The Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (commonly called the Apostille Convention) removes the need for consular legalization between member states, including Austria and the United States. Both countries are participating:
- Austria: Member since 1968
- USA: Member since 1981
Documents Covered by Apostille (no consular certification needed)
Under the Convention, public documents from one member state intended for official use in another member state only require an apostille, not consular legalization. These documents include:
- Birth, marriage, death certificates
- Court documents
- Academic diplomas from public universities
- Notarized documents
- Background checks (e.g., FBI or state police)
Exceptions: When Consular Certification May Still Be Required
While apostilles cover most standard documents, some cases may still require consular or embassy involvement — but typically not for authentication under the Hague Convention. Instead, the consulate may be involved for other purposes such as verification, translation, or special certifications.
United States documents that still require Austrian consular involvement:
- Private documents without notarization or certification by a public authority (not covered by apostille unless notarized first)
- Certified translations of English documents for Austrian authorities
- Documents for use in non-Apostille procedures, like visa, immigration, or residency processes, that are not about legal validity but format or content verification
- Academic degrees from private institutions that aren’t recognized by the issuing state’s education authority
Austrian documents that might still require U.S. consular involvement:
- Private agreements not certified by an Austrian notary
- Austrian documents translated to English, where a U.S. entity demands consular certification of the translation (rare)
- Documents for immigration to the U.S., where the U.S. embassy in Vienna may require verification or translation of supporting documentation, although this is more a procedural than a legal requirement
Summary
| Document Type | Apostille Only? | Consular Involvement? |
|---|---|---|
| Birth/marriage/death certificates | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Court documents | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Diplomas (public universities) | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Notarized private documents | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Translations (unofficial) | ❌ No | ✅ Sometimes required |
| Private documents (not notarized) | ❌ No | ✅ May be required |
| Immigration or visa documentation | ✅/❌ Depends | ✅ Often required |
Final Notes
- Always check with the receiving authority (e.g., Standesamt, immigration office, university admissions) for their specific requirements.
- If a document isn’t considered a “public document” under the Convention, you may need to notarize it first and then obtain an apostille.
- Some authorities still ask for consular certification out of habit, especially for translations — in that case, it’s often possible to push back if the document already carries a valid apostille.
At the Consulate
This service is provided in-person. If you ask for an official document to be certified as an authentic original, or to have us certify a copy of an original official document, you provide the original document together with the applicable fees and a form of identification.
If it is your signature on a private document which is to be certified (such as a contract or power of attorney), this may be done by mail only if you have your signature first certified by a Notary and obtain an Apostille from the officer so authorized by your state government, usually the Secretary of State.
Please note that the Consulate does not provide translation services and cannot refer a translator to you. Neither the accuracy of a translation nor the content of a document is the responsibility of the Consulate. The person requesting authentication services must provide proper ID (e.g. passport).
For current and applicable fees please view the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs’ fee schedule.
For further information on the Hague Convention concerning international documentation click here.
To book an appointment, visit our Services page.