FAQ

An apostille certifies the origin of a public document for use in another country. It does not confirm the content itself, but helps the receiving institution verify the signature, seal or official capacity.

Yes, a photo or PDF is enough for the first assessment, although the original may be required later.

Part of the preparation can start remotely after reviewing a photo or PDF of the document. If the original is required, we explain it before the next step.

The correct order depends on the destination country and the receiving institution. We check whether apostille, translation, notary certification or legalisation should come first.

Since 1 July 2019, Apostilles in Latvia have been issued only by sworn notaries and signed only electronically. PFAT can help prepare documents for the Apostille process.

The price depends on the document type, destination country requirements, translation needs, notarisation, urgency and delivery method.

Yes, for most services we offer expedited processing for an additional fee. We'll confirm the exact rush timeline and price once we've reviewed your document.

You can pay by bank transfer or card. Prepayment is usually required before work begins; exact terms are agreed individually for each order.

Standard turnaround is usually a few business days to a week, depending on the service and how busy the relevant authorities are. We'll confirm the exact timeline after reviewing your document.

A notarised translation is needed when the institution requires an officially certified translation rather than a simple text translation. We check the required certification before processing the order.

We translate to and from Latvian, English and Russian, and can also arrange many other language combinations through our network of verified translators. Let us know the language pair you need and we'll confirm whether we can help.

Yes, the finished translation can usually be sent electronically as a PDF. If you need the original with a stamp and signature, you can also collect it at our office or have it delivered by courier.

An Apostille is used where the Hague Apostille procedure applies to the document and destination country. Legalisation may be required if that procedure does not apply and no exemption exists.

Legalisation is usually required for countries that haven't joined the Hague Convention. Requirements vary by destination country and institution, so we confirm the correct procedure before starting your order.

You can send birth and marriage certificates, diplomas, statements, powers of attorney, company documents and other documents for review. After checking them, we clarify the correct process.

For the first review, a clear photo or PDF is usually enough. After checking the document, we will tell you whether the original is needed for final preparation.

Choose “Other document” in the form or send a document photo. We will check the issuing authority, destination country and required preparation route.

In some cases a notarised copy can be used, but most procedures require the original document. We confirm the specific requirement after reviewing the document type and destination country.

Yes, we can send finished documents by courier or mail both within Latvia and abroad. Delivery cost and timing are confirmed separately when you request delivery.