New Zealand
Apostille in New Zealand
At a glance
Who issues apostilles in New Zealand, and what does it cost?
| Uses apostilles? | Uses apostilles1 |
|---|---|
| Member since | 1 |
| How it joined | Joined later (accession), 1 |
| Who issues apostilles | Department of Internal Affairs, Authentication Unit (Te Tari Taiwhenua), new Zealand public documents, and private documents after a New Zealand notary public has notarised them where the document type requires it2 |
| Fee | NZ$32 (per apostille or e-Apostille)3checked 18 October 2026 About €16.11 for the first fee listed, at the European Central Bank reference rate of 16 October 2026. Compare costs |
| Processing time | Not published by the office3checked 18 October 2026 |
| Electronic apostille | Available4 |
| Online register to check apostilles | Available (check an apostille)2 |
| 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 New Zealand
Check the requirements of the overseas authority and the Authentication Unit's document requirements on the govt.nz website before applying.3
Fill in the request form for a document authentication or apostille, choosing a paper apostille or an e-Apostille.3
If your document type needs it, have a New Zealand notary public notarise it first.3
For an e-Apostille, email the PDF version of the document and the application form to auth.unit@dia.govt.nz.3
Pay the fee to the Department of Internal Affairs; New Zealand corporate customers with an invoicing agreement can be invoiced instead.4
For return by courier, add the courier fee; a courier bag within New Zealand costs NZ$5.3
Contacts
Who to contact in New Zealand
- Apostille officeDepartment of Internal Affairs, Authentication Unit (Te Tari Taiwhenua)2New Zealand public documents, and private documents after a New Zealand notary public has notarised them where the document type requires itauth.unit@dia.govt.nz
- 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 New Zealand
A document issued in New Zealand
The apostille comes from New Zealand, from the office named above. It works in any other country where the Convention applies with New Zealand.
Check where it can be usedA document for use in New Zealand
Get the apostille in the country that issued the document, not in New Zealand. New Zealand 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
Some New Zealand document types must be notarised by a New Zealand notary public before the Department will issue an apostille.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 New Zealand
Does New Zealand accept apostilles?
Yes. New Zealand has been a member of the Apostille Convention since 22 November 2001, so it issues and accepts apostilles for documents exchanged with other member countries.
Who issues apostilles in New Zealand?
Department of Internal Affairs, Authentication Unit (Te Tari Taiwhenua) (new Zealand public documents, and private documents after a New Zealand notary public has notarised them where the document type requires it).
How much does an apostille cost in New Zealand?
NZ$32 (per apostille or e-Apostille). Fees can change, so check the office’s own page before you apply.
How long does an apostille take in New Zealand?
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)
- New Zealand - Competent Authority (Art. 6)
- Request a document Authentication or Apostille
- Request a document Authentication or Apostille (BDM460)
- Status
- Last verified: (18 October 2026)
- How it was checked
- Checked by our team against the sources above
- Next review
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