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Department of Foreign Affairs - Public Office

Authentication Services - Apostille

Foreign governments and organisations sometimes require that documents be authenticated before they can accept them. The Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade can authenticate documents that were created in Ireland.

Embassies of Ireland abroad can legalise documents that were created abroad so that they are acceptable for use in Ireland. 

Department of Foreign AffairsDepartment of Foreign Affairs

Consular Services, including the public office issuing authentications and legalisation of documents now operate from Knockmaun House, Lower Mount Street.

All enquiries regarding this service can be made by calling 01 408 2174.

E-Register Verification of Apostilles and Authentications

The online electronic register enables you to verify the authenticity of an Apostille or Authentication issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Ireland.

Overview

Authenticating a document verifies its origin by confirming that a signature, seal or stamp appearing on a document is genuine.

When would I need a document authenticated?

If you are going to use Irish documents overseas, for business or personal reasons, you may need to have them authenticated by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

This Department cannot advise on whether a document needs to be authenticated. This is a matter for the authorities in the country in which the document is to be used.

Who can authenticate documents?

In Ireland

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade can only authenticate documents executed in Ireland that will be used in other countries. 

All documents must either be created in Ireland or show an Irish connection. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade reserves the right to refuse to authenticate any documents which we deem not to have an appropriate Irish link.

In the case of sworn documents, the person swearing the document before an Irish Notary Public.

Copies of foreign Identification documents can only be authenticated if they have already been verified by the Embassy of that country accredited to Ireland.

All documents to be authenticated can only be authenticated if they have already been verified by the Embassy of that country accredited to Ireland.

All documents to be authenticated should bear an original signature, seal or stamp from an Irish practising public official or organisations.

Remember...

Authenticating a document doesn't mean that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is verifying that its contents are accurate or that the Department approves of its contents.

                               

Location

The DFA is now located at Knockmaun House, 42-47, Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2, D02 TN83.