The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is responsible for certifying documents, but documents are received and processed at the District Commissioner of Greater Reykjavík, Hlíðarsmári 1, 201 Kópavogur.
Questions regarding Apostille and chain authentications are only answered via email: apostille@mfa.is.
Apostille authentication confirms the authenticity of a signature and stamp on a public document issued by an Icelandic authority to be used in a foreign country that is part of the Haag-Convention.
Chain authentication is a formal certification for authenticity, used in the following instances:
For Icelandic documents that are to be used in a foreign country which is not a part of the Haag convention
For foreign documents that are to be used in Iceland and are issued by a country which is not a part of the Haag convention.
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs authenticates documents. The document is authenticated by attaching an Apostille certificate to it or in the case of chain authentication by the Ministry's stamp.
Please note that the Ministry for Foreign Affairs does not Apostille certify documents issued outside of Iceland.
An apostille authentication or chain authentication does not constitute material confirmation of the contents of the document.
Which documents can get authentication?
The following documents can be apostille certified:
Original documents that are signed and stamped by an Icelandic authority. Such as Registers Iceland, Iceland Revenue and Customs, Icelandic Medicines Agency, etc.
Icelandic documents that have been notarised by a District Commissioner (notarius publicus) with an official stamp and signature. Including, but not limited to documents such as power of attorney, purchase of real estate abroad, doctors’ notes, adoption papers, university diplomas, etc.
Original foreign documents issued by a country that is not a party to the Haag convention and has been signed and stamped by the Ministry for Foreign affairs for said country.
What it costs?
Fee per authentication is 2.700 ISK.
Fee for postage is 2.000 ISK.
How long does it take?
The documents are ready after 14:00 o'clock, two working days after the District Commissioner receives them. They can be picked up at the reception of the District Commissioner's office at Hlíðarsmári 1 in Kópavogur.
Please be adviced that due to circumstances out of our control documents from Vietnam will take a considerable longer time to process. For further information please contact apostille@mfa.is.
What you need
If you have an Icelandic ID number (is. kennitala) you can fill out your request online.
If you do not have an Icelandic kennitala you fill out a request form for authentication at the District Commissioner of Greater Reykjavík front desk or send it by email to apostille@mfa.is.
The request must include:
Contact information, including name, phone number and email address of applicant.
Receiving country where documents will be used.
Number of documents to be authenticated.
Payment must be made in advance. Payment can be made by:
A debet- or creditcard in the electronical application process.
Bank transfer to account: 0303-26-269,
kt: 670269-4779.
A receipt must be sent to apostille@mfa.is.International bank transfer:
IBAN IS80 0303 2600 0269 6702 6947 79 SWIFT ESJAISRE Bank name: Arion Bank, Borgartún 19, 105 Reykjavík Account of: Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Rauðarárstígur 25, 105 ReykjavíkCredit or debit card at the front desk of the District Commissioner of Greater Reykjavík.
Please note that if documents need to be translated into Icelandic the process is as follows:
Have the document translated by a translator certified in Iceland.
Get the translation notarized by a District Commissioner in Iceland.
Request authentication of the validity of the documents.
See more:
Service provider
Ministry for Foreign AffairsRelated organization
District Commissioners