Step-by-Step Apostille Guide – 2025

What is an Apostille?

An apostille is an official certificate that authenticates the origin of a public document so it can be recognized in another country.
It is used when both the issuing country and the receiving country are part of the Hague Apostille Convention.

For Czech immigration, an apostille proves that your foreign document is genuine and issued by an official authority.

When Do You Need an Apostille for Czech Immigration?

If you are submitting documents issued outside of the Czech Republic — for example:

  • Birth certificate
  • Marriage certificate
  • Divorce decree
  • Criminal record extract
  • Academic diploma
  • Adoption papers

— you must have them apostilled in the country where they were issued before you can translate them into Czech.

Step-by-Step Apostille Process

Step 1 – Check if Your Country is in the Hague Apostille Convention

  • Visit the official Hague Conference list of member countries.
  • If your country is not on the list, you will need superlegalization instead (see our Document Legalization Guide).

Step 2 – Identify the Competent Authority in Your Country

Each country designates specific offices to issue apostilles:

  • USA: Secretary of State for the issuing state
  • UK: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
  • Canada: No apostille (requires superlegalization)
  • Australia: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Tip: In federal countries, the issuing state or province handles it — not the national government.

Step 3 – Prepare the Original Document

  • Obtain the original or a certified copy from the issuing authority.
  • Make sure names, dates, and seals are correct — errors will delay the process.
  • If the document is old or damaged, request a new official copy.

Step 4 – Apply for the Apostille

  • Complete the required application form (online or paper).
  • Pay the apostille fee (varies by country).
  • Submit in person or by mail — some countries require in-person applications.

Step 5 – Receive the Apostille

The apostille will be:

  • A separate certificate attached to your document, or
  • A stamp/seal on the document itself.

Keep the apostille and original bound together — do not separate them.

Step 6 – Certified Czech Translation

Once you have the apostille:

  1. Bring the bound document + apostille to a court-appointed Czech translator.
  2. The translator will produce a certified Czech translation.
  3. Submit this translated set to the Czech authorities.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Apostille vs. Superlegalization

  • Apostille = Hague Convention members (simpler, one step).
  • Superlegalization = Non-Hague countries (multi-step process via ministries + Czech consulate).

How PragueVisas.com Helps

We:

  • Confirm whether you need an apostille or superlegalization.
  • Provide step-by-step country-specific instructions.
  • Arrange certified Czech translations after legalization.
  • Ensure your documents are immigration-ready before submission.

Processing Time

  • Standard: 1–4 weeks depending on country and volume of requests.
  • Express (if offered): 1–5 business days (higher fee).

FAQs

Do I need an apostille for my passport?
No. Passports are internationally recognized without legalization.

Can I get an apostille in the Czech Republic for a foreign document?
No. Apostilles are only issued by the country where the document originated.

Does an apostille expire?
The apostille itself does not expire, but the document might (e.g., criminal record extract).

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Contact us using the form below:

  • Citizenship by descent
American moving to Czechia
Step 9 – Congratulations you have been Approved!

After your Czech citizenship by descent application is approved, you'll receive a certificate of citizenship and need to take the oath of allegiance within 12 months.

  1. Receive the Certificate of Citizenship:
  • You’ll receive a certificate confirming your Czech citizenship. 
  • This certificate can be picked up in person at the consular office after an appointment. 
  1. Take the Oath of Allegiance: 
  • You must take the oath of allegiance within 12 months of receiving the citizenship certificate.
  • This is a public, solemn event where you promise to be loyal to the Czech Republic and abide by its laws.
  • Children under 15 are exempt from taking the oath.
Step 8. Ready to request an interview appointment at the Czech Embassy

1. Upon receipt of your complete application packet, you can request an interview appointment at the Czech Embassy.

2. Bring your completed packet and passport.

3. At this Czech Embassy interview they will request a 2000CZK government fee for each applicant.

 Step 7 – We have received your documents.
  1. Upon receipt of your documents will make the arrangements to have the applicable documents notarized translated from their language of origin to Czech by a government authorized translator.
  2. We will create your declaration stating that you are not a Slovakian citizen.
  3. We will complete your Czech Application for Citizenship and any other family members applying.
  4. We will pay for the return international shipping for your completed document package.

Reminder: The only additional cost you will incur is the notarized translations because it is billed by page. It is $28 per page for English/Germanic languages and $54 for all other languages.

Step 6 - Shipping

Please ship all of these documents to us in Prague:

Owner: Dominik Poloch

Address: Žitomírská 744/26, Praha 10, 101 00

Czech Mobile: +420 731 935 993

dominik.poloch@praguevisas.com
 
Shipping carrier: DHL is preferred.

