Authenticating documents
Foreign governments and organisations sometimes require that documents be apostilled or authenticated before they can accept them. In the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade we can apostille or authenticate documents that were created in Ireland for use abroad.
The Embassy can certify copies of original Irish documents or translations provided the original document is presented for inspection. Be sure to check that certified photocopies are acceptable to the authorities you are dealing with before applying.
The South African Department of International Trade and Cooperation can apostille or authenticate South African documents for use overseas, including in Ireland. Full details on the process required for different categories of documents are available here. The Embassy does not have a role in the legalisation of South African documents for use in Ireland.
For more information, please contact us directly.
Public Office and opening hours
A Public Office providing the services are available in the Passport Offices in Dublin and Cork.
The office is Dublin is now located at 42-47 Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2. The opening hours are 09:30 to 12:30 and 14:30 to 16:00 Monday-Friday. All enquiries regarding the service and the public office in Dublin can be made by calling 01 408 2174.
Information regarding the location and opening hours of the public office in Cork can found under ‘How to Apply’ below.
Fees
Each Apostille/Authentication stamp is €40, with the exception of documents directly relating to the export of goods, which are €10 each.
Adoption Dossiers are €100 for the original pack, regardless of the number of labels required. Additional documents relating to this original pack are free of charge.
Post Placement Reports are €40 for each report (usually up to four post placement reports).
E-Register Verification of Apostilles and Authentications
The online electronic register enables you to verify the authenticity of an Apostille or Authentication issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Ireland.
- Overview
- Methods
- Documents
- How to apply
- Fees
Overview
Overview
When using Irish documents overseas, for business or personal reasons, you might need to 'authenticate' or 'Apostille' them. The Department of Foreign Affairs are the competent authority who confirm that a signature, seal or stamp is from an Irish public official / body, and who issue a physical apostille or authentication stamp on the document. Authenticating / apostilling a document doesn't mean that the Department of Foreign Affairs is verifying that its contents are accurate or that the Department approves of its contents.
Irish public documents (including notarised, private company documents with a clear Irish link) can be authenticated.
We cannot advise on whether a document requires authentication. This is a matter for individual to find out. Contact the authorities in the country where the document will be used.
Only the Authentications Section based in Dublin / Cork can carry this out. Embassies and Consulates cannot issue an Apostille of authentication stamp.
Methods
Methods
How we authenticate documents
Apostille
An Apostille is a certificate issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade verifying the genuineness of the signature and/or seal of a public officer, on a public document. An Apostille may be required if you wish to use an Irish document in a country which has acceded to the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents.
An Apostille can only be applied to a document by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. This function cannot be carried out by Irish Diplomatic or Consular officers abroad.
Legalisation
A document may need to be Legalised if it is for use in a country which has not acceded to the Hague Convention. Legalisation is a more complicated process in which a document must:
- Be authenticated by the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade in Ireland, and,
- Be authenticated by the diplomatic or consular mission accredited to Ireland of the country in which you wish to use the document
Documents
Documents
Documents we authenticate
Original certificates (e.g. birth, marriage, death)
Company documents issued by the Companies Registration Office
Certificates of Origin signed by the Chambers of Commerce in Ireland
Court documents, powers of attorney, and other notarial acts
Educational certificates and qualifications recognised by the Department of Education
Medical reports signed by a doctor who is registered with the Medical Council of Ireland
Police Certificates - Issued by the Superintendent's Office of the Garda station where you last resided in Ireland and bearing an original stamp and signature of An Garda Síochána.
Photocopies
We can Authenticate/Apostille photocopies of certain types of documents provided they have been certified by a practising Irish Solicitor or Notary Public in Ireland. However, you should in the first instance confirm with the authority to whom you are presenting the document that a certified copy will be acceptable to them.
How to apply
How to Apply
The Embassy of Ireland in South Africa can legalise documents created in South Africa so that they are acceptable for use in Ireland.
The Embassy can certify copies of original Irish documents or translations provided the original document is presented for inspection. Be sure to check that certified photocopies are acceptable to the authorities you are dealing with before applying.
If you require an original Irish document to be Authenticated / Apostilled this can only be done in Ireland. You can send the document(s) by REGISTERED POST, to:
Consular Division
Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade,
80 St Stephen’s Green,
Dublin 2,
Ireland.
You should also include a brief covering letter giving:
- your name
- return address
- telephone number
- the name of the country the document(s) are for use in
- the appropriate fee (currently €40 per document). Payment can be made by credit card or by a Bank Draft (in Euro only) made payable to Department of Foreign Affairs.
Alternatively, you can get original documents authenticated in Ireland by friends or relatives at our offices in Dublin or Cork, if this is more convenient.
Dublin Office: Authentication Section, Ground Floor, Knockmaun House, 42-47 Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2, D02 TN83 (Open on weekdays 9:30 - 12:30 and 2:30 - 4:00pm)
Cork Office: Consular Services Section, 1A South Mall, Cork (Open on weekdays 9.30am - 1pm and 2.30pm - 4pm).
The Embassy is also empowered under Irish law to administer oaths, affirmations and statutory declarations. This is a discretionary service and each request for this service is considered on its merits.
Please Note: Authenticating / legalizing a document does not mean that its contents are accurate or that we approve of its contents.