Sweden
Apostille in Sweden
At a glance
Who issues apostilles in Sweden, and what does it cost?
| Uses apostilles? | Uses apostilles1 |
|---|---|
| Member since | 1 |
| How it joined | Ratified (signed and confirmed), 1 |
| Who issues apostilles | Notary public, appointed by the County Administrative Board (länsstyrelsen) in each county, swedish public documents3 |
| Fee | Not published by the office (notaries public charge for their work, but no amount is published on the County Administrative Board page)4checked 18 October 2026 |
| Processing time | Not published by the office4checked 18 October 2026 |
| 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 Sweden
Choose a notary public from the County Administrative Board's list for your county and contact them.4
Contacts
Who to contact in Sweden
- Apostille officeNotary public, appointed by the County Administrative Board (länsstyrelsen) in each county3Swedish public documents
- 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 Sweden
A document issued in Sweden
The apostille comes from Sweden, from the office named above. It works in any other country where the Convention applies with Sweden.
Check where it can be usedA document for use in Sweden
Get the apostille in the country that issued the document, not in Sweden. Sweden 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
Since 1 January 2005 only notaries public may issue apostilles in Sweden; the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (UD) does not issue them.5
Note: Rule
Under an EU regulation, certain public documents and certified copies of them are exempt from legalisation and apostille within the EU from 16 February 2019.5
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 Sweden
Does Sweden accept apostilles?
Yes. Sweden has been a member of the Apostille Convention since 1 May 1999, so it issues and accepts apostilles for documents exchanged with other member countries.
Who issues apostilles in Sweden?
Notary public, appointed by the County Administrative Board (länsstyrelsen) in each county (swedish public documents).
How much does an apostille cost in Sweden?
Not published by the office (notaries public charge for their work, but no amount is published on the County Administrative Board page). Fees can change, so check the office’s own page before you apply.
How long does an apostille take in Sweden?
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)
- HCCH | Authority
- Notary public
- Notary public
- UD Legaliseringar - Regeringen.se
- Status
- Last verified: (18 October 2026)
- How it was checked
- Checked by our team against the sources above
- Next review
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