If you need to use official documents from another country in Lithuania, you might need to get them legalized or certified with an Apostille. This process confirms that the signature and the stamp on the document are all authentic. When you submit foreign documents to a Lithuanian state institution, make sure they are properly legalized, officially translated into Lithuanian, and signed by a translator. 

The following documents often require legalization: 

• Documents from government or municipal institutions, officials, prosecutors, or courts
• Administrative documents
• Notarial acts
• Official confirmations of documents signed by individuals
• Notarial transcripts of official documents

When applying for a residence permit in Lithuania, you need to have the following foreign-issued documents certified with an Apostille or legalized:

• Documents confirming family ties
• Marriage certificates
• Documents confirming the dissolution of marriage or death of a family member
• Registered partnership contracts
• Higher education diplomas
• Certificates of criminal record (or absence thereof) 

Documents should be clear and legible. If a document has multiple pages, they must be bound together. Each document must be certified separately. 

Apostille Certification 

If a document is issued in a country that is a signatory to the 1961 Hague Convention, it needs to be certified with an Apostille. This certification is issued by authorized authorities of the foreign state. A list of these authorities can be found here. 

Double Legalization 

For documents from countries not party of the Hague Convention, double legalization is required - a document should be legalized in the foreign state and then in Lithuania. First, legalize the document in the country of origin, then have it legalized at the Lithuanian Embassy or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Lithuania. 

Documents from Estonia, Latvia, Ukraine, Moldova, or Russia 

Documents from Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Russia do not require an Apostille; they only need to be translated into Lithuanian. If you have an EU multilingual standard form, separate translation is not necessary.  

Legalization of documents in Lithuania 

In Lithuania, notaries handle the Apostille certification of documents. If you are abroad and need to certify documents issued by Lithuanian institutions, you should contact Lithuanian diplomatic missions or consulates. 

For double legalization of documents in Lithuania, you should reach out to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania at J. Tumo-Vaižganto st. 2, Vilnius. Documents can be submitted from Monday to Friday between 9 AM and 12 PM, and can be collected on Mondays to Fridays from 2 PM to 3 PM. For document legalization you have to book an appointment. The consular fee for legalizing one document is €20, payable by banking card.