An apostille (pronounced ap-uh-STEEL) is a government certificate confirming that the signature, seal or stamp on a public document is genuine, so the document is accepted in the 130 countries of the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention without any further legalisation. In New Zealand, only the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) issues apostilles: NZ$37 each, within 15 working days (5 with the urgent service).
Apostille meaning
Apostille is a French word for a note added in the margin of a document. In law it means the certificate set out in the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents, usually called the Apostille Convention.
Before the Convention, a document going abroad had to be legalised in a chain: by its own government, then by the destination country's embassy. The apostille replaces that chain with one certificate from one authority. New Zealand has been part of the Convention since 22 November 2001.
What does an apostille look like?
Every apostille follows the same model from the Convention. It is headed “Apostille (Convention de La Haye du 5 octobre 1961)” and has ten numbered items:
| # | Item | # | Item |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Country (New Zealand) | 6 | Date |
| 2 | Signed by (the official or notary) | 7 | By (the issuing authority, DIA) |
| 3 | Acting in the capacity of | 8 | Apostille number |
| 4 | Bears the seal or stamp of | 9 | Seal or stamp of the authority |
| 5 | Certified at (place) | 10 | Signature |
A New Zealand paper apostille is a covering page tied to your document with a ribbon and an embossed seal. An e-apostille is the same certificate as a secure PDF, emailed to you. See Paper vs E-Apostille.
How an apostille works
One certificate replaces what used to be a chain of embassy stamps.
- A NZ document is issuedBy BDM, a court, the Ministry of Justice or a Notary Public.
- DIA checks itThe signature or seal is checked against DIA's records.
- DIA adds the apostilleA certificate tied to the document, or an e-apostille PDF.
- Accepted overseasAny Hague Convention country accepts it with no embassy step.
What an apostille costs in NZ, all in
DIA's fee is NZ$37. These totals include our service and courier.
Original document, returned in NZ
BDM certificates, criminal records, NZQA records
| Our apostille service | $79 |
| DIA apostille fee | $37 |
| DIA courier within NZ | $7 |
| Our courier handling | $25 |
| Total | $148 |
E-apostille, emailed
Secure PDF, no international courier
| Our apostille service | $79 |
| DIA apostille fee | $37 |
| Total | $116 |
Notarised document, returned in NZ
Power of attorney, school, private or medical documents
| Our notary appointment booking | $39 |
| Notary Public's own fee (typical) | $100–175 |
| Our apostille service | $79 |
| DIA apostille fee | $37 |
| DIA courier within NZ | $7 |
| Our courier handling | $25 |
| Total | $287–362 |
Urgent add-on
Apostille or category A within 5 working days
| Our urgent service | $49 |
| DIA urgent fee | $120 |
| Total | +$169 |
All amounts NZ$ incl. GST. Government fees as published by DIA and BDM, checked 2 October 2026; they can change. Your quote shows every amount before any work starts. See all prices.
What an apostille does not do
- It does not check or confirm what the document says, only who signed or sealed it
- It does not translate the document
- It does not correct a wrong name or date
- It does not oblige the receiving office to accept the document for its purpose; that office still sets its own rules
- It is not accepted in countries outside the Convention, which need authentication instead
Who issues apostilles in New Zealand?
Only the DIA Authentication Unit. JPs, lawyers, Notaries Public and embassies cannot issue a New Zealand apostille. A notary's role comes earlier: some documents must be notarised before DIA will apostille them. See DIA Apostille: how the process works.
Which New Zealand documents can be apostilled?
| Document | Goes to DIA as |
|---|---|
| Birth, marriage, death and name change certificates | Original BDM certificate |
| Criminal record (police certificate) | Original Ministry of Justice record |
| NZQA records | As issued |
| Court documents, divorce papers | Original with seal, court-certified copy or notarised copy |
| Powers of attorney, school, private and medical documents | Notarised by a NZ Notary Public |
| Companies Office extracts | A copy |
Full rules for each document: NZ Apostille Requirements.
Apostille, authentication, notarisation
| What it is | Who | |
|---|---|---|
| Notarisation | A notary certifies a copy or witnesses a signature | NZ Notary Public |
| Apostille | Government certificate for Hague Convention countries | DIA |
| Authentication | The same verification for other countries, plus MFAT and sometimes an embassy | DIA, MFAT, embassy |
Countries that joined recently
The Convention keeps growing, so older advice can be wrong. China joined in November 2023, Canada in January 2024 and Vietnam on 11 September 2026. Documents for these countries now take an apostille, not authentication.
Apostille or authentication? It depends on the country
Common destinations for New Zealand documents, by DIA's route:
| Route | Common destinations | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Apostille (Hague Convention) | United Kingdom, Australia, United States, Canada, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Germany, France, Netherlands, Croatia, Serbia, Philippines, India, China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, South Africa | DIA apostille, NZ$37. Paper or e-apostille. |
| Authentication, category A | United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Egypt, Taiwan, Nigeria | DIA authentication then MFAT check, NZ$74. |
| Authentication, category B | Iraq, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Tanzania, Uganda, Afghanistan and others | DIA, MFAT and the country's embassy, NZ$223 plus embassy fees. No set timeframe. |
Examples from DIA's country list, checked 2 October 2026. We confirm the route for your exact country before anything is lodged. See Apostille vs Authentication.
Frequently asked questions
What does apostille mean?
An apostille is a government certificate confirming that the signature, seal or stamp on a public document is genuine, so the document is accepted in Hague Apostille Convention countries without further legalisation.
How do you pronounce apostille?
Ap-uh-STEEL. It comes from French.
Who issues apostilles in New Zealand?
Only the Department of Internal Affairs Authentication Unit. JPs, lawyers, notaries and embassies cannot issue a New Zealand apostille.
Is an apostille the same as notarisation?
No. A notary certifies or witnesses a document. An apostille is a government certificate that verifies the signature or seal on it, sometimes the notary's own.
Does an apostille expire?
The Convention sets no expiry date. But the receiving office may want a recently issued document, so check its rules.
How much does an apostille cost in New Zealand?
DIA charges NZ$37 per apostille, paper or electronic. With our service and courier, an original document returned in New Zealand is NZ$148 all in.
Sources
Official sources checked 2 October 2026:
NZ Document Assist Limited is an independent company, not a government agency. We are not a law firm, Notary Public or licensed immigration adviser and do not give legal or immigration advice.