricing
The final price depends on the destination country, document type and number of signatures. Request an exact quote below. Contract-client prices are agreed separately.
Reduced service fees may be available when several documents are submitted together for the same legalisation route. The exact quotation is confirmed after document review.
FAQ
Questions about legalisation
Information verified on September 19, 2026. Visa rules, fees and processing times can change without notice. We confirm the current requirements for every assignment.
Official sources: Digital and Population Data Services Agency (dvv.fi) · Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs (um.fi) · HCCH: Apostille Convention status table
Guides
Read the legalisation guides
Wondering what happens after you order? The stages, the timings and who handles what are on one page.
See how your order progresses