Apostille and authentication in New Zealand
We arrange apostilles for New Zealand documents going overseas, including the notarisation that private documents need first.
An apostille is a certificate that confirms the signature, seal or stamp on a public document, so that the document is recognised in other countries that belong to the Hague Apostille Convention. In New Zealand, apostilles are issued by the Authentications Unit of the Department of Internal Affairs.
Not every document can go straight to the Authentications Unit. Private documents, such as a power of attorney, a company resolution or a copy of a degree, usually need to be signed or certified before a New Zealand notary public first. We work out the correct route for your document and the destination country, then manage each step for you.
Documents we commonly apostille
- New Zealand birth, marriage and death certificates
- Ministry of Justice criminal record checks
- University degrees and academic transcripts
- Certificates of incorporation and company extracts
- Powers of attorney and statutory declarations
- Court orders and divorce documents
How it works
Send your documents
Upload scans or photos with the form, or email them to us. Tell us where the documents will be used.
Receive a fixed quote
We confirm the price, the steps involved and the delivery date, usually the same working day.
We do the work
Translation, certification, notarisation, apostille or legalisation, handled in the right order.
Get your documents
Certified PDFs by email and originals by tracked courier, anywhere in New Zealand.
Questions and answers
Can you apostille a document issued in another country?
An apostille can only be issued by the country that issued the document. If you hold, for example, a Chinese or Indian certificate, it must be apostilled in that country. Through our international offices we can arrange this for you without you travelling.
What if the destination country is not part of the Hague Convention?
Then the document is authenticated in New Zealand and afterwards legalised by that country's embassy or consulate. See our embassy legalisation service.
Do I need to send the original?
Yes. Apostilles are attached to original documents or to notarised copies, so we will tell you exactly what to send and where.
Serving clients across New Zealand
Other services
Certified translation
Signed and stamped translations of personal, academic, legal and business documents, ready for Immigration New Zealand, universities, courts and government agencies.
Embassy & consulate legalisation
Legalisation for countries outside the Apostille Convention, handled through the embassies and consulates in Wellington and Auckland.
Notary services
Certified true copies, powers of attorney, statutory declarations and affidavits for use overseas, arranged with a New Zealand notary public.
Document retrieval
We obtain official records on your behalf, from New Zealand registries and from overseas authorities through our international network.
Interpreting
Professional interpreters on site, by video or by phone, for legal, medical, business and community settings across New Zealand.
Request a free quote
Prices depend on the language, the number of pages, the certification needed and how quickly you need it. Send us the details and we will reply with a fixed quote.
Prefer email? Write to info@abc-offices.com