How does legalisation work?
The steps depend on the destination country and the document. Often the document is first certified by the issuing body or the competent court, then by the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), and finally legalised by the embassy or consulate of the destination country.
Embassies and consulates in Vienna
Almost all diplomatic missions in Austria are based in Vienna. Each has its own opening hours, forms, fees and appointment rules. We know the procedures, submit in person and collect the legalised documents – you don't need to travel to Vienna.
Foreign documents for use in Austria
Documents from countries without the apostille are usually legalised for use in Austria by the Austrian embassy or consulate in the issuing country. We coordinate this locally through our international network. Austria also has bilateral agreements with some countries that can remove the need for any certification.