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Overview
Documents exempted from legalisation
Why do documents need to be legalised?
A document that is official and legal in one country is not necessarily official and legal in another. Many documents must therefore be legalised if you wish to use them abroad.
Legalisation refers to checking the origin of a document. It is an official confirmation that the signature of the official who signed a document or the seal or stamp on the document is authentic.
For legalisation of documents issued outside Belgium, Norway or Iceland: click here.
Apostille
For official documents issued by countries that are members of the Apostille convention, only one legalization is required by means of an apostille. Belgium, Norway and Iceland are members.
Which documents are eligible for an apostille?
Original, official documents issued by a government agency and provided with
- Name and position of the civil servant
- Signature of the civil servant
- Official stamp
Documents that do not meet these conditions must first be legalised by a notaris publicus.
Where can I obtain an apostille?
A document can only be legalised by the country that issued it.
Norway: Statsforvalteren. This service is free.
Iceland: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Belgium: Ministry of foreign affairs, legalisation department. The embassy does not provide apostilles.
Notaris publicus
Norway: Notaris publicus
Iceland: District commissioner
Legalisation signature private person
Norway: Notaris publicus
Iceland: District commissioner
Embassy in Oslo: The embassy in Oslo can legalize the signature of a private person in the following cases:
- Annex 32 for financial sponsorship of students
- Powers of attorney* or other documents (e.g. power of attorney for travel with minor children). The legalisation only applies to the signature, not to the content!
Always contact the embassy by e-mail first.
Cost: see rates
*A special procedure applies to a notarized power of attorney (e.g. power of attorney for the purchase/selling of a house). You must first contact a notary in Belgium for this.
Documents exempted from legalisation
All documents issued by the embassy in Oslo bearing the signature of the ambassador or his deputy and an official stamp do not need to be legalised for use in Norway and Iceland (1963 London Convention). This includes the following documents:
- Certificate of no impediment to marriage
- Consular certificates
- Certified copy of passport
Certified copy of passport
The embassy in Oslo can deliver a certified copy of your passport (not of your eID). Contact us by e-mail.
Cost: see rate.
Translation of documents
In some cases, documents must be translated by a certified translator. You can find a list of translators here:
Norway: Translatorportalen
Iceland: Island.is
Life certificate
Who can sign and stamp my life certificate?
- The embassy in Oslo, by appointment
- The local police in Norway
- The local police in Iceland
How much does a life certificate cost?
This service is free.
I can’t travel to Oslo, what now?
You provide us the following documents by post:
- Duly completed life certificate
- Addressed and sufficiently stamped envelope
Once received, we ask you to email us a photo of yourself with ID and proof of date (e.g. newspaper of the day). We will send the signed and stamped life certificate to the Belgian pension service.
