Authenticating a document verifies its origin by confirming that a signature, seal or stamp appearing on a document is genuine.

When would I need a document authenticated?

If you are going to use Irish documents overseas, for business or personal reasons, you may need to have them authenticated by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

This Department cannot advise on whether a document needs to be authenticated. This is a matter for the authorities in the country in which the document is to be used.

Who can authenticate documents?

In Ireland

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade can only authenticate documents executed in Ireland that will be used in other countries. 

All documents must either be created in Ireland or show an Irish connection. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade reserves the right to refuse to authenticate any documents which we deem not to have an appropriate Irish link.

In the case of sworn documents, the person swearing the document before an Irish Notary Public or Solicitor must be resident in Ireland.

Solicitors, please note that documents signed in the name of the firm as opposed to the name of the solicitor signing the document will not be authenticated.

Copies of foreign Identification documents can only be authenticated if they have already been verified by the Embassy of that country accredited to Ireland.

All documents to be authenticated can only be authenticated if they have already been verified by the Embassy of that country accredited to Ireland.

All documents to be authenticated should bear an original signature, seal or stamp from an Irish practising public official or organisations.

Remember...

Authenticating a document doesn't mean that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is verifying that its contents are accurate or that the Department approves of its contents.

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:

1. Be authenticated by the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade in Ireland, and,
2. Be authenticated by the diplomatic or consular mission accredited to Ireland of the country in which you wish to use the document.

Documents we authenticate

Original certificates (e.g. birth, marriage, death)

Company documents issued by the Companies Registration Office

Documents 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

Garda Clearance letters (they must be issued from the Superintendent's Office of the Garda station where you last lived in Ireland and bear an original stamp and signature of the 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. 

Applying in Ireland

Call to our offices (Dublin and Cork)

If you have a document that was created in Ireland, and that needs to be authenticated, you can call to our public offices in Dublin or Cork. Please make an appointment if you have a large number of documents or a full foreign adoption dossier to be processed.

Dublin

PUBLIC OFFICE ADDRESS:

Authentication Section
Ground Floor
Knockmaun House
42-47, Lower Mount Street,
Dublin 2, D02 TN83

Tel: 01 408 2174

Opening hours

Monday - Friday (excluding bank holidays)

9:30 - 12:30 and 2:30 - 4:00pm

The postal address for applications will continue to be:

Authentications Section, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 80 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, D02 VY53

Postal Address

Authentication Section
Consular Division
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
80 St. Stephen's Green
Dublin 2
D02 VY53

Cork

Consular Services Section
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
1A South Mall
Cork
T12 TA46

Tel: 021 4944765/021 4944766

Opening Hours

Monday - Friday (excluding bank holidays) 9:30-1:00 and 2:30-4:00pm

By post:

ALL REGISTERED APPLICATIONS MUST BE SENT BY REGISTERED POST. POSTAL APPLICATIONS TAKE A MINIMUM OF 2 WEEKS FROM THE DAY OF RECEIPT IN CONSULAR DIVISION.

If you're sending documents by registered post, 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

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)

Methods of payment

You can pay by:

• Cash
• Bank draft (drawn on a bank in Ireland and payable to the 'Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade')
• Irish Postal order
• Credit/debit card

We do not accept Cheques or Electronic Fees Transfers.

Applying Outside Ireland

If you are living abroad and want to apostille or authenticate a document created in Ireland, the process is the same as for people living in Ireland: you have to apply to the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade directly – see instructions above re sending applications by post. This cannot be done via the Embassy or the Honorary Consulates.

If you are living abroad and need to have a statutory declaration or affidavit witnessed, a Notary Public in your area should be able to assist you.