Embassy Legalization in Sweden – legalizing documents for non-Hague countries
Need to legalize a Swedish document for use in a country outside the Hague Convention? DOX handles the entire embassy legalization process — from Notary Public and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA) to the final stamp at the foreign embassy in Stockholm.
We handle legalization for UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Vietnam, Ethiopia, Nigeria and 30+ other countries. Send the document once and receive it back fully legalized — we coordinate all three authorities.
What is embassy legalization?
Embassy legalization is the full legalization chain required for a Swedish document to be accepted in countries outside the Hague Convention. The process consists of three authority steps: Notary Public → Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA) → the foreign embassy or consulate in Stockholm.
Each step verifies the authenticity of the previous authority's stamp. The Notary Public attests the document, the MFA confirms the Notary Public's authority, and the embassy confirms the MFA's stamp — making the document valid in the destination country.
For countries party to the Hague Convention an apostille (a single stamp by the Notary Public) is usually sufficient. Embassy legalization is therefore only required when the destination country is NOT a party to the Hague Convention — or when the receiving authority specifically requires the embassy stamp.
When is embassy legalization required?
Embassy legalization is required when a Swedish document is to be officially used in a country not party to the Hague Convention. It is mandatory for many international cases in the Middle East, parts of Asia and Africa.
Common situations:
- ✓work permits and visas to UAE, Qatar, Kuwait
- ✓company formation, branch or subsidiary in non-Hague countries
- ✓export and trade documents to the Middle East and Africa
- ✓powers of attorney for property matters in Egypt, Iran, Iraq
- ✓educational documents for employment in non-Hague countries
- ✓family matters — marriage, divorce, adoption — in non-Hague countries
- ✓civil law documents for foreign courts or authorities
- ✓medical certificates for studies or work abroad
⚠️ Important update: some countries no longer require embassy legalization
Several countries have joined the Hague Convention in recent years. For these, an apostille is now sufficient — embassy legalization is NOT needed:
- •China joined 7 November 2023 — apostille now applies on the mainland (not Hong Kong/Macau)
- •Saudi Arabia joined 7 December 2022 — apostille suffices, no embassy required
- •Indonesia joined 4 June 2022 — apostille only
- •Pakistan joined 9 March 2023 — apostille only
- •Rwanda joined 5 June 2018 — apostille only
💡 Rules change continuously. Get in touch if you're unsure — we'll check the correct path for your destination country at no cost.
Common documents we legalize at embassies
DOX helps both private individuals and companies with embassy legalization of most types of Swedish documents.
Personal documents
- birth and personal certificates
- marriage and divorce certificates
- adoption documents
- name change certificates
- copy of passport or ID (after NP attestation)
- driver's licence and ID documents
- medical certificates
- powers of attorney for foreign authorities
Education and employment documents
- university or college diplomas
- high school transcripts and final grades
- course certificates
- professional certificates and licences
- employer references and employment contracts
- authorized translations
- CVs with attested signatures
Corporate and legal documents
- registration certificates from the Companies Office
- articles of association, board minutes, signatory certificates
- powers of attorney and CEO authorizations
- agreements and contracts with foreign counterparties
- certificates of origin and commercial invoices
- export and customs documents
- insurance documents for international use
- court documents and service of process
Countries that require embassy legalization
Here are some of the most common destination countries that are not party to the Hague Convention and therefore require full embassy legalization:
The list is not exhaustive. We handle legalization for more than 50 countries — contact us if you don't see your destination here.
The legalization chain – step by step
Embassy legalization is a multi-step process where each authority verifies the previous one. DOX handles all steps in a single flow.
Notary Public (NP)
Attests the document's authenticity or witnesses signatures. Required for private documents (powers of attorney, copies, certificates). Official government documents may sometimes skip this step.
Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA)
Confirms that the Notary Public is authorized. The MFA's legalization unit is at Malmtorgsgatan 3a in Stockholm. Standard handling time is 1–3 business days.
Translation if required
Most Arabic and Asian countries require an authorized translation into English or the country's own language. We arrange translation via a Kammarkollegiet-certified translator.
Embassy or consulate
The final stamp is added by the destination country's embassy or consulate in Stockholm. Some embassies require booking, others accept walk-ins. We handle coordination and follow-up.
Secure return
The fully legalized document is returned with tracked and insured delivery, ready for use in the destination country.
How long does embassy legalization take?
Standard handling for the entire chain (NP → MFA → embassy) is 7–14 business days. Some embassies are faster (UAE, Qatar) — others slower (Iran, Egypt can take 3–4 weeks during holiday seasons).
We offer express service where possible with delivery in 3–5 business days. Speed depends mostly on embassy handling time and any public holidays in the destination country.
Time is affected by:
- destination embassy and their queue time
- whether translation is needed (2–4 extra days)
- public holidays in Sweden or destination (Eid, Ramadan, Chinese New Year)
- whether the document needs supplementing (common for corporate documents)
- postal transit in and back
Urgent? Call us directly on +46 8 409 419 00 — we can often prioritize express cases and book embassy appointments.
Delivery times →What does embassy legalization cost?
DOX offers fixed package prices with no hidden fees. What you pay depends on destination country (each embassy has its own fees), number of documents and whether express service is needed.
From 1,495 SEK incl. VAT
Express from 1,995 SEK
The price includes all Swedish steps (NP, MFA, shipping, handling). The embassy's own fee varies — some countries charge nothing, others (UAE, Qatar) up to 1,500 SEK per document. We always provide a complete price before starting.
Order embassy legalization nowPrices →Frequently asked questions about embassy legalization
Which countries require embassy legalization?
What is the difference between apostille and embassy legalization?
How long does embassy legalization take?
What does embassy legalization cost?
Do I need to translate the document?
Do I have to visit the embassy myself?
Is apostille enough for China and Saudi Arabia?
Can you help companies with ongoing embassy legalization?
Other services and countries
Order embassy legalization with DOX
We coordinate the entire chain — NP, MFA and embassy — in a single flow. Send the document once, receive it fully complete.