Apostille Services for New Zealand Documents
- 30 years of visa and document legalisation experience
- ISO 9001 certified
- Service across Australia and New Zealand
- English and Arabic speaking team
- Secure document coordination from review through to return
If your New Zealand document needs to be recognised in a country that is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, CLS can manage the complete Apostille process from document review through to secure return.
An Apostille is issued by the New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) and confirms the authenticity of the signature, seal or stamp on a New Zealand public document so it can be accepted in participating countries.
Last reviewed: June 2026. Apostille requirements vary depending on the destination country, document type and receiving authority. Confirm current requirements before starting the process.
Start your attestation in minutes
Attestation, apostille and embassy legalisation — send us the order yourself, and a consultant confirms the route, the documents and every charge before anything is lodged.
- Order receivedYour order reaches a consultant straight away, and you get an email confirming what we have.
- Document review and quoteA consultant checks your documents against the destination’s current requirements, confirms the attestation, government, embassy and courier charges, and sends your invoice.
- Authentication and legalisationWe lodge with DIA and, where required, the destination’s embassy or consulate, tracking each stage for you.
- Return and completionFinished documents come back the way you chose, with a scanned copy emailed on completion.
What Is an Apostille?
An Apostille is an official certificate issued by the DIA Authentication Unit that verifies the authenticity of a New Zealand public document for use in countries that are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention.
Once an Apostille has been attached, the document can generally be accepted by government authorities, educational institutions, employers and other organisations in participating countries without requiring embassy legalisation.
When Is an Apostille Required?
Countries Accepting Apostille (Hague Convention Countries)
Most Requested Hague Apostille Destination Countries
United Kingdom
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandEurope
United States
Americas
Canada
CanadaAmericas
Japan
JapanAsia-Pacific
Germany
GermanyEurope
France
FranceEurope
Spain
SpainEurope
New Zealand
New ZealandAsia-Pacific
Korea, Republic of (South Korea)
Korea, Republic of (South Korea)Asia-Pacific
Italy
ItalyEurope
China (People's Republic of)
China (People's Republic of) (including Hong Kong & Macao Special Administrative Regions)Asia-Pacific
Saudi Arabia
Saudi ArabiaMiddle East
🌐 All 120+ member countries listed above accept New Zealand public documents authenticated via DIA Apostille certificate without requiring embassy legalisation.
Documents We Can Assist With
Birth certificates
Marriage certificates
Divorce certificates
Death certificates
Ministry of Justice criminal record checks (NZ police certificates)
University degrees and academic transcripts
Trade qualifications and certificates
Power of Attorney documents
NZ Companies Office company documents
Commercial invoices
Certificates of Origin
Export documentation
Notarised documents
How the Apostille Process Works
Document review
We review your document, destination country and intended purpose to confirm that an Apostille is the correct authentication pathway.
Document preparation
If required, we arrange certification, notarisation or advise if a newer registry-issued document is needed before submission.
DIA Apostille
We lodge the document with the DIA Authentication Unit for Apostille certification and monitor the progress until completion.
Secure return
Once the Apostille has been issued, we verify the completed document and arrange secure return via collection or courier.
What CLS Manages for You
Eligibility confirmation
We confirm whether your destination country accepts Apostille certificates or requires embassy legalisation instead.
DIA submission management
We prepare and coordinate the DIA Apostille process on your behalf and monitor progress throughout.
Related document services
Where required, we can coordinate notarisation, certified copies, translations and additional document preparation before Apostille processing.
Common Causes of Delays – and How CLS Helps Avoid Them
Every common cause of delay — and how CLS prevents it before submission.
Incorrect document type
Some documents must be original registry-issued certificates or correctly notarised by a New Zealand notary public before the DIA Authentication Unit can issue an Apostille.
Documents requiring notarisation
Private documents often require notarisation before they can receive an Apostille.
Destination country not accepting Apostilles
Not every country accepts Apostille certificates.
Name inconsistencies
Differences in names across supporting documents may delay overseas acceptance.
Why Work With CLS for Apostille Services
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Apostille Services through CLS.
Need an Apostille for your New Zealand document?
Whether you're moving overseas, applying for a visa, studying abroad or conducting international business, CLS can manage the complete DIA Apostille process from start to finish.
Request Your Consultation
Get expert assistance with your apostille services — fast, secure and embassy-ready.
