Frequently Asked Questions:
Cyprus Apostille and Legalization Services
General Questions
- Can Cypriot documents be legalized by Apostille?
- What types of documents can be legalized in Cyprus for use abroad?
- How long does it take to obtain an apostille on a document in Cyprus?
- How can I legalize Cypriot documents for use in the United Arab Emirates?
- How can I legalize Cypriot documents for use in Qatar?
- Can apostille stamps for Cypriot documents be obtained from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office?
- What is a Cypriot Apostille Stamp and why would I need one?
- What is document legalization in Cyprus?
- What services does Isarey Certification Services provide in Cyprus?
- Where can I see reviews of Isarey's Cypriot Attestation and Apostille Services?
- What do Cyprus Apostilles and legalizations look like?
Birth, death and marriage certificates
- How can I obtain a copy of a Cypriot birth, marriage or death certificate?
- How can I obtain an apostille for a Cypriot birth, death or marriage certificate?
- I need to submit a Cypriot Certificate of no impediment to authorities abroad. Do I need an Apostille?
- I need to submit a Cypriot Birth, Death or Marriage certificate to authorities abroad. Do I need an Apostille?
Corporate documents
- How can I obtain a Certificate of Good Standing for a company in Cyprus?
- How can I obtain a Certificate of Incorporation for a company in Cyprus?
Criminal record certificates
Answers
Can Cypriot documents be legalized by Apostille?
Yes - Cyprus is a member of the Apostille Convention.
Cypriot documents can be legalized for use abroad with an Apostille Stamp when destined for other signatory countries without additional certification by the destination country.
When Cypriot documents are required for non-apostille countries, such as 
United Arab Emirates - Taiwan - Malaysia - Thailand - Qatar they need additional authentication by the embassy of the destination country.
Documents issued in the territory of Northern Cyprus must be legalized in Turkey.
For further information about Apostille certification in Cyprus, see:
Cyprus Apostille Services
Submission within the European Union
Certain Cypriot documents do not require Apostilles when they are presented to authorities of other European Union countries (the receiving authority should accept the original or a certified copy).
When applying for certain public documents, a multilingual standard form may be requested to accompany the original. A multilingual standard form must always be issued and signed by a Cypriot authority, providing a translation aid designed to help the receiving authority to understand a public document which is in a language not accepted by the receiving EU country.
See: EU Multilingual standard forms
Cypriot documents not requiring Apostilles include birth, death, marriage certificates, absence of a criminal record (a clean criminal record of a Cypriot citizen), certificates of nationality and residence:
See: Regulation (EU) 2016/1191
Other Cypriot documents, including academic certificates, still require Apostille certification and certified translation to be valid in other EU countries.
What types of documents can be legalized in Cyprus for use abroad?
Official documents that can be legalized in the Republic of Cyprus with Apostille stamps from the Ministry of Justice and Public Order include:
- Civil status extracts (birth, death and marriage certificates, certificates of no impediment for marriage)
- Criminal Record Certificates (Previous Convictions Registry)
- Corporate documents issued by the Registrar of Companies (Certificates of Incorporation, Certificates of Commencement of Business
- Certificates of Directors and Shareholders, and Certificates of Good Standing)
- Cyprus university diplomas
- Documents certified by a Cypriot Certifying Officer.
To confirm whether your document is eligible for apostille authentication in Cyprus, please Contact us and we’ll check your document free of charge. For further information about our Cypriot apostille services and for assistance obtaining official copies of Cypriot documents, see:
Cyprus Apostille Services
How long does it take to obtain an apostille on a document in Cyprus?
Depending on the type of document, apostilles from Cyprus are obtained in 1 - 2 business days
How can I legalize Cypriot documents for use in the United Arab Emirates?
Documents issued in the Republic of Cyprus and requiring attestation for submission to authorities in the United Arab Emirates must be legalized by the Ministry of Justice and Public Order then attested by the UAE embassy in Nicosia.
How can I legalize Cypriot documents for use in Qatar?
Documents issued in the Republic of Cyprus and requiring attestation for submission to authorities in Qatar must be legalized by the Ministry of Justice and Public Order, then attested by the Qatari embassy in Nicosia.
Can apostille stamps for Cypriot documents be obtained from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office?
No - Apostilles for Cayman Island documents are issued by the Governor's Office in the Cayman Islands. However, documents needed for use in a non-apostille country will need generally require a second Apostille Stamp from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office before they can be attested by the embassy of the recipient country in London.
What is a Cypriot Apostille Stamp and why would I need one?
A Cypriot Apostille is a certificate that is affixed to a public document. It certifies the authenticity of the signature appearing on the document as that of an authorized public official in Cyprus and confirms the capacity of that official.
Cypriot Apostille stamps are often required when submitting a Cypriot document, such as a birth certificate, to the authorities of a foreign country or to a foreign embassy in Cyprus (for example, as part of a visa or citizenship application). Apostilles are recognised by the authorities and embassies of countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention
For more information on Apostilles, see:
The ABCs of Apostilles (PDF)
What is document legalization in Cyprus?
Document legalization (or attestation) is a procedure which authenticates a public Cypriot document so that it can be submitted in another country for official or legal purposes - for example, if you need to submit a Cypriot birth certificate to the authority or embassy of another country, it will often need to be legalized.
Legalizing a document in Cyprus certifies the authenticity of the signature appearing on the document as that of an authorized public official in Cyprus and confirms the capacity of that official.