Step 5 – You will begin gathering your Documents for final submission.

Treatment of Documents in order of preference:

*Always keep the original documents in your possession. Do obtain replacements in this order of preference whenever possible.

** Any document supplied at application will not be returned and doesn’t apply towards future/other applications. Get extras if anticipating that another family member will apply in the future.

***Apostille is a method of certifying a document for use in another country. For countries that are signatories to the Hague Convention, it is sufficient to legalize the documents with the corresponding Apostille.

1. Obtain a duplicate of the original, it is effectively an additional original and have it apostilled, then we will have it notarized translated into Czech. If not possible, then... Go to #2

2. Have the original apostilled and then obtain a certified copy. We will have it notarized translated into Czech. If not possible, then... Go to #3

3. Obtain a certified copy of the original and have it apostilled. We will have it notarized translated into Czech.

4. Get enough copies for any/all of these documents for the additional family members to use as well.

Step 4 – Document analysis

Email us as much as this documentation as you can:

Documents required if you are applying for a line of descendant from a parent:

  1. a landscape color copy your passport
  2. a copy of your birth certificate
  3. The birth certificates, marriage certificate, divorce certificate, name change certificate, death certificate of your parents when applicable
  4. Proof showing that the parents have lost their Czech or Czechoslovakian citizenship

Documents required if you are applying for a line of descent from a grandparent:

  1. a landscape color copy your passport
  2. a copy of your birth certificate
  3. The birth certificates, marriage certificate, divorce certificate, name change certificate, death certificate of your parents when applicable
  4. The birth certificates, marriage certificate, divorce certificate, name change certificate, death certificate of your grandparents when applicable
  5. Proof showing that the parents or the grandparents have lost their Czech or Czechoslovakian citizenship

Email to office@PragueVisas.com

We will begin your document analysis in the next few business days and send you a written response by email.

Step 3 – Becoming our client

CLICK HERE: Purchase Citizenship by Descent package for $579

FAQs:

How long does this process take?

The timeframe is reliant upon your initial document collection and the research of missing documentation. Please allow for ample opportunity for research, document preparation, and flexibility in case of unexpected challenges.

In general, the granting of the citizenship certificate takes around 3 to 6 months.

How much does it cost?

Our fees are $349 plus the actual bill for the Czech notarized translations. This depends on the language, and they charge per page. You will incur the cost of international shipping the Czech Republic. We suggest DHL. You may experience various cost of obtaining duplicate originals of documents and their respective apostilles. We offer a discounted price of $99 for each additional family member that is submitted at the same time as the original applicant. At this Czech Embassy interview they will request a 2000CZK government fee for each applicant.

What is an apostille?

An apostille is a form of authentication that simplifies the process of legalizing public documents for use in other countries that are members of the 1961 Hague Convention Treaty. It certifies the authenticity of the signature, seal, and position of the official who executed, issued, or certified a public document, enabling it to be recognized as valid in another country.

How do I obtain missing documents in Czechia?

If you would like us to research and obtain missing documentation in the Czech Republic archives, we bill at $30.00 per hour. We do our best to minimize the hours billed, but the Czech archives are not nationalized and they are antiquated. A retainer may be requested.   

Step 2 – We have emailed your preliminary results for qualification. We have developed a step-by-step process to create a pathway for Citizenship by Descent. Here is what our services include:

1. Upon receipt of your emailed documents, we will begin our review process. We will produce a written analysis of what documents are missing, the condition of each document, and how each document must be “treated”. Treated is term that refers to Apostilling, Czech Notarized Translations by a Government authorized entity, and the type of duplication accepted.

2. We offer guidance and referrals for document discovery. Discovery is the obtaining of any missing required documents from various archives.

3. We will make a final determination of eligibility and send you our written analysis results by email.

4. You will ship us the duplicate apostilled originals for notarized translation.

5. After receipt of your duplicate originals with Apostille, we have them notarized translated by a Czech Government authorized entity here in Prague.

6. We will create and provide your declaration.

7. We will complete your Czech Application for Citizenship.

8. We will pay for the international shipping for your completed document package.

9. The only additional cost you will incur is the notarized translations because they are billed per page. It is $28 per page for English/Germanic languages and $54 for all other languages.

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Step 1 – Curious if you eligible for Czech Citizenship by Descent?

We have a simplified process to help answer your questions. Determining actual eligibility is a complicated process, but let’s start by seeing if you pre-qualify by answering a few questions.

Identify the relative, parent or grandparent, not great grandparent that will be the person the line of descent is traced to.

Example: USA citizen Applicant> USA citizen Parent> Czech-American Grandparent (Czech Ancestor)

Applicant

Parent

GrandParent (if applicable)

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