Where can I get an apostille?

Apostille in Hungary: Detailed Explanation #

An apostille is a certificate that authenticates the origin of a public document. It is issued by a competent authority in a country that is party to the Hague Apostille Convention of 1961. The apostille ensures that public documents issued in one country can be recognized as valid in another country that is also a party to the Convention. In Hungary, the process and authorities involved in issuing an apostille are well-defined.

Competent Authorities in Hungary #

In Hungary, the following authorities are competent to issue apostilles, depending on the type of document:

• Public documents issued by courts: The President of the Curia (Kúria elnöke).
• Public documents issued by public notaries: The President of the Hungarian Chamber of Civil Law Notaries (Magyar Közjegyzői Kamara elnöke).
• Documents issued by other authorities (e.g., administrative documents, registry documents): The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Külgazdasági és Külügyminisztérium).

Procedure for Obtaining an Apostille #

To obtain an apostille in Hungary, you generally need to follow these steps:

1. Identify the Issuing Authority: Determine which authority issued the original document (e.g., a court, a notary, or another government agency).
2. Contact the Competent Authority: Contact the appropriate authority (as listed above) responsible for issuing apostilles for that type of document.
3. Submit the Document: Submit the original public document for which you need the apostille. Ensure the document is an original or a certified copy.
4. Pay the Fee: Pay the required administrative fee. The fee amount may vary, so it’s essential to confirm the current fee with the issuing authority.
5. Receive the Apostille: Once the authority verifies the document and receives the fee, they will affix the apostille to the document.

Specific Authorities and Contact Information #

• President of the Curia (Kúria elnöke):
  • Responsibility: Apostilles for court-issued documents.
  • Contact: Contact information can typically be found on the official website of the Curia.
• President of the Hungarian Chamber of Civil Law Notaries (Magyar Közjegyzői Kamara elnöke):
  • Responsibility: Apostilles for documents issued by public notaries.
  • Contact: Contact information can be found on the official website of the Hungarian Chamber of Civil Law Notaries: Magyar Közjegyzői Kamara
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Külgazdasági és Külügyminisztérium):
  • Responsibility: Apostilles for documents issued by other authorities (administrative documents, registry documents, etc.).
  • Contact: Contact information and application details can be found on their official website. You can typically find information about apostille services under consular affairs or legalizations.

Fees #

The fees for obtaining an apostille can vary. It is advisable to check the official websites of the respective authorities or contact them directly to get the most up-to-date information on fees and payment methods.

Additional Information and Resources #

• Hague Conference on Private International Law: For general information about the Apostille Convention, you can refer to the Hague Conference on Private International Law website: Hague Apostille Convention

By following these guidelines and contacting the appropriate authorities, you can obtain an apostille for your Hungarian public documents efficiently.