- Because Cyprus is a member of the Apostille Convention, Cypriot documents can be legalized by means of an Apostille Stamp when being submitted to countries that are also members of the Hague Apostille Convention
- If a Cypriot document is required for a country that is not a member of the Apostille Convention, it will need to be legalized both by Cypriot authorities and by the embassy of the recipient country (embassy in Cyprus or non-resident embassy accredited to Cyprus).
See: Document legalization - Wikipedia
What services does Isarey Certification Services provide in Cyprus?
Isarey Certification Services provides a range of services in Cyprus including Apostille and legalization services, notarization services, certified translation services and document retrieval services.
Where can I see reviews of Isarey's Cypriot Attestation and Apostille Services?
You can see reviews from past clients who have used our attestation and apostille services:
What do Cyprus Apostilles and legalizations look like?
Cyprus Apostilles follow the standard format laid down in the Apostille Convention. Some examples of Cypriot documents certified with Apostille stamps:
How can I obtain a copy of a Cypriot birth, marriage or death certificate?
Birth Certificates from the Republic of Cyprus can be obtained online from gov.cy (you will need to register at Cy Login and authenticate your profile through your electronic banking system or by visiting a Citizen Service Centre or Citizen Center. Birth Certificates may also be obtained by contacting the nearest Cyprus embassy or District Administration Office in Cyprus.
Certified copies of Cyprus death certificates can be obtained from the District Administration Office in Cyprus.
Marriage certificates can be obtained from the Cyprus Municipality where the marriage was registered.
How can I obtain an apostille for a Cypriot birth, death or marriage certificate?
Apostilles for Cyprus birth, death and marriage certificates are obtained from the Ministry of Justice and Public Order.
Certified copies of birth and death certificates valid for apostille stamping can be obtained from the District Administration Office in Cyprus or nearest Cyprus embassy. Birth certificates can also be obtained online from gov.cy (registered users). Marriage certificates can be obtained from the Cyprus Municipality where the marriage was registered.
Submission within the European Union
Cypriot certificates of civil status (marriage, death and birth certificates) do not require an Apostille stamp when required for submission in another Member State of the European Union. For further information, see:
Regulation (EU) 2016/1191
I need to submit a Cypriot Certificate of no impediment to authorities abroad. Do I need an Apostille?
Apostilles are not required when submitting Cypriot certificates of marital status to the authorities of another Member State of the European Union.
A multilingual standard form may be requested to accompany the original. A multilingual standard form must always be issued and signed by a Cypriot authority, providing a translation aid designed to help the receiving authority understand the certificate when in a language not accepted by the receiving EU country.
EU Member States are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden
See: Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of 27 April 2016 (EU GDPR)
I need to submit a Cypriot Birth, Death or Marriage certificate to authorities abroad. Do I need an Apostille?
Apostilles are not required when submitting Cypriot birth, death and marriage certificates to the authorities of another Member State of the European Union. A multilingual standard form may be requested to accompany the original. A multilingual standard form must always be issued and signed by a Cypriot authority, providing a translation aid designed to help the receiving authority understand the certificate when in a language not accepted by the receiving EU country.
EU Member States are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden
See: Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of 27 April 2016 (EU GDPR)
How can I obtain a Certificate of Good Standing for a company in Cyprus?
Certificates of Good Standing for companies registered in the Republic of Cyprus can be obtained from the Registrar of Companies (online though the e-filing system).
Companies and corporations in the Republic of Cyprus can also obtain certificates of a clear criminal record from the Cyprus Police.
How can I obtain a Certificate of Incorporation for a company in Cyprus?
Certified copies of Certificates of Incorporation issued to companies registered in the Republic of Cyprus can be obtained from the Registrar of Companies (online though the e-filing system).
How can I obtain my Cypriot Criminal Record Certificate to use abroad?
Criminal Record Certificates from the Republic of Cyprus are available from the Cyprus Police. Non-Cypriot citizens will need to provide a copy of their residence permit (Yellow or Pink slip).
I need to submit a Cypriot Criminal Record Certificate to authorities abroad. Do I need an Apostille?
Apostilles are not required when submitting Cypriot Criminal Record Certificates to another Member State of the European Union when the certificate is issued to a Cypriot national and when the criminal record is clean (no convictions). In other cases, the recipient Member State may require an Apostille.
EU Member States are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
See: Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of 27 April 2016 (EU GDPR)
How can I obtain an Apostille on a Cypriot criminal record certificate?
Apostilles for Certificates of Clear Criminal Record issued by the Cyprus Police can be obtained from the Ministry of Justice and Public Order.
We can obtain apostilles for Cyprus police background checks with the original certificate, or we can obtain certificates directly from the Cyprus Police for client requiring apostille authentication.
How can I get a quote to certify my documents?
To receive a quote, you can upload your documents using our online quotation form or send us your documents by email. After reviewing your documents and requirements, we will get back to you with a quotation:
If you don’t have the documents available, just describe the documents you need to certify, and we will get back to you with an estimation of cost and delivery times.
Using our quotation form, your documents will be uploaded over a secure connection and immediately encrypted on our server. For added protection, you can upload password-protected files and provide us with the passwords separately:
PDF,
PERSONAL DATA: If your documents contain personal data belonging to people outside your household, please ensure that you are authorised to share this data before uploading your documents. If your documents contain sensitive personal data, such as biometric data, medical data or data on criminal convictions, please ensure that you indicate this when prompted, upon submitting your documents. For further information on our processing of personal data contained in uploaded documents, please see:
Privacy Policy (Customer Inquiries)
For further information on confidentiality in our handling of document content please see:
Confidentiality (Client Content)