Apostille and sworn translation of Estonian company documents

Banks, notaries and authorities outside Estonia often ask for an Estonian company's documents in English, certified and legalised. Estonia is a party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, so a public document certified with an apostille is accepted in every other party state without further legalisation. This guide explains which documents can be apostilled, when a sworn translation is needed, whether you need a company seal, and how the documents reach you.

The guide is general information, not legal advice. Whether a foreign bank or authority accepts a document is decided by that bank or authority; ask them which form they need before ordering.

Which documents can be apostilled

An apostille certifies the authenticity of the signature, the capacity of the signer and the seal on a public document. For an Estonian company the documents requested most often are:

• the registry card or an extract from the commercial register;
• the articles of association and the list of shareholders;
• a notarial deed, for example a share transfer agreement or a power of attorney;
• a certificate of good standing or of the company's management board.

In Estonia apostilles are issued by notaries. A private document — a contract signed by the parties — must first be notarised before it can be apostilled.

English documents and sworn translations

The commercial register issues extracts in Estonian; an English version of the registry data is available, but many foreign counterparties want a certified English document. Two routes exist:

• English-language documents certified by a notary, then apostilled — the usual route for a ready-made or newly formed company. Our apostilled English-language documents add-on (, or with a new company) covers the registry data and articles in English, certified and apostilled.
• A sworn translation by an Estonian sworn translator (vandetõlk), which has the legal force of an official translation in Estonia. It is needed when an Estonian authority or court must receive a foreign document, or when a foreign authority asks for a translation of an Estonian document. Our sworn translation is priced .

For an existing company we also arrange a single apostille () on a document you already have.

Does an Estonian company need a seal?

No. Estonian law does not require a company seal, and Estonian authorities never ask for one: documents are signed, most often digitally. Some banks and authorities in other countries still expect a seal next to the director's signature. For them we produce a company seal with the business name and registry code (; with a new company ).

Getting the originals to you

Apostilled originals are paper documents. With a ready-made company we send them by tracked courier (), and with a new company likewise (). For an existing company, express courier abroad costs , and we can also receive and forward documents on your behalf (document handling, ).

What you receive

• the certified English documents or sworn translations, each with its apostille where ordered;
• the company seal, if ordered;
• tracked delivery of the originals to your address.

Prices exclude VAT. Notary and apostille charges are included where the add-on says so; any other state fee is paid separately. All communication takes place by email.

Ready to start? Apostilled English documents with a new or ready-made company, or an apostille or sworn translation for an existing one. Open the order form.

Frequently asked questions

Related guides

• Ready-made Estonian company with EU VAT
• New Estonian company formation
• Ready-made or new Estonian company: price, VAT and history compared
• How much does it cost to set up a company in Estonia?

More on this topic: Company formation.