Austria
Apostille in Austria
At a glance
Who issues apostilles in Austria, and what does it cost?
| Uses apostilles? | Uses apostilles1 |
|---|---|
| Member since | 1 |
| How it joined | Ratified (signed and confirmed), 1 |
| Who issues apostilles | Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (Bundesministerium für europäische und internationale Angelegenheiten, BMEIA), documents of the Federal President, Parliament, the federal government and ministries, the Constitutional, Administrative and Supreme Courts and the Court of Audit; Austrian embassies and consulates apostille civil status documents, register extracts and criminal records they issue2 Presidents of the civil courts of first instance (Präsidenten der Landesgerichte für Zivilrechtssachen), documents issued in the court's region by other courts, public prosecutors, notaries, and chambers of notaries or bar associations acting on federal duties2 Provincial governors (Landeshauptmänner) and provincial governments (Ämter der Landesregierung), all other documents issued in their province in the execution of federal duties2 |
| Fee | €14.40 (per apostille at the regional courts, for judicial and notarial documents)2checked 18 October 2026 €17.50 (per apostille at the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs)2checked 18 October 2026 €40 (per apostille at Austrian embassies and consulates general)2checked 18 October 2026 |
| Processing time | Not published by the office2checked 18 October 2026 |
| Online register to check apostilles | Available (check an apostille)2 |
| Documents covered | 5 kinds of document listed by the office |
| What the receiving side decides | Whether it accepts the document: for example how recent it must be and whether it needs a translation. |
| Last checked |
Step by step
How to get an apostille in Austria
Find out which authority covers the body that issued your document: the BMEIA for federal documents, the court president for court, prosecutor and notary documents, and the province for other documents.3
Apply to that authority; the details of how to apply were not readable on an allowed page on 2026-10-18.2
Documents
Common documents
As listed by the office:
- Documents issued by the Federal President, Parliament, the federal government and federal ministries2
- Documents of the Constitutional Court, the Administrative Court, the Supreme Court and the Court of Audit2
- Documents of other courts and of public prosecutor's offices2
- Documents issued by notaries, and by chambers of notaries or bar associations acting on federal duties2
- Civil status documents, register extracts, certificates of no impediment, proof of citizenship and criminal records issued by Austrian embassies and consulates2
More about these documents: certificate of no impediment, criminal record certificate, court judgment.
Contacts
Who to contact in Austria
- Apostille officeFederal Ministry for European and International Affairs (Bundesministerium für europäische und internationale Angelegenheiten, BMEIA)2Documents of the Federal President, Parliament, the federal government and ministries, the Constitutional, Administrative and Supreme Courts and the Court of Audit; Austrian embassies and consulates apostille civil status documents, register extracts and criminal records they issue
- Apostille officePresidents of the civil courts of first instance (Präsidenten der Landesgerichte für Zivilrechtssachen)2Documents issued in the court's region by other courts, public prosecutors, notaries, and chambers of notaries or bar associations acting on federal duties
- Apostille officeProvincial governors (Landeshauptmänner) and provincial governments (Ämter der Landesregierung)2All other documents issued in their province in the execution of federal duties
- The office that will receive your documentAsk it before you start what it needs: an apostille, a translation, or a document issued recently.
Common situations
Using a document from or in Austria
A document issued in Austria
The apostille comes from Austria, from the office named above. It works in any other country where the Convention applies with Austria.
Check where it can be usedA document for use in Austria
Get the apostille in the country that issued the document, not in Austria. Austria accepts it if that country is also a member and the Convention applies between the two.
Check your countryGood to know
Good to know
Note: Rule
The apostille on documents issued by Austrian embassies and consulates is affixed as a label on the document or on an inseparably connected second page.2
Note: Rule
If Austria has an agreement with the destination state on mutual recognition of public documents, neither an apostille nor a legalisation is needed.3
Before the apostille
Private documents
A private document, such as a power of attorney or a contract, is first signed in front of a notary public, and the apostille then goes on the notary’s certificate. A copy of a public document from another country is first certified by a notary public, then apostilled.
An apostille only confirms the signature, the role of the person who signed and any seal or stamp on the document. It does not confirm what the document says. The office that receives the document decides what it accepts.
Questions
Questions about apostilles in Austria
Does Austria accept apostilles?
Yes. Austria has been a member of the Apostille Convention since 13 January 1968, so it issues and accepts apostilles for documents exchanged with other member countries.
Who issues apostilles in Austria?
Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (Bundesministerium für europäische und internationale Angelegenheiten, BMEIA) (documents of the Federal President, Parliament, the federal government and ministries, the Constitutional, Administrative and Supreme Courts and the Court of Audit; Austrian embassies and consulates apostille civil status documents, register extracts and criminal records they issue), Presidents of the civil courts of first instance (Präsidenten der Landesgerichte für Zivilrechtssachen) (documents issued in the court's region by other courts, public prosecutors, notaries, and chambers of notaries or bar associations acting on federal duties) and Provincial governors (Landeshauptmänner) and provincial governments (Ämter der Landesregierung) (all other documents issued in their province in the execution of federal duties).
How much does an apostille cost in Austria?
€14.40 (per apostille at the regional courts, for judicial and notarial documents). €17.50 (per apostille at the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs). €40 (per apostille at Austrian embassies and consulates general). Fees can change, so check the office’s own page before you apply.
How long does an apostille take in Austria?
The office does not publish a processing time (checked 18 October 2026).
Do I need to notarise a private document first?
Yes. A private document, such as a power of attorney or a contract, is first signed in front of a notary public. The apostille is then added to the notary’s certificate, not to the private document itself.
Is an apostille valid in countries that are not Convention members?
No. An apostille only works in other member countries. Countries outside the Convention use a different process, usually called legalisation. The office that receives your document decides what it accepts.
Sources and verification
Sources
- HCCH status table: Apostille Convention (1961)
- Oesterreich - Zuständige Behörde (Art. 6)
- Begriffe mit A
- Status
- Last verified: (18 October 2026)
- How it was checked
- Checked by our team against the sources above
- Next review
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