Apostille in Bratislava: Document Apostille and Sworn Translation

What an apostille is and when you need one

The apostille replaces lengthy consular legalisation between the states of the 1961 Hague Convention: a single stamp confirms a public document is genuine, making it valid in every member state. You need one when a Slovak document is used abroad – or when a foreign document is submitted to a Slovak institution.

The most commonly apostilled documents are birth and marriage certificates, criminal-record extracts, diplomas and school certificates, notarial deeds and court decisions. For countries outside the Convention an apostille is not enough – consular superlegalisation is required; we check which regime applies to your country.

Which Slovak authority issues the apostille

There is no single “apostille counter” in Slovakia – the competent authority depends on the document type: regional courts apostille documents of district courts, notaries and bailiffs in their district as well as official translations and expert opinions; district offices handle civil-registry documents (birth, marriage, death certificates); the Ministry of Education covers education documents; the Ministries of Interior, Health and Defence cover their own sectors; and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs everything else. The administrative fee follows the authority’s tariff.

This is where most mistakes and lost time happen. Send us a scan – we tell you exactly where the document belongs, prepare the filing and provide the sworn translation in one go.

Apostille + sworn translation: the right order

The golden rule: apostille the original first, then order the sworn translation – the translator translates the document including the apostille clause. In the reverse order the destination authority may reject the translation because the apostille is missing from it.

Etalon keeps the order straight for you: we check the destination institution’s requirements, arrange the apostille and have the document translated by a sworn translator from the Ministry of Justice register – one order, no running between offices.

Ukrainian and other foreign documents

A Ukrainian document needs an apostille from Ukraine – a Slovak authority cannot issue it. With our own offices at both ends of the route, we file for the apostille directly with the Ukrainian ministries through our own Kharkiv and Kyiv offices and then provide the sworn Slovak translation in Bratislava. No mailing originals, no travel.

For documents from other countries we advise whether an apostille, superlegalisation or a simplified treaty-based regime applies.

How we work

1. 1Send a scan and the country of useSend a scan or photo of the document and tell us in which country and institution it will be used.
2. 2We identify the authority and quoteWe tell you which authority issues the apostille, whether you need one at all, and prepare an exact quote with a deadline.
3. 3Apostille and sworn translationWe arrange the apostille (in Slovakia or directly in Ukraine) and a sworn translator translates the document including the clause.
4. 4Receive the finished setIn person in Petržalka, by post across Slovakia, or electronically.

Prices

• Apostille assistance for a Slovak document the authority’s administrative fee is paid separatelyindividual quote
• Apostille on a Ukrainian document arranged directly in Ukraine; state fee separatefrom €22
• Sworn translation of the apostilled document Ministry of Justice-registered translator, apostille clause includedindividual quote

Prices are indicative. The administrative apostille fee is paid separately per the competent authority’s tariff and is not part of the service price. We prepare an exact quote after reviewing your scans.

FAQ